The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-28

sideration on the part Of the Government whose
resources they have developed. They viz
tually convert immense regions of waste into a
marketable commodity, and by their enterprise
and industry give value TO what were else
worthless, because unavailable. Every road thew
make adds to the exchangeable value of the
Government land as well as their own; every
bridge they construct increases facilities for the
settlement of yet unreclamed lands every
school house they raise haslens the sale of lands
owned by the federal power; and yet roads
and bridges and school-houses, and the multi
tude OF ct ceferds pertaining to growing settle
menls, are made aud maintained out of taxes
levied on the settlers soil, while the vast public
domain adjoining, although sharing the adj
vantages conferred by these things, is exempted
from all liability connected with them The
public domain reaps a full share Of the benefits
accrung from private taxation and industry.
without being subjected to one iota of cost Of
itself this is great wrong. 1t is wrong to
the individuals paying taxes for the advance
ment of what only partially concerns them, and
to the community because Of the subsidiary
evils to which it gives birth
In equity, the public domain is liable to the
amount of Its just proportion Of the cost of all
| improvements from which it derives profit.
Congress, having decreed that it shall be free
from taxation, Is, we contend, bound to provide
an equivalent In some other way and we look
upon the grants petitioned for by Iowa as ne-
ther more nor less than an instaIment of the
debt due by the Government to it's western
citizens. An idea of the extent of this debt
may be formed from the calculations of Mr..
SUMNER. introduced into his speech in the Sen
ate yesterday. He estimates the total amount
at S2,25O,OOO, very small proportion of
which has been paid in the shape Of internal
improvements. The calculation is based upon
the moderate suppostion that the tax on the
land of nonresident proprietors in the States
embraced is cent per acre, which is unques-
tionaby on the safe side of the mark.
Upon the payment OF the proposed install
ment of this debt depends the ability of Iowa
to construct the leading thoroughfares projected
in Mr.. JoNEs's bill. We have not at hand
any estimate of the cost of either of them. but
notwithstanding the favorable grades presented
by the prairies. it may be safely put down as
much beyond the means of the present inhabi-
tants of the State. They are conscious of the
vital Importance of the roads to their future
well-beng, and enough has transpired to show
their readiness to afford all the aid in their
power. Still they are unequal to the perform
ance of the undertaking, and hence they fall
back upon the Government as the power or
party most interested In their prosperity, and |
bound by the strongest ties to render the |
needful assistance. 1t is not alleged that
any obligation exists on the part of the Govern |
ment to expend national resources for the ad- |
vancement of local objects it is not contended |
that the Government may and should tax New |
York or Louisiana to enrich Iowa but it is
maintained that the Government being deeply
indebted to Iowa, in common with all other
States In which the unsold public domain is
located, ought to do something towards dis
charging that Indebtedness without further
delay. The plea that grants of land may
foster recklessness, or give rise to an unhealthy
spirit OF speculation, is not available in this
instance. The projects requiring aid were
promulgated long ago the need that exists for
them, their practicabiity, and their ultimate
advantages, have all been discussed they are
now admitted to be necessary by every man
acquainted with the State and with the general
characteristics of the West and the grants
may therefore be pronounced at once partial
payment of a long standing debt, and an easy
method of creating Il prosperity in which the
whole country will participate.
That the country will share the prosperity
resulting from the carrying out OF these under
takings is fact which ehectually disposes of
tho objections urged by the representatives of
certain OF the older States who see in the plan
nothing more than means of defrauding
those States of some of their proportion of the
Iacy. each State has Of course substantial in
terest in the unsod domain of any other State
or Territory; not such an interest as that to
which Mr.. UNDERWOOD, in his amendment,
lays claim, but an interest through the treasury
of the National Government. The worth of
that interest depends upon the extent of the
sales Of the public lands, and whatever de-
stroys or limits their saleabe value, to that ex
tent Injuries the interest of the older States.
Now 1t is admitted that large part Of Iowa
judging from the nap, and from what we know
Of the country, we should say nearly one half
must long remain unsaeable, and therefore val
ueless, if means Of travel and transport be not
provided between the Mississippi and the in
terror. A dozen or two counties may be pointed
out on the map, which, from tho scarcity Of tim
Der, remoteness from markets, or other SINH
lar causes, are absolutely worthless, but every
one Of which will be available for settlement,
10 soon as trunk line Of railway shall be con
structed. II appears to US, then, that the old
States are IN reality bound by regard to their
own welfare, commercially considered, to cede
to Iowa the lands claimed. BY surrendering
alternate sections, as proposed, they will bring
an immense territory into the market, and by
afording motives to settlement, as well as facili-
ties for it, they will give an impulse to the