Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-09-29
The Public Lands.

What should be done with the public lands, is
a question which we often hear asked by the en-
quir:ng citizen, and we somewhat surprised
tfattli question has not more extensively engaged
the attention of our leading politicians of both par
u ties '..N- Il. .-...tr
All, We believe, admit that tine citizens of all the
States have an equal interest in the lands their
proceeds but parties differ as to the best method of
diSpO3ing of them for the common benefit of the
owners. Once the Democratic patty protested TO,
advocate the appropriation OF ther proceeds as any
other fund revenue. Now 1t is somewhat diff
cult 10 determine the policy of that party upon this
question OF late II las become the policy oil The
Democratic Congress TO appropriate these lands for
thcbenett oil corporations, thus dvestng them from
their original purpose, and squandcring them upon
4 few pap-led and crammed corporations i'll the
new States 10 The exclusion oil the old States, who
have least equal Interest III them according TO
the Acknowledgement oil all parties. Is tins 10 be
our future policy is the question {! Are We TO stand
tancly by and witness the squanderment OF the
public domain, large portion of which was coded
10 the Federal Government by Maryland ana Vlr-
,iuia, and the remainder of which was acquired by
the common treasure and common blood of all the
States, and not even ask or expect our proportioni
We have too long acquicSced in their ruuous poll
cy, and it is time we should reform. Our taxes are
excessive and daily becoming more oncrouS, our
public schools. all over the State, as nothing
compared with what they should be the records of
the last census, speak OF the 'grown up ignorance"
oil Virginia in tones which should make every tue
lover of his Stale crimson with shame. Our great
improvements are still and languShing, and our
mighty resources yet wholly undeveloped every
where is seen the need of action and progress, and
yet we asked to wait patiently and suffer the
bright and common treasure, that which is IN COM
with all the States, to be pitched and purloin
ed from us by 'tbar ROOM politicians, who tickle
our prcjudiceS and bluff our suspicious with one
hand and quietly rob us of our heritage with the
other. VIII Virginia longer submit 10 this cajoling
policy? VIII she forever continue to feed on spec
ulation and idle and proflcSs distractions, while
her sap aud life blood is Distracted from her. " i'll
not Virginia rather awake to her true interest and
boldly stand up for her just rights, when she
the crying need i'll which she stands for funds 10
help her onward in her progress. Her Legislators
blind 10 her interests and will she not awaken them?
No longer ago than the last Congress, while nearly
93OOO,UOO were appropriated f-r River and Harbor
purposes, Virginia got but $4,000, andthat TOO
when the citizens of Richmond had TO send on spe
cal advocates, and when every member from Viz
sinia except 1--WE belieye) MeSSrs Strothers and
Beale voted against the bill containing this patry
appropriation. Virginia has slept long enough,
and ii IS for Western Nirginians 10 wake her up
from the lcthargic toTpOr i'll which she Is sleeping
AWAY her very existence ..-..t-.. . d. ...a.Hal