Washington telegraph., 1852-05-05
The Appropriation of Lands for
Internal improvements.

In regard to the principle OF making
grants of lands to particular States says
the National Intelligencer, were 1t new
question, we should consider it seriously
questionable policy. But after what Con-
gress has heretofore done in that way on a
large scale-carelessly and somewhat i'm
providently it is true-the principle must
be considered as already recognized by the
Government and the further appropriation
of public lands to similar objects becomes
question of expediency, which must be
Judged, it seems to us, by the individual
merits of each proposition
On this subject there is no little force in
the following observations, which, coming
from an old and respectable journal (the
Connecticut CouranD in one of the Old
Thirteen States may be considered as dis
interested as they are liberal
One of the most distinguished features
of the present session of Congress is the de-
mand made by the Western States for large
amounts of public lands for purposes of
railway communication. At first glance,
this demand seems grasping one, and only
the entering-wedge to the cession Of all the
when viewed dispassionately it may be, after
all, the most acceptable plan for the pros
perity of the old States. The whig doc
trine of the distribution of the proceeds Of
the sales of the public lands among the
States in proportion to their number of in
habitants must be relinquished, while the
nation is laboring under public debt The
next best step, then, is so to facilitate their
sale and increase their value as to enable
them in time to pay off this Indebtedness.
For this object no plan seems so important
as one that will bring their products rapidly
to a market.
Schemes for the settlement of a continent
like ours, require far-reaching policy
The mere questions of dollars and cents, as
matter of present emolument, is of less
moment than the ultimate well-being of the
immense population that will eventually
crowd these territories. If, then, Govern
ment can, by giving away one acre, secure
the sale of two at price higher than the
three would have brought without the gift,
it certainly is matter of policy were reve-
nue. alone concerned, to give the one away.
If, by these roads, settlers in larger numbers
are induced to enter the new Territories
and purchase land the object of Govern
ment is gained so far as pecuniary policy Is
| concerned.
But there are other objects before Re-
public than merely the pecuniary advan-
tages of revenue. Its future growth and
prosperity are to be considered. The hap
piness and progress of its citizens are to be
calculated. Men who enter the untenant-
ed forrest, with their axe on their shoulder,
and nothing but their own right arm and in
domitable energy to rely upon, deserve the
considerations of paternal Government as
much as those who are living in the cities or
surrounded by society. There is kind
of tacit compact on the part of Government
that such man shall not be shut out of the
pale of civilization, cut off from the bene-
| fits of a market, and deprived Of the means
communicating with the world he has left.
There seems to be duty resting on his
country to follow him with her advantages
and improvements, and to connect him with
his fellows by roads and bridges or by lines
of packet-ships and steamers The settler
has performed his part Of this implied COM
pact by first entering the wilderness; let
the country then perform her part, by con-
Meeting him with the world he has left, and
by bringing the advantages of a good pa
rental, all-seeing Government to his rude
log hut amid the clearing.
The argument, then, and that Of interest
and policy, will be sufficient reasons for the
grant of these public lands for the purpose
required. Neither will the old States lose
their share Of the public domain. These
roads will bring to their marts an increase
profit of trade their business will be built
up, and their own prosperity much more in
creased than would have been the case had
the lands been retained, even to be sold for
their benefit.