Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-04-23
Grabbing the Public Lands.


The following article from the Rich
mond Whig-though written for Virginia.
is equally applicable TO Pennsy ivania:
Mr.. Downs of Louisiana, in some re-
marks i'll the Senate, on the Iowa Land
bill, said, Mr.. Douglass has earned his
title to the support of Illinois for the
Presidency. by providing means from the
Public Treasury for constructing 464
miles of railroad in that State
This. at $4,000 a mile, about the
average price of constructing railroads,
would give nearly fourteen millions of
dollars. A very good title, indeed, TO the
support of lllinois-but what sort of title
does it give TO the support of other States,
who have been robbed to that amount
These fourteen millions of dollars are de-
rived from public lands, which were ceded
by Virginia to the Union. for the Common
benefit of all the States, herself included.
The Democrats, who rule in both bran
ches OF Congress, among which number
is Mr.. Douglass, tell us that it is unconsti-
tulional 10 distribute these lands among all
the States; but it is perfectly right and
proper to appropriate them to particular
States. By this mode of construction
and action, Virginia, which is quite as
needy as any other in the Confederacy,
is deprived Of all shares in that great
fund. Her Representatives in Congress
sit silent and acqulcsce in this GRAB system.
They are too conscientious 10 advocate
general distribution, by which their own
State would be benehued-and they pro-
tess to be unable TO prevent others from
scizing upon as much as they want. But
these others-these grabbers-are their
chosen political associates-the very men,
whom they are recommending to Virginia,
as suitable persons 10 fill the Presidential
chair. The Legislature of the State, with
40 Democratic majority, follow III the
footsteps of their Congressional fellows.
They are exploring every nook and corner
in this poor old Commonwealth, III quest
OF every COW and hog, and every do
mestc untensl, to lay the heavy hand of
taxation upon but their scruples will not
permit them to demand OF Congress fair
portion of that vast fund. which was all
her own once-and which is being daily
pluudcrcd by their own political assocl-
ates. We believe a strong and united ap
peal by the Legislature OF Virginia to the
Congress OF the United States. would ar
rest this system Of plunder, and give to
the State It's due proportion Of the com
mon fund II is hopeles, however, to
expect any such step from the Demo
cratic majority. They are welded to
their sterile bstractions-sterile OF good,
at least-though very prolific in mischief
to Virginia.
Nevertheless. we trust the Wings will
bring this subject before the Legislature
and the country.--There is no other
known means for prosecuting internal i'm
provements at the present moment. All
the works will have TO be stopped for the
want of funds-lor the taxes TO be raised
for existing liabilities, will be fully as
much as the people can pay for years to
come. The subject, therefore, appeals TO
every man who feels an interest III de-
yelopinc the resources of the State; and
in fact to every one who has to pay
poraon of the enormous taxation, to be
levied during the year.
Let the issue be made and submitted to
the people; whether they prefer to be over
wheImed with taxes, and have all their i'm
proyemcnts arrested for the sake Of Demo-
cratic scrupIes-While Democrats from
other regions are piundering the treasury
or whether they will claim fund which
is Justly theirs, and which will relieve
them of large portion of their taxes, and
at the same time enable them to prose-
cute these great works, which are essen
tal to our prosperity. On such an issue,
we cannot, doubt the verdict of the people.
They will not, they cannot consent to be
ground into the dust by intolerable taxes,
merely to humor the affected purism and
antedlluvian notions of a set of political
Hunkers, who think OF nothing but their
salaries. Let the issue be tried when the
tax gatherer makes his uuwelcome round
tins summer.