The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-07
Ihe Public Lands.

'For what earthly purpose the system OF
| exenpting the newly sold lands from taxes for a
short term Of years adopted, bu 10 benefit the new
States by inviting immigt alton, and to assist the
settlers who form their peoPe' what would have
| been the elect of imposing or author zing imme-
date taxes but 10 deter population in these States
TO discours ge their growth and the development of
their resources Tile wise measure lie, in TACT, one
of the se,rets Of the immense progress Of the West
! Il wac an act Of favor not Of injustice IL is an
.uirage upon truth and fairness to rcpres"nt it in
/ any other light than that Of parental kindness.
How can the Government be accused Of wrong,
/ which has not itself, in any way. profted by the
exemption 90 North -fnTicqH
The exemption Of newly settled lands from
taxation for specific period, does not apply To
the whole Of the new States. Il does not cN-
iSi, for instance, in Iowa, where land becomes
taxable 80 soon as il is transferred from the
Government Ia an individual. The apidity with
which that State has been settled is the best
answer to the suppositlon that the moderate
taxes incident 10 now society deter immi-
grants and. consequently, the best refuta
ton Of our contemporay's opinion. that "the
immense progress Of the West" is attributable
10 the system on which the above remarks are
founded
But the .N6rh .lmerican misconceves the
ground on which grants Of land to the West are
IN the main advocated. fit supposes that the eN-
cmption from taxation during brief period after
settlement IN certain States is the grievance com
plainedo Of. That's comparatively 4 smallmatter,
aud oua which, being limited IN It's application,
cannot form "a valid argument on either side
The immense debt that has been pointed out
as due by the National Government to those
States in the West and South in which unen-
tered wild land remains, is a debt incurred
during the hong period intervening between the
settlement Of State aud the time when lands
are transferred from the Government To private
hands II il nearly altogether incurred before
tie period which the North american assumes
as jhe commencement ct an imaginary act Of
qfacc
How" 10 is asked, "cau the Government
be- accused of wrong. which has not itself, in
any way, profIcd by the exemption7' The
question would be pertinent if it did not rest
upon a false view OF tie facts. Ii the premises
were as the .Nirih .lDIfricm states them its
conclusion would be- proper but the premises
being directly opposite. the conclusion is worth
iltlc We contend that the Government has
benefited by the exemption Of public land from
taxation: while the s,ttlcrs-rccent immi-
grants includcd-hayc as uniformly suffered.
Take a simple case as an example: 4 county
ia Io&a, containing. say, twenty townships,
has a population = aG. together with non-resi-
dent spectators, bold and pay taxes npon one
halt Of tie available Land. They make passa
bic ,pads across the pralflcs, and through for
est aud mnrass, bridge streams. build school
houses. all ont Of their OW6 scanty resources.
OF course every one Of those improvements is
intended for the convenience and advantage OF
the settlers themselves hHt, when effected
they confer equally marked benefits upon the
Government. as the proprietor Of the INDICATED
lands. Zach Of tie Improvements. however
rude, adds 10 the chance Of the sale of srne
/ portion Of the public domain. and 50 Gar adds to
ila value The public domain. which receives
such obvious advantage, remains nntaNed; aud
therefore We maintain ust tie Government
can "lt accused If wrong" because Il has ia
many ways 'probicd by the exemption" which
the North .4mricHi yentghs ~ pronounce Can
at oi favor" to The settlers mot Of injustice y
The truth is, that neither the price OF th'
pubic dOn2rn MOI The imposition OF immediate