Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-24

of neutrality, was against the measure. In let
ter to Atticus he says "Cesar hopes that will
second him, and invites me to it. See the adyan-
tages shall gain by taking this party; the friend
ship OF Pompey and even that of Caesar, if de-
sired it; a reconciliation with my enemies the
peace Of the multitude; and the assurance of quiet
in my old age; but after the conduct have main
tanned in my Consulship and the principles which
Il have maintained in my writings, ought not my
rule to be this maxim of Homer, 'Me best Of all
coansels is to defend ones country"
Contrary to the views and wishes of these old
fogies," Cesar, with the assistance of Pompey and
Crassus, (who were subsequently his colleagues in
the first triumvNte,) carried the law by the suff-
RACES of the people. The lands were divided and in
few years the "wages was paid Cesar by the
aid of the military and the mob, trumphed over the
Senate and made himself Dictator The liberties
of Rome were gone forever, and despotism super
vened.
We do pot fear such catastrophe in our case !;
nor are we imputing ambitious motives to any man.
But think that all great measures may be wisely
looked at in the light Of historical admonition.
There never was, as we think, a question Of such
magnitude and Importance, in all its fiscal social,
and political aspects as that which is now pending
before Congress. If the national domain be dis
posed of" by grant to individuals corporations,
we repeat, ii is gone .toreper Before consummat-
ing such act Of irrevocable extinguishment there
fore, every statesman and indeed every citizen, for
the interest that he individually has in it, ought to
give the matter the gravest consideration He should
carefully settle in his mind the inquiry whether it
is ExpEDIENT OR poLITIc to giue array the public
lands, and whether the general welfare will be
promoted by such gratuitous grants.
The first particular to be examined is, the infu-
ence which the plan proposed may have upon the
revenue of the Government. Will the means OF
the Treasury be increased by the distribution 1t
is obvious, we think that the direct effect must be,
the national resources From the report Of the Sec
rotary Of the Interior, dated December 3D. $780, it
appears that the Public Lands have been rich
source of revenue to the Government averaging
about one and a quarter million Of dollars per an
nun for the last fifty years over and ADORE all er-
peases." The whole aggregate receipts, then, to
that time, would amount to sxty-two millions and a
half. Mr.. MEREDITH, Secretary Of the Treasury,
on the Sd of December, 1S49, reported "that this
source of [annual] revenue may be taken at nearly
tour millions of dollars" He also stated that the
actual receipts at the Treasury from the Public
Lands for the year ending 30th june, 1S48, were
SO, 328, 642.
The amount Of sales had advanced with the pro-
gress and improvement of the country, and the gra-
dual increase of agricultural migration. The inlme-
diate effect, then, Of sweeping distribution of these
lands must be the extinction of this prolific source
Of revenue. Are there any indirect or collateral
benefits to the nation that could compensate this
loss to the public fsc? We think there are none
as we will hereafter endeavor to show