Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-14
TIIE; LANE oUESTIoN.


years the subject, and endeavoring to convince
the people-wllom good Federalist he proposes
to instruct. manage, and save from themselyes-that
unless they forward noaO. and divide the lands
they will be squandered, with the appreciation of
Democratic President, on the new States In his
issue of Saturday last he says:
The magnanimity and disinterestedness of the
Standard and the locofoco leaders of this State,
generally, exceed any thing of which we have ever
read IN history fiction. They not merely will
ling to divide the public lands the heritage of the
Old Thirteen States with the new, but they insist
on giving the latter all right and title to them, with
out reserving 50 much as "pepper-corn." We
have heretofore demonstrated that the present plan
OF throwing the proceeds of the public lands into the
common Treasury has become sham cloak
for concealing the graspng demands of the Western
States and people"
And he then goes on to admit that Mr. Fillmore
signed all the bills granting public lands to new
States during his term of office, but very coolly
thatit is a matter of little consequence to the
people of the old States "what were the opinions of
Mr. Fillmore this subject last year'l
But we will dispose of the Editors statements in
the order in which We have presented them.
The irony of the Editor, as discovered to the
world in the first sentence above quoted, is both
striking and refreshing. We confess I" the iron has
entered soul '-but we feel nearly as deeply
the that it appears from this first sentence
that his range of reading in history and fiction has
been, somehow other, most unfortunately circum-
scribed and limited We fear the Editor had habit
when boy, of skipping his lessons as he has
arguments or it may be that beginning with facts
and first principles, and being honestly inclined,
the countryman at the fremont House, to eat
his way through the bill of fare, " he has not yet
reached, according to the books, the delightful do
mains referred to. But if struck by and stuck st
first principles and facts what has he not done in
fiction, and that too without the aid of books? We
know Of no achievement of his in this respect which
is more striking than that exhibited when he charg-
that the Democrats "are not merely willing to
divide the public lands, the heritage of the old thr
teen States with the new, but they insist giving
the latter all right and title to them, without
ing much pepper-corn. " Now this declara-
ton is positively untrue out and out, and chal
lenge the Editor to effort even to make it good.
The Democrats hold the public lands to be, what the
deeds of cession and the manner in which they
purchased declare them to be, the common property
of all the States as States united and that Cong SIS
neither divide these lands among the States,
give any State States undue advantages in " dis
posing of them. But the Editor adds q that the
present plan of throwing the proceeds of the public
sham, cloak for concealing the grasping demands
of the Western States and people. " Has he fairly
examined the Presidents Message? Has he not
that the President says that the net ro7f from
the sales of the public lands have amounted to
fifty millions of dollars? And is it not clear, these
profits have gone into the common treasury to sup
port the common government, that the people have
been required to pay, because of this, ty millions
less by soay Of tarit tdres? And has this been of
benefit to the old States-to North Carolina
There might have been danger, and there daE-
ger under Wing rule, the Register admits, that
the public lands would be squandered the
States; but now have the word of honor of the
President that the power to dispose of the public
domain" shall be used no 0tAer,cise " than might be
expected .J1on4 q prudent proprietor" and % that
grants of land to aid in the construction of roads
SHOULD be restricted cases. chere 1t acOud be for
the interest Of proprietor Under like circttmstGn
ces thus to contribute to the construction Of these
,cOrks " Is not this the true doctrine? Will the
Register object to a prudent pr;prietorship in the
general government over these lands? Is not this
prudent" management of the Landslide very
thing he has been contending for all along? If so
and take it to be Enthusiastically Soften the Hes
sage has settled tho question: and our friends, who
have had doubts and apprchensions the subject,
may repose upon the Message as upon rock.
But the Register says is of little consequence to
the people "what the opinions Of Mr.. Fillmore
on this subject last year.. We submit that it is of
material consequence, affording insight into
the motives, the hypocrisy of Wing leaders this
question. In 1910, when they had power they gave
the advantage to the States by their land bill,
and Knocked the old States by promise which they
never performed; and last year, at Baltimore these
very North Carolina Wing leaders voted fortythree
times for Mr. Fillmore for President-for Mr. Fill
more who had signed all the bills squanderng lands
States passed during his term and then they
came home and set up cry in behalf of the old
States and against the very policy which they had
sanctioned and endorsed Can they deny this /?
Again, achy they SILENT an their last Baltimore
Convention, this question? Why did not Mr.
Miller, Mr.. Haywood, or Mr.. Boyden-who,
it is said, had an important agency in framing the
Resoutons-insist some declaration in favor of
the old States? The reason was, Benefits and the
Homestead bills were pending before Congress- and
the Convention did not intend to embarrass the par
ty The issue was left unrecognizcd and floating in
order that it might be dropped in one locality and
urged in another, where it was supposed to be pop
uar as for instance in North Carolina This is a
specimen, in brief of the conduct of these politicians
on this question. It has been AypocrittcdE from the
start and the people the fact and understand it
in its true light; and they also capable of draw
ing the contrast between the course of Wing leaders