Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-11-05
PROCLAMATION
IT. z,,eAeuey DAVID S. REID, Gorenor Of the State Of
INJUSTICE TO MR.. DoBBIN.

Mr.. Venable, in the Prospectus OF his organ, the
"North- Carolina Statesman, does manifest lnJus-
tice to Mr. Dobbin on the land distribution ques-
ton The Prospectus says :" believing we do that
it has become the settled policy of Congress to squan-
der the public lands adopt the patriotic language
ofMr Dobbin, and say "all of North Carona's sons,
both Wings and Democrats, should protest and de-
mand North Cardinals share of the public domain.
Here the inference is left the mind OF the reader
that Mr. Dobbin believes the time has arrived for de-
oandno North Cardinals share of the public lands
True the statement is not to that effect in so many
words: but the impression of one uniformed as to
Mr.. Dobbins real position would be, that he believ-
ed with Mr. Venable and the Editors of this propos-
ed Journal that the policy of squanderng the public
lands was already established and then portion of
his language in the last Assembly, is adroitly quo
ted to strengthen and confirm this impression We
present below, in full, Mr.. Dobbin remarks on the
subject, delivered III the House of Commons Novem-
Der 81 1852:
"Mr. Dobbin said when he entered the Hall he had
no idea of abandoning his determination not to en-
bark in the discussion of the various subjects, for
many reasons, and more particularly because there
were other and more practical and important subjects
before the Legislature. Having been alluded to,
however he was constrained to obtrude a word
two lest his votes might be misunderstood. He
would avail himself of some other occasion to deliv
err his views the subject of internal improvements
in the State He believed the right spirit upon that
subject was aroused in our State, and he hoped to
live vet long enough to see the great projected
schemes accomplished. He a jealous friend,
and desired that should move regularly, but
cautiously. He knew how to sympathize with the
people of the West and trusted the day would come
when the mountain barriers should be broken down
and the frozen icy difficulties which bind them should
melt away beneath the warm breath of the iron horse
as he dashed through the mountain defles-when the
man of the mountains, though he could not
clay his hand upon the oceans name
And play familiar with his hOary locks,
could at least converse by the touch OF the wires,
with the man of the ocean He had no old opinions
to qire up and to adUdnce in regard to the
public lands. He never had said that the opening
of Nagshead by the General Government was uncon-
sttutional. In Congress he had voted against what
he considered wild and unconstitutional schemes of
internal improvements by the General Government,
which proposed to clear out rivers and make other
improvements local in their character.
Mr.. Cherry interrupted by asking Mr.. D. if he
would have voted for the bill known the river and
harbor BILL if he had been in Congress during the
last session.
Mr. D. replied that he would not, as he believed
the bill contained some unconstitutional features He
objected to the 1St resolution offered by the gentle
man from Wake, because he CIr. d. wanted Mays
head opened by the money of the General Govern
ment, and not to have it done by appropriatng any
portion Of share of the public lands. For then,
if under the contingency provided for IN his End res
oluton we claim our share of the lands they would
deduct the 100000 acres Another objection
that any lands belonging to North Carolina and ly-
ing in another State might be taxed exorbitantly
to compel us to sell them at price even far be-
low their real value. He understood that Nagshead
had been surveyed, and that the opening of it
practicable, at cost of about 5000, 900. An appro
priaton of such sum, in cOnnexion with other
schemes costing from one to two and three hundred
thousand dollars, could not be carried through Con-
gress and he in favor of it separate and dis
tinct proposition. He was in favor of striking out
the alternatiVe-"or 100000 acres of land in the
list resolution He had always understood it to be
the policy of the democratic party that the public
lands should be sold gradually and the proceeds be-
come part of the of the government to help
pay its expenses. He still in favor of that poll
cy; but if it was to become the settled policy of
Congress to gi0e G0ay the lands to the States,
then he presumed all wings and democrats would
protest and demand North Cardinals share of the
public domain but he had faith that Gen. Pierce
would dscountenance wasteful giving away of the
landsn
Mr. Dobbin, be it observed, said "Ae had no old
opinions to gi0e up and to adUGnce in
regard to the public lands ~ and he said further in
the concluding portion of the sentence quoted in the
Statesman's prospectus, that "he had faith that
Zen. Pierce eoOuld discOuntenance caStetuI giuing
acay Of the lands. - Why was not the sentence
gwen at length? Comment upon such injustice is,
however, unnecessary. The prospectus is, we trust,
OPNN AoI dueLuInenCj anu we 90 NOT KNOW Out MI
Venable would be as well employed in amending it
and doing justice to the gentleman he has misrepre
sented and whose language he has garbled as in GO
ing up and down the District denouncing his former
friends and dealing out threats against the party to
whose kindness and Partially he owes all the honor
ne has ever enjoyed as a public man.
We invite particular attention to the quotation
above from the prospectus and what Mr. Dobbin re-
any said, as given in his speech on the occasion.
-" e nave quoted all the prospectus says about Mr.
Dooons position the land or distribution ques-
uon; and we now ask the candid reader to compare
1t with the two last sentences in his remarks.
the prospectus of this Wing concern in disguise
thus unjust and reckless what may we not expect
from the paper itself9
we took occasion, in publishing Mr. Dobbin's re-
,uarks in the Standard of December LIST, 1852, to
uear testimony to the firm and manly conduct of |
"at gentleman on the subject referred to- The Sena-
'Oiai robes gttered before him, and he might have
worn them if he could have consented to pledge him
sc TO deviate from the Democratic doctrine on the
US'1outlon question; but temptation had the effect
y 70 bind him still closer if possible to his cher
-Sueu principles tried in the fire. he came out pure
eO1O' we copy as follows from the Editorial col
OA,ls OF the Standard of date December 1st 1852:
.ni,, nt.sCUSsIoN IN THE HOUSE There was quite an
S.t,nJeu discussion in the House of Commons on |
Nagsbo:y1l ast on the subject of the public lands,
der. TWGV nov in which Mr.. Leach, Gen Sa1n-
40 MT Bynum. Mr. nobh;n W. 4 szF. IL