Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-07-30
For the Standard.

For the Standard.
Mr.. HOLDEN: Your correspondent "W. W." has
not given the entire record of the action of the House
of Commons of the last Legislature in regard to the
public lands; and you are mistaken as to the votes
given by certain Democrats Gen. Leach's Resolu-
tons. In as few words as possible propose to put
this matter right
Gen. Leach's Resolutions as first offered, propos-
ed distribution of the public lands only. Gen
Saunders proposed to amend Gen. Leachs Resolution
as follows-his Resolution, first offered, being
modified by himself:
ResolUed, That the policy of granting the public
lands to actual settlers, and of making large appro
priatons of the same to works of internal improve
ment within particular States is UNJUST unequal and
mpoltic; and If persevered in by Congress renders
it the duty of the Representatives of the other States
to claim fair and equal distribution of the public
domain or for distribution and deposit in the States
of the proceeds thereof to be disposed of in such
manner the respective Legislatures may direct"
Mr.. Bynum proposed to amend Gen. S. Resolution
as follows
"That we are opposed to the policy of granting
the public lands to actual settlers, and of making
large appropriations of the to works of internal
improvement within particular States, as unjust
equal and impolitc; and Representatives in Con-
gress hereby instructed to endeavor to prevent
such policy but If such policy should continue con-
trary to wishes and their exertions, then and in
that they further instructed to make appli
cation for appropriation of fair and equal portion
of said lands to the State of North Carolina, and
which, when appropriated, shall be applied the
Legislature may direct"
It will be seen that both Gen. Saunders and Mr.
Bynum's agree in condemning the past policy as
unjust and unequal-that Mr.. B. instructs Rep
resentatives if this policy shall continue that then
they to go for fair and equitable portion; that
Gen. Saunders Resolution affirmed it to be the duty
of Representatives, if the past policy should be
"persevered in to go for "a fair and equal distri-
button Or for deposit among the States of the
proceeds. For Mr. Bynum's amendment the vote
SO yeas and 68 nays-the 81 Democrats, as given
by your correspondent "W. W." and DIR. Blow, of
Pitt voting for item Democrats who preferred
Gen. Saunders amendment, voting against it. The
question then came up Gen. Saunders amend
ment when division of the question striking out
Gen. Leachs Resolution and inserting Gen. Saunders
was called for, and the vote 43 yeas, SO nays
the nays being all Democrats. Then came the vote
on Gen. Leach's Resolutions, which had been amen
ded motion of Mr. Smith, of Halifax by inserting
after public lands, cor the proceeds thereof when
Gen. S. called for division of the question, first
the distribution of the lands, and second their
proceeds On the first question rs yeas, 80 nays
of the yeas 20 or % were Democrats. So much for
the Resolutions and the votes.
The Democrats who voted for Gen. Saunders Reso-
luton not for distribution per &C. but the past
policy of Congress should still prevail, then they
were for distribution. The % who voted for Gen.
Leachs Resolution agreed in this opinion and they
believed the past policy would be continued, they
record of the votes and the points. With your dis
pute with Mr. Venable have nothing to do.
A DEMOCRAT OF THE LAST LEGISLATURE.