Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-06-24

Bennett,s Land Bill-The Distribution Question
Generally.
The position of the Democratic press in this Dis
trict is one involving something of pain, but nothing
of embarrassment. It's conductors are called upon
to discharge an important duty--it devolves upon
them to defend the policy and the principles of their
party against the attacks-not of their political OPP
ponents but of those who have obtained some prom
neney in the ranks of the Democracy and who still
claim to occupy position in that party while they
aspire to its highest hoDors and rewards. They are
also panied to know that the position of Mr.. Leak
and Others is brought to bear against the ablest and
most faithful champions OF Democracy in the other
Districts. An intelligent and valued friend, wiring
to the Raleigh Standard from the Salisbury District
speaking of the contest there between Messrs Craig
Democrat and Osborne, Whig says The Land
distribution is Mr. Osbornes hobby and its advoca-
cy by leading Democrats, one of his most earnest
arguments. Wing principle sustained by Demo
cratic authority !" But, unpleasant as this may be,
and much as the Democratic papers of the District
might wish to avoid any controversy with gentlemen
claiming belong to the party, their course can ad
NIT of neither doubt nor hesitation and however
much it may be the fashion with gentlemen who are
conscious of occupying erroneous position to de-
nounce in advance that exposure OF their errors
which they know that the press in the conscientious
discharge of its duty, will be called upon to make
the duty of making it is the less imperative or
the less likely to be complied with that account
and, indeed we fear that Mr.. Leake any individ-
ual claiming TO Democratic candidate in
any other District in the State would find himself in
as direct antagonsm to the press of his party there
as Mr.. Leake complains of finding himself in this
We publish in to-day's paper, certified copy of
the much talked of Benefits Land Bill which, by
some hocus pocus was got before the last House of
Representatives, and PASSED by majority of ten
a vote which lacked over fifty of being full one
Some few Democrats voted among the ninety-six in
the afirmalive-among the rest Mr. Venable, Of this
State whose course has been harped upon as COM
hitting the party of the State to the policy of Land
Distribution The result will show how far this
can be DONE
We have examined the vote by which this bill was
passed out of the whole body of the Southern Dem
ocrats it received but six votes and of these but
three hailed from the old States-one from Virginia
-Beale-who has not been reelected +; one from
North Carolira--Mr. Venable-who is yet to be
disposed Of; and one from Georgia, State which
actually received the full cash value for the lands
which she originally ceded to the United States
The other three votes are from Tennessee Louis-
ana and Kentucky,-all new States, and all acquir-
ed by the cession of the old States, by purchase,
at a later date. And it is upon this meagre showing
that it is sought to commit the Democratic party of
the South to this affair The great body of the
Northern Democratic vote comes from the Tariff
sections of Pennsylvania New York and Connect.
cut, and indicates, as plainly thing can indi-
cate another, the effect which the gentlemen voting
for such bill supposed it might tend to bring about,
namely-ether an increase of the tariff, at least
that it would prevent any reduction thereof. The
truth is, that ingenuity torture the action of
the last Congress into approval of the distribution
policy on the part of the Democracy of the country
any more than the unauthorized action of individu
ais could compromise the party in this State in oppo
ston to the express resolution of its last State Con
vention, held last summer, which afirms-
That the public lands the property all the
States be held by the General Government
fund for the payment of the public debt and other charges
upon the public treasury"
1t will be seen from the above that the much talk
ed of distinction between the lands and the proceeds
was not recognised by the Democracy of North Car
DINA, in Convention assembled, barely year since
The resolution says distinctly, the public lands
not merely the proceeds of the public lands Yet Will
this fact the record, plain and undeniable tina
it can neither be evaded nor explained away fnt
some few members of that State Convention now goin,
in direct opposition to the letter and to the spirit
the very resolution which they themselves assisted il
putting forth, while with strange peryersity Q
Judgment strong reliance upon the gullibilty Q
the public they contend that it those who still ho
to the doctrine of the above quoted resolution, anC
not they who have changed 1t is odd but amusing
But even admitting that the Land Distribute
scheme was founded upon proper principle, as
is the reverse it need require explanation to sho,
the manifest inequality and injustice of it's applica
ton contemplated by Benefits Bill, which give
to the little State of Arkansas, twice as much as
North Carolina, with three times the population
which gives to Georgia, which received three mil
ions for the cesson of her lands to the United State
as large proportion as Virginia or North CaroIin
which States ceded them freely, and which, aboN
all. gives the landsas grants-as donaions-the use
which, and the purposes to which they are to be al
piled by the sovereign States, dictated to sal
sovereign States by their creatue-the Gener,
Government No wonder, then, that the State
Rights men Of South Carolina voted agans, it in
body.
But we hardly care for dwelling upon this BILL
The inequality and injustice of its provisions al
admitted by all. The erroneous principle upc
which it and similar measures are founded, toget
with the practical absurdity of them ALL and IL
random and unsupported statements and ad CAPITA
dun appeals Of their advocates are the real obiec
OF misunderstanding real points upon which it
the duty of the nress In law the exack state of