Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-09-08
Land Distribution.

The following communication is from the |
ST. Louis Intellgencer and the editor says,'is |
from the pen Of one of the oldest and most
respectable citizens Of cur State 1t is on
d subject of great interest to the public at
large. 1t is highly desirable that the Pub
lie Lands should be disposed of in some
equitable manner, SO as to get it out of the
political demogogues and traders. The
communication is as follows:
at is obvious from the vote on the
"Homestead bill' at the first session of the |
thirty-second Congress, and from the favor
able consideration given TO Benefits Land
bill, that the people of the United States are
prepared to abandon the public domain as
source Of national revenue. Assuming this
to be the true state of the public mind in
respect to this important subject, it behoovss
the people Of the new States 10 take the
matter under consideration and settle upon
some certain course Of policy to be Urged
upon Congress at its approaching sessions.
None of the schemes for the disposition
of the public land which have been before
Congress for some years past, have originat-
ed with the people. The public domain
has come to be regarded as political capital,
a stake to be played for by political gamb-
lers, and as evidence of the little interest
which the people take in the matter, there
was perhaps not one man in thousand that
had any just conception Of the provisions of
either of the above mentioned bills during
the time they were pending before Con-
gress. Nor did the public press with very
few exceptions take the trouble of exainin-
ing the nature of said BILLS with a view to
the enlightenment Of the people.
1t is believed that the principles involved
in both Of said bills were unjust, and at
war with the best interests Of the new
States and if no opposition is made to them
by the people it is to be expected that they
will be brought forward again at the ap-
proachiug session of Congress, when they
will in all probability be adopted.
Of the two measures Benefits Bill is
most likely to he adopted. 1t is the most
Objectionable because it virtually transfers
about thirty millions acres OF the public
land from the General Government 10 the
hands Of stock jobbers and spectators,
without any compensation whatever 10 the
Government. Thus making the old States
the recipients Of all the revenue to be de-
rived from the sale Of these lands, while the
new States are TO receive nothing only upon
the condition of doubling the money value
Of one acre of Government land for each
acre granted to them for the construction
of railroads. This bill will be the most
likely to pass because it appeals to the Gu
pidity of the old States, 10 the specializing
capitalists of the East and to the desire Of
the new States for aid in the construction
of works OF Internal Improvement.
1t is not the object Of this communication
to present any scheme for the disposition Of
the public domain, but TO inc;tc the public
press TO discuss the subject, and if possible
bring the public mind to all agreement upon
some plan that will secure the greatest bene-
fit to the greatest number Of the American
people, without doing violence 10 the just
claims to the inhabitants of the new States.
And with a view to this end respectfully
suggest that a convention be held at some
suitable place in the new States before the
meetingO of the next Congress for the par
pose of making the sentiments of the peo-
pie known to that body. MIssouRI.n