Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-04-16

notsee 10 repleuish its Treasuryat the expense Of
the bestclass Of its citizens.
AS the. price was reduced from Sc to 81 25
thirty three years ago. it is quite time that it should
bereduced to s. per acre, and then graduated as
proposed by my amendment. If you will adopt
this amendment as substitute for the original bill
and the House concurs, l. have no doubt it will,
not whisper of discomfort will be heard through
out this broad land Our people have never been
known to complain of Congress for doing Justice
to her citizens. By the adoption of this amend
ment you will do not only an act of justice but
you place homesteads within the reach of thous-
ands who cannot obtain them under the present
law And what is equally as important, you pre-
sent him no temptation to forfeit his selfrespect-
Men do not like to become paupers upon the Gov
eminent, unless l have utterly mistaken the char
acters of those with whom have lived all my life
firmly believe that this amendment would not
only be more acceptable to the people generally,
but would be hailed with more JOY than any act
of Congress that has passed within the last thirty
years.
Mr.. President, it must be obvious to all who
have closely observed the indication of public O.
pinion that something must be done with the pub
lie lands; some radical change in our policy with
regard to their disposition must be made. You
have an overlooking Treasury, arising from duties
on imports amply sufficient to meet the most ex-
travagant wants of the Government We have,
therefore, excuse for persevering in the policy
of selling these lands at profit; no Just reason
for refusing to act literally with the settler. am
confident that if this subject could be fully under
stood, and fairly presented to the American peo-
pie, and their wishes could be expressed thereon
at the polls, that nine tenths of them would say
with General Jackson, sell for such sum as will
reimburse the Treasury, but not on speculation
And if the other SEX mans better half, were con-
suited their vote would be unanimous. / have
said, and repeat that something must be done.
twill be recollected that we have on our cal
endar bill passed by the House, known as the
Bennett bill, which provides for distribution of
the lands among the States. There was time in
our political history when great party in this
country passed an act for the distribution of the
proceeds of sales of the public lands among the
States. Another party, greater in number, resis
ted the policy, and appealed to the people upon it.
Their opposition to it was migrated upon their
platform of principles, and was sustained by the
popular verdict. There it stands yet, with the
seal of the people reversing the policy of dstribu-
ton. 1t cannot be denied that this bill just au-
ded to- violates the spirit and intent of that fea-
ture in the platform of principles to which have
referred. 1t is substantially the distribution sys-
tenn, but in much more Objectionable FORM
The Wing party proposed to divide the proceeds.
The Bennett bill proposes division of the lands
thereby making freehoders of the old States and
tenants of the new. The soil of sovereign State
Is proposed to be owned and controlled by thirty
other States; the land to be leased, rented or sold
for the highest possible price, according to the
Whm or caprice of the proprietor. Perhaps the
Senators from Maine could tell US something of
the practical effects
We have heard much said from time to time on
the subject of State sovereignty and Federal en-
croachments, but in my humble judgment there
never has been proposition introduced into either
branch of Congress since the adoption of the
Constitution, which involves a more outrageous
violation of the just rights of the State, than the
bill to which have alluded / have ever been
opposed to the doctrine of notification but, sir,
if any law passed by Congress would justify such
it would be this For the same reason,
opposed another bill on your calendar, known as
Miss Dix's bill. No one appreciates more highly
Than do the motives of that most benevolent la
1y and public benefactress but can never con-
sent to make donation of lands within sover-
e1gn State, to corporation without its limits
When this is done, you retard the settlement of
The country, corrupt the morals of the people de-
press the energies and violate the sovereignty of
The State Congress has in several instances do
mated alternate section of the public land to aid in
The construction of railroads. This was right and
proper, because the lands penetrated by those i'm
DrovementS are thereby enhanced in value, sought
after and sold, and the reserved lands sell for
more than the whole would have done without the
Improvement | am not informed how it is in 9th
n States, but the greater portion of the lands
granted to the Mobile and Ohio railroad, as well
rs those reserved to the Government, were not
worth one cent per acre, and never would have
'old for even that, without the improvement but
With it, they will be valuable. Beside this, the
State of Mississippi has already paid into. your
Treasury immense profits on the entire cost of the
ands sold within that State
If have not greatly deceived myself, Mr.. Pres
dent, have shown that if the amendment pro-
pose should be adopted, strict justice will be done
% every interest concerned, yet SO tempered with
mercy that it will be- acceptable to this great ma
it will reimburse the Treasury every
dollar expended in the acquisition, survey, and
sale of the lands-that it will relieve the Govern
ment from the odious character of land speculator
upon its own citizens-that it will augment the
revenues of the Government by the increased
prosperity of our citizens it being the consumer
Of goods who pays the duties. and that it will be
the really more acceptable to those who inten-
ded to be its benefciaries than the original BILL
1t will be carrying out the humane recommends
ton of President Jackson, made twenty years ago.
1t is substantially the homestead bill without its
features. 1t will benefit much lar
ger class of citizens. 1t will preserve the self
respect of those who are to enjoy its benefits and
will not be opposed by the people of the old States
or the new. These, in my judgment are sufficient
reasons for the adoption of my amendment.
Before concluding will invite the attention of