New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-05-30
Costs over sales,

Costs over sales, $50,526,923
1t is conceded, that the, money S23,529323,
and SC, 4S9,I68, paid for Louisiana and Florida
was taken from the public treasury, and GER
tainly the equivalent, or rather the proceeds of
the public lands, from those States, has long
ago sponged this debt. The lands which were
obtained from Georgia did not cost the general
government, including all expenses, more than
about Sl0,000,000. Now the aggregate pro-
| ceeds of the sales of the public lands of the
States of Alabama and Mississippi, which were
| acquired from Georgia, have amounted to near
ly 100000, 000-all of which has gone into the
treasury of the United States. The general
government has received more than costs of
Louisiana and Florida from the sales of the
public lands The question now is, whether
the public lands in their proceeds would be
worth any thing to the State of Louisiana. We
will proceed to show the number of acres and
| the amount of money to which Louisiana is en-
titled to receive, according to the ratio of her
representation.
On the 30th of September, 1851, there were
of lands, 1886, $50, 140 acres. Divide the num-
Der of acres by the number of representatives
from all the States in Congress, and you have
to each representative 6,006.S07 acres Louis-
ana has four representatives multiply the
6,006,s07, the number ofacres to each represen-
tative, by four, and you have 24026 ,22S acres
for Louisiana. Naluing it at the minimum
price established by law, and Louisiana would
be entitled to the sum of $4,000, 900.
We do not contend for the power of Congress
to levy tariff duties for the purpose of providing
a surplus fund. over and above Government ex-
penditures, to be distributed among the States
Now, what is the financial condition of the
Treasury of the United States?
GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES During the
quarter ending the 3st of March the receipts into the u
S Treasury were as follows From customs 4gs 49,
lands, s422o3O 7s miscellaneous sources sl70lo5 SO
loan OF 1c (treasury notes funded s2450-otal S16
s030s6 The expenditures for the period amounted
to Sl033s 332 OIL including S2571176 AZ for the Navy
S2l4O9O 70 for the Army and Fo-tcatops S41s7j IS
for civil miscellaneous and foreign intercourse and $751;
800 o. for Pensions and the Indian Department the bal
1nce being for interest on the public debt and the
demptiOn Of loans etc.
Basing our calculations on the above receipts
and expenditures, the expenditures cannot ex-
coed $4,000, 900, and the receipts must be
equal to S60,000,0O0 The Treasury is in a |
state of plethora. 1t requires depletion-what |
is to be done with this large accommodating sur
plus revenue; Does this condition of the Urea.
sury look like taking funds arising from Gus
toms to be converted in public lands, that these
may he distributed among the States When
we ask for the distribution of the public lands.
we do not ask that money should be raised for
iirect distribution. This is not the principle of
Benefits Land bill We affirm that the public
ands are to be trust fund in the hands of the
National Government, to be appropriated, first,
to pay revolutionary debts of the old States,
then for the common benefit of oil the States
This is our position, and that the authority |
urged, for appropriating, besides eighty -four |
millions already granted, thirty one millions of
lcres Of these lands for the ercl,siUe benefit Of
he ae1c States
Whatever may be the opinion of our political
opponents against distributing these lands among
he States, they cannot prevent distribution
While they are pursuing this improyident poll
cy, distribution is going on in Congress, in the
hape of grants of lands to the States to con-
truct works of internal improvement.
Anti-Land Distribution is maintained in many
If the States as a democratic measure. The
7ote upon Benefits Land bill convinces us Of
hat fact. When passed by the Honse of Rep
fesentatiyes, there were only thirty democrats
who voted in the affirmative. The democratic
Senate, with the most obstinate determination,
refused to act upon the question
By the provisions of this bill, Louisiana would
have received a very considerable benefit, and
put into her possession the means of educating
her children and building her railroads, and
thus diminishing the cost of transportation
rom the place Of production to the piace Of
We shall resume this subject in some subse
Iuent issue.