Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-29

e 50 nlaay naFrfea anxious real ze could haldE
NJ . be feipaeial 70 Stale. HE snls. ls ~llie
this akness coeld hardly fail 10 recelyea stimslu
from The Representations and Inducements held gu
for settlement in some of the land States or territories
The anonnt of public lands disposed of in every
other way up 10 the 3Oth June, 1851, was one hun
dred and two millions of acres. of which twenty-on-
millions and quarter were for internal improvements
in alternate sections; forty millions and halt do
nations and grants for schools, universities, etc.
made in all cases 10 the territories, the most of j
the Rocky Mountains, where some effort Is made
by Congress, which is charged with the goVernmec
of the territories deveopo them. in some way, Ir
discharge Of the imposed upon it, and for the
purpose of consolidating possessions against The In
dams, &c. Twenty seven millions OF swamp lands
have been ceded to the States in which they lie as
yet the States have not done any thing with them
They are not looked on property by the United
States. Fifteen millions and half have been taken
up for military lands upon warrants, issued under
various acts. The number of acres for which war
have been issued under the several acts OF 1917
$685. has reached 25.52O,s6O. up to the present
time.
From these state ments it will be in the first
instance, that the whole amount of United States
lands given for purposes of internal improvement,
has been ,23557O, in alternate sections and this
has not been given donation, but compen-
salion for certain benefits accrue thereby to the
remaining sectons and we have little doubt but that
such benefit has, in most cases, accrued. II is the
sy stem which has tended TO abuse, and any rate,
should, we think, be put stop to,-not only on that
account, blu: because, besides having these abuses OF
its own, ii leads the way TO others, and gives
rise TO Ooser constructions and more lavish demands.
ndoubledly, the just plan is TO sell The lands for
the cash, put the money into the Treasury, and
duce public debt and taxation. But, although we
cannot 90, Mr. Leak does, for alternate sections.
We fully agree with Mr. Douglas, who denies that
the granting of such alternate sections is question
either of distribution donation. The simply
is this: The United States great land owner !;
she has millions Of acres which have been for very
many years in market, without chance of selling
them. account of their nnfavorabie location. The
Stale or States in which they lie, come forward and
say Give alternate sections Of six miles through
these lands, condition that we Will make Rail-
road through lhen and enable you TO sell the remain
ing bonds for double the price which experience has
proven You could not get for~the whole.
This is evidently plain bargain, founded up a
valuable consideration, and has affinity with the
reckless and foolish system of land distribution which
tits ugged forward justify. 1t is neither grant
donation, but fair business Transaction made by the
greatest land owner in the world, which may. in
more than che case. have resulted very favorby TO
the other parties but certainly has been loss 10
the Federal Treasury.
But we have heard great deal about the immense
deterioration of 1" Poor OIL North Carolina" and the
great and unparalleled growth of her Western rivals.
Now strange as it may appear 10 those who have
heard this played persstenty, the fact is that
the estimated value of property in North carolina
exceeds that in any Western Stale of The popu-
ation, and would leave larger sum per capita for
HeI innaONdntS, even counting lne negroes. Tier
debt is The smallest in the Union in proportion to
the population. l; is all CANNON to suppose that
the Western States have escaped debt. Or the
ray, they heavily indebted and it is but recent
that their accruing revenue has enabled them 10
meet demands Cor int and current expenses TIE
debt Of Ohio is nearly twenty mioDs-that of Hi
nois. seventeen millions. and that OF the other in pro-
portion.
II became the system of Imperial Rome, in her de.
genracv, TO grind vast sums out of the people OF the
Empire bY nordinate taxation and then 10 restore
portion of il them in charity, by which they
were taught TO look to the government, and not to
their efforts for assistance. This is the system
of all So called " splendid'' and bene6cient' gov
ernments; whereas, the theory in this Reput lie is,
that power is delegated by the people for specific
object that public property and public taxes should
be employed for the purposes Of carrying out these
objects, and not diverted to others, with which
the people have not entrusted their agents-either
State or Federal that 1t is wrong in principle, and
foolish in policy, for Congress TO distribute 10 The
States the lands, since the amount raised from that
source must be Immediately Withdrawn. in tie shape
Of revenues, to make up the de6ciency-we care not
whether that deficiency operate by causing nTease
Of the taJif, or by preventing reducic n the one
fact is certan-namely That just much more mon
ey will have be collected by than would other
wise be necessary. The same demdgogueism that
breaches up Homestead bills to all sorts Of people,
and land distribution all the States, might, and
may be carried, unless checked, to its legitimate eff
ects in the increase OF taxation and the erection Of
public granares, out Of which impoverished peo-
pie will be fed with public gratuies.
Wilmington Journal.
The YACHT NORTH STAu.-The London IFnes
Of the Sd notices at considerable length the arrival
Of Commodore Fanderbilts yacht, North Star, from
New York. Her appearance, construction, and
equipment, the editor says, present SO many novel
and curious features to English naval men, that ma
ny opinions have been expressed to her merits.
The Times says:
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