Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-06-10
From the Caronian.
no the Frecman OF the THIRD congrsssiosal

a. -
Yielding to tho solicitation Of friends, announce
myself as candidate to represent you in the next
Congress of the u. States.
In making this prefer of my services, deem it
entirely unnecessary to accompany it with gene
raj exposition of my political principles. have
been too long identified with the s. Democracy OF
North Carolina, and have fought too many of its
battles, in youth and in manhood, to render it ne
cessary to define my position, now | am in the oscar
and yellow leaf.'
Upon most questions of national policy that have
hitherto divided the parties, have doubt but the
very worthy gentleman oppose and myself will be
found to agree. There Is however. as to which
the Democratic party are not I" a unit !" and upon
this there will be found likewise difference as to
our sentiments ! allude to the public lands Up
on this we present perfect antagonism, not so
much an opposition OF principle in the abstract, as
an opposition of action. Yes, under the circum-
stances in which we find the country placed. as to
this allimportant and present all-absorbing ques
ton, my respectable opponent and myself are as
wide apart the diameter Of circle,-that Is, as
wide we'll Can be.
The question as to the public lands, has now as
sumcd phase widely different from that which was
presented for your consideration, when " opposition
to the distribution of the proceeds became q car
dnal principle in the Democratic creed In It's pre-
sent aspect, and contended for by the new
States it has become, if possible still more onJec,
tionable for the reason that it has less to commend
it, in national point of view.
1t Is more objectionable In that IL mas 1e'' W quo
tain it.
1t is more Objectionable for the reason that the
expenditure is more restricted and the Dement'S less
general. Then protective tarIn was the onJect
sou ght be supernduced, and the field OF the ex-
pen diure' was from the ST. Croix to the Rio Grande
but nosc the lands are claimed, matter of right,
and the field of their expenditure is restricted 10 e''
oUn domain
This question: have said, is one of the first i'm
portance, and SUCH demands your most deliberate
| Fo, Nnrth
much at stake. Without entering into any argu-
! ment for which have not space, will simply say,
that the public lands the property of the States
that Congress is nothing but a trustee, and the
States the g cestui que trusts The duty OF the
trustee in the first place, is to that the land
shall follow the intention of the grant as set forth
in their several deeds of cessOn, butt that failing in
this, from any cause, it then becomes the duty Of
Congress to see that equity shall prevail. The
most equitable disposition: we'll as the most pro
per- would have been to let their proceeds go int,
| the National Treasury But it has become obvious
to many rejecting minds, (and should be so to all
that from corrupt combination of selfish interests
Congress will do no such thing, but that from SEES
sion session, millions of of their common in
! herance are to take direction little dreamed o
\ by the donors, and to the actual impoverishment
the old States. Convinced of this, hold that it il
perfectly idle to cry let them remain, let them
MAN, when know that, like Banquos Ghost they
will not down at our bidding ! am, then, 70
coming boldly up to the mark and asserting th'
claims of my native State, ere it be too late.
You have already pobIy embarked in the cause o
education. we'll as the cause of internal improve
ments. To stand still in this day of progress i
to retrograde, and bid you go abead,'' and if
should receive ma ority Of your sufrages, pledg
myself to exert my limited abilities to procure fo
you, while they going your equitable proportion
of the lands in question.
From the lateness of the period of my coming out
; | cannot of COURSE be expected to see as many o
you as otherwise would. but | do not propose t,
be inactive, will see and address as many as con
veniently can.
Respectfully, your most obt serv't,
L