Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-06-24

trusted their agents ethsr STATE Or Federal; that
it IS wrong in principle, and foolish in policy, for
Congress to distribute to the States the lands, since
the amount raised from that source must be imme-
dately withdrawn, iathe shape ofreyenues, to make
up the deficiency 1--we care not whether that def
cheney operate By causing increase of the tariff,
by preventing reduction the one fact is certain
namely, that just much more money will
have to becollected by taxes than would otherwise
be necessary. The same demagogueism that preach
up Homestead bills to all sorts opeople, and land
distribution to all the States, might. and may be
carried unless checked to its legitimate effects in
the increase of taxation, and the erection of
public granaries out of which impoverished peo-
pie will be fed with public gratuities.
But it is said that the public lands have been
squandered. The amounts of lands granted direct
ly indirectly for internal improvements, repor
ted to last Congress, were as follows Grants for
Internal improvements" S,794.475 acres grants
TO individuals and companies 279.792; reserved for
companies individuals and corporations s, 955, 1888 );
Central Railroad Ito Illinois, Alabama and Missssip
pi) estimated at 1925 92O-makng in all, 20, 1885,,
570,-granted in all cases, in alternate sections to
aid in the construction of works through them, by
doubled and quite as much money comes into the
public treasury as the whole of the lands would
have brought previously-even supposng that they
could have been sold at all without such course,
which experience had shown could not be dome
The public treasury looses nothing, although the
land States may gain. But if this system be squan-
dering, what be applied sufficiently strong
to characterize that proposed plan of giving the lands
in such q manner that the value of the remainder
cannot be enhanced thereby-in such quantities
fifty or hundred millions at time, that untold
millions would be thrown at into market to fall
into the hands of specializing land-sharis at a mere
nominal price, by whom all the available lands
would be taken up; and when any of our people.
moved by the honest desire of improving his condi-
ton, sought to settle upon the lands he would
be at the mercy of Western spectators and North
stock obbers, for whose benefit, after all, the
public treasury would be robbed, and the money
thus distracted would have to be made up duties,
thereby enabling the Northern manufacturer also
to fatten at the expense of the South
We look upon the lands thus given away as above
referred to, as the only lands which have anything
to do with this question At the date of the report,
the grants for military services covered 155O7, 905
|
acres have been granted. Everybody knows that
| these land warrants have nothing to do with the
States improvements but are issued to the parties
entled-be their residence East or West, North OR
South. Donations and rants for schools, uuiversi-
ties, etc. embrace 40 558,978 acres granted to the
territories or to the new States when territories
&c 81 8l4 acres of it being in the territories, the
other side of the Rocky Mountains, and 1897, l9l
in Minnesota. This stands upon different basis
Congress is charged with the government, protection
and tuteage of these incpent unties, on whose
account it has always been called upon 10 incur Ger
tain expenses, and exercise certain powers. Con
gress is, fact to all intents and purposes the gov
eminent of the territories with the right and duty
of providing for their education, advancement. &c.
for which purposes it mi ht make grants either O.
lands money. By giving lands for special pur
poses could alone hope for such progress as woule
make the public domain matter of value, and il
has done s.? without censure question that we have
ever heard from any party. The twenty mill
ions of swamp lands cedel to the States in which
they lie, and some seven millions of private claim
allowed by Congress complete the whole amount O
land disposed Of in any other way than by sale
Some abuses there may have been--there is nothn!
will agree with us, that most of the noise abou
squanderng, is gotten up without reflection, an
used solely for electioneering purposes. Eithe
Benefits bill, the prof of Mr.. Leak, kin
dred projects which We have so far hear
tell of, would produce more squandering-more col
ruption abuse in one year than the preseu
system has done since the commencement of tn
Government.
We have, in former article, published fe
weeks since, shown thai the necessary expenses
the United States in the management of the publ
domain exceeds the amount realized from land sale
and that if the States take them subject to such NJ
cessary charges, they would find them losing a
y fair If the United States still continued to pa
these necessary expenses, she must do it at an az
= dtional charge upon the treasury equal to the pr
ceeds which she now realizes, requiring, of cours
just as much more money to be raised in taxes
enable her TO pay her debts and meet her currel
expenses.
But we have done for the present, and the futu1
y too we hope with this rather dry subject. We di
y like to consume great amount of our limite
space with the discussion of one subject. But
has been forced upon US, and We have felt called u
on to defend position and that of the politic
= party with which our views of public policy lea
US to act campaign like that of last Fall h;
:, something of interest and the general exciteme1
\ relieves the tedium of political controversy; but
the present case there is little of that We have
victories to win, save striving to creep il
to our own ranks no adversary's position to owe
d throw, but simply to main ain own ground al
do hoAko