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

ton, of which the Northwestern poftt9n Souil
try receives the main body partiehlafy ofthe Ger
mans. II appears from the stasemeaE of the Land
Office made up to June Both, 1858, that the amount
of all lands sold in all the land States and territories
up to that date, had been one hundred millions OF
acres.
Now we would ask, if, with sales of only a hunE
dred millions of in the OF its whole ad-
mnistration of the public lands and territories the
effect of the present system has been, as contendea
the undue stimulation of the West at the expense OF
the old States what would be the effect of system
which would throw as large an amount as the whole
of the past sales into the market at once and in the
hands of thrty-one States anxious TO realize and
Offering all sorts of inducements to purchasers =
The average amount of lands sold every year will
not now reach five millions of acres There are on
ly two possible means by which twenty-times or
even ten-times that amount could be sold-one by
supposing that ten or twenty times many people
could be induced to leave North Carolina and the
other old States as has been leaving it, and going
to settle in the West, which would soon work
more grievious depopulation than any we have yet
been threatened with, and must, if at all carried
OUT cause perfect exodus to which that of Ireland
would be hardly a circumstance. The other would
rants by foreign spectators, to whom the public
lands-still at least, vast and unmonopolized field
for expansion and refuge for the landless-would
pass for mere song, and the great public domain
become the foundation of future landed arstocra-
cies instead of being refuge for industry and
home for coming millions of independent proprietors
One the other of these things is inevitable if the
lands proposed to be distributed among the States
be sold at the rate in which it is proposed to dis
tribute them and unless they can be sold, what IS
the use of having them, or how are the magnificent
projects based upon their distribution to be realized
While five millions of acres per annum found
sufficient to supply the legitimate demands of the
market, how will it be possible TO dispose of one
hundred millions without they be taken up by spec.
ulators, and at most ruinous deduction Under
any view OF the subject, large bodies of Western
lands thrown upon the market, by so many parties
anxious realize could hardly fail to be preudicial
to State like this in which the prevailing weak
ness is desire to move of,-and this weakness
could hardly fail to receive stimulus from the
representations and inducements held out for settle
ment in some of the land States or territories
The amount of public lands disposed of in every
other way up to 30th June, 1851, was one hundred
and two millions of acres of which twenty mill
lions and quarter were for internal improvements
in alternate sections forty millions and half do
nations and grants for schools universities, etc.,
made in all to the territories, the most of it
over the Rocky Mountains where effort is made
by Congress, which is charged with the government
of the territories, to develope them in way, in
discharge of the trust imposed upon it, and for the
purpose of consolidating possession against the In
dams, etc. Twenty-seven millions of swamp lands
have been ceded to the States in which they lie as
yet the States have not done anything with them
They were not looked upon property by the Uni
ted States. Fifteen millions and a half have beer
taken up for military lands upon warrants, issued
der various acts. The number of acres for which
warrants have been issued under the several acts Of
1S47-5O-52 has reached % $40, $780, up to the pres
ent time.
From these statements it will be seen in the frs
instance, that the whole amount of United State:
lands given for purposes of internal improvement
has been 81 ,235570 in alternate sections and thi
has not been given a donation, but a compen
saon for certain benefits to accrue thereby to tn
remaining sections; and we have little doubt blu
that such benefit has, in most cases, accrued. It i
the system which has tended to abuse, and at an,
; rate, should, we think, be put stop to--not on
on that account, but because, besides having thes
abuses of its own, it leads the way to others. an
gives rise to looser construction, and more LAWS
demands. Undoubtedly, the just plan is to sell tn
lands for the cash. put the honey into the Treasury
and reduce public debt and taxation. But altboug
We cannet 60, Mr. Leak does, for alternate sec
, tons, we fully agree with Mr.. Douglas, who denie
that the granting of such alternate sections is
question either of distribution or donation Th
, case simply is this: he United States is grea
!, land owner she has millions of acres which hav
= been for very many years in market without
chance of selling them, account of their unfavo1
able location. The State OF States in which the
q lie, come forward and say Give alternate SCI
- tons of six miles through these lands on condito
,f that we will make Railroad through them and Ell
able you TO sell the remaining lands for double til
price which experience has proven you could not g
= for the whole
This is evidently plain bargain, founded upon
valuable consideration, and has affinity with tt
:. reckless and foolish system of land distribute
-, which it is lugged forward to justify 1t is neih
grant nor donation, but fair business TRANSACTION
nc made by the greatest land owner in the worl
- which may, in more than one case, have resultt
very favorably to the other parties, but certainly
i been no loss to the Federal Treasury.
3, But we have heard great deal about the il
a, mense deterioration of " Poor old North Carolin
We and the great and unparalleled growth of b
of Western rivals. Now strange it may appear
those who have heard this tune played so persisten
id y the fact that the estimated value of proper