Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-05-20

any nett uroceeds for distribution; and the money
or lands distributed under this name, would be SIM
ply portion of the money already taken out g our
than which nothing could be more absurd in prac-
tice nor more repugnant in principle to republican
feelings and usages to say nothing OF It's Deing an
outrage upon all the canons OF political economy
An idea seems TO be getting abroad that the Demo-
cratic party is changing its position upon this ques
ton No doubt this idea 10 seriously and sincerely
entertained, but evidently taken up without sufficient
reflection or examination OF the subject. we nave
looked in the matter somewhat and cannot see any
foundation for it. Not certainly in the resolution of
its last conyention-not certainly IN the publicly sta
ted opinions of those gentlemen, whose position gives
TO their views sort Of quasi authority. We find
Hon. Stephen A. Douglass, Senator from Illinois. who
was prominent candidate before ,the Baltimore Con-
venon, and who, if he had received its nomination.,
would have accepted its platform heartily and mas
good faith as Gen. Pierce, using the following Ian.
guage in the Senate of the United States the 22nd
of January, 1852, pending the debate on the Iowa
Land Bill "Sr it is not question of the distribution
of the public lands among the States; il not ques-
ton of donation. If it either should be OPP
posed 10 it, am opposed to the distribution Of the
public iands either by partial system, or general
sustem" [See Cong. Globe, vol. "a, page 1901 The
italics are ours We have also searched the record OF
Gen. Cass, and of other distinguished democrats and
can find no leaning or approximation towards dis
tribution either Of the proceeds of the lands or OF
the lands themselves. The utmost is threat of what
mQV De
squandering the lands among the new States, proceed
! ing from members opposed TO the various grants Of
lands for railroads, sc. We have not seen among
the recognized leaders Of the party any desire pre-
abuse BY the preparation OF an absurdity, or
the enactment of measures declared by the party TO
which they belong inexpedient and repreguant to the
constitution.
We have, time and again. taken occasion 10 express
our views upon this question, but without going into
its discussion at length, because it has not entered
into Of fho in hich
have been engaged with our political opponents, and
because, until lately, there was but one view enter
tanned expressed among the Democrats, and that is
embodied in the resolution of the Baltimore Conven-
I ton, upon that subject Even yet ground
to modify our opinion TO any great extent The OPP
poste views are plausible, and require at our hands
as full an examination and review our time and
space will permit US to give them. If our remarks
have grown to length far beyond our original de-
sign it has arisen simply from the nature OF the sub
ject itself effort throughout has been TO be
brief as possible.
Our readers are as we'll aware as we, that there are
at present two candidates for Congress- in this Dis.
tric, Hon. VIM. S. AsHE, the former incumbent, and
DUNCAN K. MCRAE, Esq. Both gentlemen of ability
and character. Long before MIR. McRae announced
himself as candidate, we had expressed ourselves
favorable TO the reelection of MIR. Ashe, both as our
own choice, and because we had every reason to be-
ieve that he had given full satisfaction to the people
of his district, whose interests he had labored zeal
ously and faithfully TO promote We have since
to change our opinion, but at the same time
as editors shall sudiously refrain from any inter
ference in this contest, between two members of ouI
own party. This question of the public lands, has
however, been brought forward, and Democrat;
Journalists, jealous for the preservation of the Demo
cratic faith in its purity, have felt it duty tc
raise our voice against dangerou. innovation upor
the established creed of the party and against doc
trnc, which, think, requires only to be fully
amined to show its dangerous tendency and want O
practice others NAV differ from Us. and we feel bOunL
to respect their differences while feel confident o
standing upon the old and established platform, ant
announcing the views safest and best both for the
South and for the Union.