Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-15
THE STANDARD.
RAIErGH. WEDNESDAY. JUNE g. 1858.
.1HE PnBLIC LANDS.

bled in this City in May, 1857 ADOPTED among
others the following Resolution
.,Th., The nnbjic lands are the common property
r III ,Le States. to be held by the general govern
=, n ~ &C common fund for the payment Of the pub.
lie debt and other charges upon the public treasury"
This resolution was unanimously adopted by
the Convention, and the principle it embraces was
sanctioned by the people of the State in the Au-
gust elections.
Il. our issue of the 10Th May, 1852, we referr-
ed to this Resolution in the following language
1.-THE fourth Resolution declares the public lands
the common property of all the States, to be held
by the general government the agent of the States
as common fund for the payment OF the pubic
debt and other charges upon the public treasury.
This is the true doctrine The proposition to dis
tribute among the States the proceeds OF the sales
of these lands, or to give them away for the eX-
elusive benefit of the States in, which they lie, is
but another name for increased Tarff-taxes upon
the people of the country generally. Sound poll
CIV demands that these lands should be sold on
liberal terms to emgrants and actual settlers, and
the proceeds put in the general treasury, so as to
reduce as much possible the public debt, and to
aid in preventing direct taxes on the peopie-a
result not very far distant in all probability, IN
case the present extravagant expenditures should
be continued 1t may be advisable, now and then,
to make grants of lands to States in which they
lie, with the view of enhancing the value of the
residue; and to such policy we are not disposed
to object but we do object to any system cacu-
lated to squander these lands, or which would re-
duce the sovereign States of this Confederacy to
the condition of pensioners the bounties Of the
central government"
These views were reiterated in this journal dur
inr the session of the late Assembly, and we have
seen no good reason since for modifying or chang
Jag them.
In June, 1872 the Democratic National Conven-
ton which nominated Gen. Pierce for President,
unanimously adopted the following Resolution:
Resolred. That the proceeds of the public lands
ought be sacredly applied to the national objects
specified in the Constitution and that we are OPP
posed any law for he distribution OF such proceeds
among the States, as alike nexPedient in policy and
repugnant to the Constitution
The same Resolution was adopted, word for word
by the Democratic National Convention of 1846.
Gen. Pierce stands upon this Resolution, and
will faithfully adhere to it. He will unquestona-
so, how could he approve bill tc parcel out or iii
vide the lands among the States, which would cut
off all proceeds from the general government, leav-
ing none to be 'sapplied to the national objects
specified in the Constitution y? We do not say it
would be unconstitutional to divide the lands but
then if the general government should give up the
lands it would, of course, part with the proceeds
also.
Having REQUIRED to ard presented first Princi-
pies, we shall go in next into a consideration
of the question generally. We shall expose the
course of the Wing leaders this question, and
shall show, from the record, that their camor OH
the public land question is hollow, hypoc. itieal,
and made for effect. We shall also draw at some
length upon contemporaries Of the Western
Democrat aud Goldsborough Republican and
Patriot, and others, who have treated the subject
with equal clearness and common sense and with
marked ability.
ES- An intelligent and valued friend, writing