The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-15
WESTERN Poliey-The Pubic Lands.

gress of events have imposedo upon tn,
West:
81. The absolute cession of the public lands t.
the States in which they lie, and the recognition O
the fact that the admission of new States is a re
the United States to their soil
so Opposition to the protective tariffs.
''3. Opposition to all river and harbor bills.
go. The repeal of penal laws against the car
riage of mail matter by private individuale and
the introduction of fair competition
s'5. Opposition to the steamship system, and to
plumber legislation generally,
Sc. The abrogation consistently with national
honor of treaties relative to Isthmus routes into
the Pacific, and the enforcement of the declaration
of Mr.. Monroe, in 1920, respecting European CO.
lonization upon the North American continent.
"7. The reformation of the Army and Navy.
$50. The abolit IN of the Indian syatem of policy,
and the settlement of the Territories
$50. The construction of line of block. house 8,
the transportation of daily mail and the erection
of an electric telegraph from the mouth of the
Kanzas river to Oregon and California, connecting
with Utah and New Mexico
'lO. The construction of central national rail.
road from the mouth of the Kanzas river to Oregon
and California, connecting. with Utah and New
Mexico, with branches to the Northern and South
ern States.''
We do not propose to discuss these points,
which In some particulars outstrip Colonel
BENToN's platform, and form as complete
specimen of western sectionalism as can rea-
Oily be found. A word or two, however. in
reference to the demand for ''the absolute ces-
sion of the public lands" may not be out of
place. Colonel BENTON proposes to date that
measure from 1856. Mr.. LouGHBoRoueH. it
will be seen, means to have it forthwith, or as
soon as he can get it.
1t is difficult to conceive of any thing more
at variance with fact or with the maintenance
of State comfy. than the allegation on which
this demand is founded. That the West has
not till recently received the attention at the
hands Of the Government to which it is enti-
tied, is unquestionably true; that it's vast and
varied resources, and the energy and enterprise
of Its citizens, will secure for it continued at
tention and increasing influence in the councils
of the nation, is equally beyond dispute; but
that it has any valid title to an "absolute ces-
sion of the public lands," or that Government
in dealing with those lands, has manifested
niggardly disposition toward the States in which
they lie, is position not sustained by equity or
experience, and one to which the older States
will offer proper and prolonged resistance.
The equity and the experience of the case will
bear examination
First as to the equity.
The public domain is the common property
of all the States, purchased at their common
cost, and held for their common benefit. A
large proportion of the debt, extant and ex-
punged-the Indian payments and annuities.
past, present, and to come-the surveys and
arrangements growing out of the public land
system-are items that at once suggest them
selves as evidences of the pecuniary interest
rightfully possessed by every State in the
unsold lands. The expenses incurred in
their acquisition constitute in equity lien,
held by the nation as whole in trust for the
equal benefit Of its parts; and we are curious
to know how any one or half-dozen of them
can construct case to deprive the others of
their fair proportion. Do these extreme re-
formers imagine that Missouri is entitled to the
81 100000 acres yet unsold within her boun-
daries, without regard to the interest which
New York or North Carolina has in relation to
them? Or that the So, 100000 acres unsold in
Florida ought to be coded to that State without
recompensing the States which helped to pur-,
chase it from Spain? Or that Wisconsin
should have gift of its AZ 10000 acres, un-
sold or unsurveyed, without recompensing the
Union for expenditures borne in connexion with
them? Do these greedy gentlemen intend to-
appropriate the product of the blood and means
of all the States without payment of proper
or to reimburse the nom holding
States, and to transfer the price of purchase as
a debt to be betrayed by the States that are to
be enriched by the operation? 1t is plain that
to take the lands without an adequate conside-
ration would be robbery; and we desire to as
certain how the new States are to be benefited
BY an operation that would crush their growing
energies under the burden of heavy debt.
Now as to experience in this matter.
The report of the Public Land Commits.
sioner, presented to Congress last session, shows
hat upwards of 81 100000 acres had been
granted to the new States aud Territories for
purposes of local benefit. Of this quantity
more than DO, coo, 900 acres were for schools;
more than 28,O00,0O0 were swamp grants, and
more than 100000 were for internal i'm
,rovements. To the last item Congress last
ession added largely, Missouri being the gain
II; and an item of 5000, 900 acres has already
'een added this session on account of Arkansas. |
These quantities are likely to be swelled |
enormously under the liberal-we fear too ibe. |
al-interpretation given to the term ssswamp I
ands." Judging from the reports of the sur
eyors general and the governors of some of the
states, it is reasonable to calculate that before
ne swamp surveys be completed, the grants to
hese States and Territories -"servile and tri-
utary provinces" as opr St. Louis friend is
leased to term them-wilf not fall short oil
10000, 900 acres. lontenting ourselves, how
yer, with the official data of last year. we
nd that the grants were within 20 600, COO
cres Of all the lands sold up to that period
he sales were lO2,ll3,86I acres, while the
rants to States and Territories were 81 ,845.-
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