Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-05
O. 0 m NJ nnitateS.
For the Washington Sentinel.
Hon r. NJ IT. Hunters Land Biu

| It's autn0r. VIII these brave sllchiSrS lOr
strict construction of the Constitution, point
out in the bill any violation OF that instrument?
| Does it distribute the proceeds of the sales of
the public lands? Does it divide out the lands
themselves among the different States? Does
it give one foot of the territory of the United
States to the INDECENT insane, or to the homeless
immigrant? On the contrary, is not the bill
| calculated to strengthen the power OF the
States? BY allowing the State to come into
the market as pre-emptor, is she not afforded
an opportunity of obtaining the entire control
of all the territory situated within her limits,
and that, too, not by taking advantage of an
unconstitutional enactment of the federal Con-
gress, but by paying into the federal treasury
valuable consideration for property which she
purchases, and which Congress constitutionally
disposes Of? Surely if Congress has the power
to dispose of the territory belonging to the
| United States, q safer and wiser disposition Of
| it could not be made.
Allow the States to become the legal as they
are now the equitable owners Of the public
lands, and a question which Tor years has been
a bone Of contention between the State and
federal governments will be for ever settled
| A large and corrupting patronage will be taken
from the federal authorities, and given to those
who are legitimately entitled to its distribution.
Under the operation of this bill, men will dis
cover in the increasing wealth and prosperity
| of the States a more honorable and lucrative
road to distinction and emolument than that
which is at present leading them in swarms
to the federal Capitol The citizens of the
States will look to the States for honors
and protection. Their allegiance to the one
will be strengthened, and their dependence
upon the other in corresponding degree
abated. The tendency to consolidation and
Capitalization will be checked, and the Union
may yet be brought back by the aid Of similar
enactments to fulGlment of the designs of its
patriotic founders. Diminish its power and in
crease that of the States and it will again be
the obedient agent and no longer the arrogant
and dctatorial principal. In decreasing the
number of federal officers the necessity for the
large amount of revenue which is at present
| collected will be, in measure, obviated, while,
at the same time, the capacity of the State to
| bear heavier taxation will be greatly enlarged.
| The chief objection urged against the bill is,
that it contains the homestead principle. II
this be true it is true, only as regards the
title of the bill. The Constitution is not
violated or the rights Of the States trampled
under foot by gratuitous donation of the
| public lands. No man can occupy one foot
| of the territory for which he is not bound to
pay fixed government price. Doubtless the
bill would have been more acceptable had it
been possible to affix higher price to these
lands. Yet what is lost in this respect is more
than compensated for by the provision which
grants to the States the pre-emplion right
The government of the United States holds
this Territory in trust for the States. Tire OBJ
ject of its agency is to make such disposition
of the trust property as will best supply the
fiscal wants Of the general government and
relieve the States from taxation. Under Mr..
Hunters bill contend that this object is at
tanned without any violation of the Constitution.
| Under it the wants Of the tax consumers are
| diminished because their numbers are dimin-
ished, while the burdens Of the taxpayer will
be decreased by the enlargement of his taxable
fund. If the actual settler pays only q nominal
price, so also do the States.
AS q measure of expediency, the bill strong
ly recommends itselfto popular favor. Fail TO
pass it, and at the next session Of Congress, or
certainly, at some future session we may ex.
pect to have the Homestead fastened upon us.
We may expect to witness an unconstitutional
donation of the public lands to railroad and
other companies, incorporated for purposes of
public plumber On the contrary, pass the
bill, and we may soon see the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans united by railways built by a
! corporation in which sovereign States will be
the corporators and stockholders. These rail
roads spanning the western and southwestern
States, from one extremity to the other, will
furnish an almost incalculable amount of reve-
nue., while, as means Of national defence, they
will enable US to laugh to scorn all attacks
upon our rights, come they from a foreign or
domestic source.
! ] believe that when the history and objects
/ OF this bill are understood by the public il will
command public appreciation. The republican
party of Virginia, and Of the south have an
abiding confidence in the virtue and patriotism
Mr.. Hunter. By introducing this bill nc has
done nothing to betray that confidence. Those
who see but half the battle field are scarcely
! equal to the direction of the fight; yet let the
battle be lost or won, and the men VINO are
| brave ut distance, not unfrequenty point out
mistakes. which have incurred disaster, and
suggest methods by which advantage might
have been gained.
in speaking Of those who occupy exalted
stations, DR.. johnson well remarks, that " if it
we're possible that man should always act
rightly, yetwhen such numbers are to Judge ofbis
conduct, the bad will censure and obstruct him
/ by malevolence, and the good sometimes by
mistake. From the malevolence of the one
class and the mistakes of the other, Mr. Hunter
has nothing to fear. The people of the south
/ 'aNo IIcsn il thelr memory tne seINlCeS winch
he has already rendered them. Even had he
committed an error in this particular instance,
generous and confding constituency, CRATE
full and magnanimOus people would not paralyze
his influence by deserving him at the beck Of
the captious critic who distributes his type in
vehement vndcation Of the Constitution only
at time when the Constitution is not threat
ened with invasion. The people remember that
when many Of these sun shine patriots fell of,
he stood firm. When they crouched, he resisted;
when they clutchcd their pay, he spurned the
bribe when traitors from fhe democratic ranks
they forsook their ancient faith, and deserted
their flags when the tide Of battle pressed hard.
est against it; when, in 1850 they advocated
measures more unconstitutional aud anti-re-
publican than any WHICH ever disgraced the
legislation Of the country, r. M. I. Hunter,
lighting side by side with the mighty Calhoun,
caught up the sword as il fell from the withered
hand Of the expiring statesman, and has WELD
edit ever since with power and skill not un.