The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-04-26
THE PUBLIC LANDS.

In relation to the best, and most feasible
plan of disposing Of the public lands, and
efectually releasing Congress from any fur
ther consideration of this vexed question, the
Union says, "The object Of Mr. Perkins's
amendment, offered as a substitute for Ben
nets bill, was to transfer, as far as consistent
with the public interest, the disposal of the
public lands to the States in which they lie.
It proposes to grant all the lands within
the States to the States in which they are re-
spectively situated, on two important condi-
tions:
lst. That the States shall dispose of them at
81, IS cents, SO cents 25 cents, according as
they have been offered for sale ior ten, fifteen,
twenty. and twenty-five years.
ID. That the States shall pay over to the gem
eral government certain per centage upon the
amount realized from their sale. This per cent
age is to be paid quarterly as the lands are dis
posed of at the State land offices.
This was, in few words, the bill proposed
by Speaker Boyd. 1t was to carry out an
idea suggested by Mr.. Calhoun, and favora-
bly, spoken of by General jackson in one of
his messages. Its effect would be to remove
out of Congress subject of much discussion,
and make the States in which the lands are
situated the agents for their sale.
The first condition secures their sale at the
graduated price to the citizens Of all the
States, and guards against their being made
by the States in which they lie either a sub
ject of speculation or unjust discrimination.
The second condition is intended to guar
anty to the general government full reim-
bursement of the purchase, extinguish1nent
of Indian title, surveys, &c, &c
The amount Of this per centage is left blank
in the bill, to be filed by the House on an
estimate of the amount Of the per centage
that viii accomplish this.
Mr. Perkins's amendment is proviso de-
signed to authorize the State to grant alter
nate sections of land along railroad lines
within their borders, and indemnify them
selves by disposing of the remaining sections
along the line at double the price fixed by
the bill.
By this provision each State may grant, at
its discretion, that aid to Railroad interests
within its borders that is now asked of the
general government. Under its operation,
the general government is guaranteed by the
State against any loss in the grant Of alter
nate sections, and each State is made the
judge under the responsibility Of a pecunia
ry interest in what cases the grant should be
made; for, as soon as a grant Is made OF al
ternate sections to any railroadre the State
pays the regular per centage that would be
due, upon the sale of those lands, to the gen.
eral government, and is reimbursed, as alrea-
dy stated, by the sale of the remaining sec
tons at double price.
The lands in Territories are not affected by
the provisions of the bill.
Under this bill the railroad interest is am
ply protected, the general government is
more than reimbursed by the purchase and
survey of the public lands, and relieved of
an onerous and annoying agency in their
disposal, while the citizens Of all the States
are guaranteed the advantages Of gradua-
ton in their price.
The States are also greatly benefited by
having settled within their borders all those
annoying land claims and conflicting titles
that come up to Washington from all quar-
ters, to be decided frequently upon imperfect
testimony.
Most of the Western States have already
State land offices, as well as federal land of
fees, within their limits. Under this bill the
State land offices will do the work of both.
At present the general government pays to
each State FIVE per cent. upon the public
lands within their borders, and the State can
not tax them for five years after they are
sold.
BY the present bill this is reversed, the
State paying certain per centage to the
geneIal government. The receipt of this
per centage by the general government is in
sured by the titles under the State being de
pendent for ther legality upon its payment.
H. WI. II. Hunter Of Virginia
One of our Washington correspondents furn-
ishes us with the following description of the
distinguished Senator of Virginia. He says;
tsMr. Hunter is truly remarkable man. He