Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-08-09

popular favor and secured majority, both in tn,
House and in the Senate, and its passage, retarded
Dy the Suspicion OF Executive veto, has been pre-
vented by a vigorous and noble opposition The
bill is peculiarly fitted for the purposes of dema
gogue being very promising to benefits accruinQ
10 me masses, and appealing directly to that dele
ferrous publc sentiment which is noisy and active
and looks not beyond the bill itself Senator Hun.
tee like true and faithful watchman foreseeing the
ultimate success of this BILL and anxious avert the
evils inherent in it from the country by suppressng
Its most Injurious and pernicious objects proposes
as substitute the bill, of which synopsis is given
| in another column
The substitute of Senator Hunter passed the SEN
ate with unanimity surprising and agreeable with
only eleven negative votes, and none of these demo-
cratic and shows the aspect of the honorable Sena-
tors standing in the Senate But even in the sub
stitute, though coming from pure State rights
man and strict construconist there are principles
to which democrat of the strctest sense we can
not agree; but we had rather relax our exclusive
ness and accept the substitute than have the orr
glna bill passed. If we view only the abstract prn-
cpes of the bill and the substitute both would re-
ceive our warm and urgent dsapprova But expe-
dlency must sometimes come into play; it must be
law, when there is no law and the Senator's schemes
not contemplating original and absolute benefits
and which asserts pernicous principles, is an ex
pedient whereby measure of evil import and mis-
chievous abstract principles will be defeated and
superseded.
Such is the view take of the question An is
sue is closed upon US, and upon that issue we are to
judge And the question is shall we condemn the
scheme of Mr. Hunter because it falls short If our
standard OF abstract principles allow the original
bill to go down with triumphant passage? Is the
substitute less obnoxious than the original? In the
present emergency had we not better take the sub-
stitute as it is we'll adapted serve the purpose
as 1t is so sure of success and is way furnished
by unwise pernicious and evil principles? Mr..
Hunter would save the country from that mischie-
vous and most untoward principle that it is the duty
of the government to provide for the wants of the
lmprudent and the lazzaronis-that principle of
agrarlanlsm which every age of the world has
demned. He would save the South from no undue
preponderance of the North by restricting the tr-
fling compensation exacted of the government to
such as may avail themselves of the present system
thus preventing that benefit of the Homestead bill
too fully extended to aliens, and which would mpart
too great stimuli to immigration he would provide
against the squandering of the public domains on
most unworthy subjects and for pernicious purposes
by giving pre-emptiOn-right to the States by de-
handing compensation for homesteads, and by which
wise graduation of the public domain approprates
them to judlcious purposes and gives back to the
United States profitable return to the
ury than now. He follows closely in the footsteps
of the Great Calhoun, when he annexes to his sub
stitute that will receive the appreciation of
the country, and especially of the democracy to
withdraw the question of the distribution of the pub
lie lands from Congress- and from Presidential con-
tests.
We have thus presented the important features of
the bill before readers both wing and democrats
and we would turn attention while to say
mocrats only The preservation of harmony and
ascerdancy in the democratic party is secured. If
the Homestead bill had been vetoed or signed by
the President, schism would undoubtedly have
taken place; but Mr.. Hunter has parricd the blow,
and gives to the Democracy of all sections bill
around which they rally united, as is clearly
evinced by the passage of the bill in the Senate. 1t
has united more firmly the Democracy together and
the faithful cooperation of the North
west with the South There is no sacrifice of prin-
ciple in the substitute, it is consistent. Let the
whole country evince its gratitude the true
for the defeat of measure so infamous the ORR
ginal Homestead bill. NORFOLK -4rgus
Admit that the question was perpexing one,
and that Western Democrats would not stand firm
that is reason why we, of the South, should back
out. Backing out is the poorest way of all to get
out of difficulty. If every Democrat in the Senate,
in the round world, voted for the Homestead,
that would not make twenty-five cents per acre,
payable in five years. from foreign and native squat
ters on the public domain produce remuneratve
fund for the common benefit of all the States. 1t is
a sham sale. 1t is sale at all. 1t is practcing
the shallow policy, "h9ret in liter h9ret in cOrtce.
1t gives up the kernel, and the next thing will be
the taking away from of the shell. When
the demand is made upon for a lease of the con-
sideration price, who will make battle for the con-
rinciple-tcentyre cents per acre, pay
16le in fire gears? To the eyes of some people,
our- pence-ha penny LOOKS as big dollar; but the
Southern people cannot be made to believe the plat
orm of twenty five cents per acre platform of |
principle that any great party rally to and stand
on 1t is but the shadow the ghost of principle |
and if the Bill passes both Houses, may |
we'll give up the ghost and bid farewell to the pub
ic lands. Richmond Erdmaner.
The HUNTER LAND BILL. In an article which we
transfer to our columns, the Washington Sentinel
presents irresistible argument in support of Sena
or Hunters scheme for the final disposition of the
public lands.
We can make allowance for the scruples of those
Who object to the homestead provision of this bill
md we appreciate the reluctance with which they
consent to support measure in apparent conflict
With an important principle. But we cannot believe
hat any intelligent mind, not incorrigiby bgoted
o an impracticable theory, will reject the bill with
II its great and incontestble advantages simply be-
ause it is defective in single particular
This bill is the result of necessity. Senator Hun
err than whom man is more strict and rigid in
lis construction of the powers of the Federal govern
nent over the public domain does not pretend that
lis bill realizes an ideal perfection. But he claims,
nd Justly claims for the measure, that it embodies
pernicious principle that it achieves results ofthe
reatest advantages this country and that it saves
be South from an imminent and overwhelming
unity There is not an intelligent person in Wash
lgton who did not foresee that the ultimate triumph
the Homestead Bill with all its odious provisions,
as among the inevitable events OF a not remote tu-
lre Rather than suffer the measure to pass in all
hdeous deformity, it was the plain and imperative
uty of the representatives of the South, as far
ossible to purge il of its obnoxious provisions. Mr..
unter has done more than this: he has defeated
lie obnoxious measure, and in its stead has subst-
lted bill of essentially different character and of
reat and indsputable advantage, though not posi-