The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-06-16
. Internal Improvement.


making great hue and cry about internal i'm.
provements, and despite the depreciation of the
true friends of the cause, persist in dragging ii
into the pool OF party politics, with 1tte hope of
making capital by SO doing, without rfk4rd to the
real interests OF the State Demhcfatic paH
ty, TO say the least, Is much in favor of judi:
cious system, and have done as much TO promote
1t, as their opponents.
Since the doctrine has grown popular under the
successful management of the party now in pow
er. the Wings are striving 10 ROB us Of our thun.
der by attempting to monop"lise the whole credit
While we are, and ever have been, the friend Of
a system that would devptope our resources, we
cannot vote TO place men in power who would use
the credit Of the State to involve US deeply in
government 10 eXtricate US. =
Mr., Bragg is the right sort Of an Internal i'm
provement man. He is willing to 90 as far as
the resources OF the State will prudent!y allow,
without burdening the people or resulting in Fepu.
dIalor-reying upon our own means to pay the
insamen's, and not supplicating the federal gov.
eminent TO take our own funds and graciousIy
to appropriate them 10 do it. Gen. Dockerv says
to carry out the policy now inaueurated will cost
$l0,O0O,OO0, and how does he propose to raise
this enormous amount: by insisting upon the dis.
trbuton Of The public lands or The proceeds there.
OF. This is the great issue ln the present
for Governor, as it was last summer in this Dis.
.rct when Messrs. Craige and Osborne were can.
vassing for Congress and we confidently expect
it to stand by the decision then made.
The land question has been a favorite hobby
with the Wings since Mr.. Clay originated his
great American system-a system more fraught
with consolidation and Capitalization, than any
ever submitted to the American people, and when.
ever they have had an opportunity have invariably
voted it down. 1t is question, in the hands of a
demagogue, that artfully managed, appeals di.
recIly to the Pockets-an impression is hoped to
be made upon those who do not give themselves
the trouble 10 investigate it in order to see how 1t
ultimately adversely effects their interests. The
people are told that the federal government owns
vast unoccuped domain, that the States are en-
titled to distributive share, and that the new
States, by species Of unjust and unequal legis
lation are absorbing the whole of it; that il North
Carolina could get her share Of these lands she
could apply it TO the promotion of education and
internal improvements, thereby improving our
condition without an increase of taxation. This
sounds very pretty, and is wei! calculated to de.
qured by two methods-first, by deeds of ccsson
from some old States, North Carolina included,
and second, by purchase conquest. The deed
of cession made by North Carolina reads thus:
"Ihe lands shall be onsidered as common
fund for the use and benefit Of the United States
of America, North Carolina inclusive, according
TO their respective and usual proportion in the
general charge and expenditures, and shalt be
faithfully disposed of for that purpose, and for no
other use whatsoever"
Now, can these lands be distributed without
acting in bad faith 10 the State who made the ces.
sion At the time this munifcent gift was made
by North Carolina, the country had just emerged
from the war of the Revolution, hampered with
debt, and without credit In order 10 enable it 10
pay eff the debt Of the old confederation which
had assumed, North Carolina and the other old
States made this cesson. 1t was 10 extingush
this debt, and to form the basis of future credit,
for the common use and benefit Of the United
States, according to their respective and several
proportions in the general charge and expenditure
and to be faithfully and bona 1fde disposed Of
for that purpose and none other whatsoever.
The Territory acquired by the common blood
and treasure of all the States stand upon the same
footing This Territory has cost the Government
$3O0,O00,0OO, this money raised by indirect
taxation, and the sales Of the lands should be APP
Piled to the extngushment Of this debt frs, and
the proceeds then 60 into the Treasury to support
the government in order that the duties may be
essened If the proceeds Of this lands are di.
vested from the Treasury Of course the deficit
must bcmade up by an increase of the tariff
thus working a double injury to the South-for
she paid wo-tkirds Of the moaey with which they
were purchased, and will get less than third of
them if divided. There is no difference between the
distribution Of the lands the money with which
they were bought-and if Congress has the right
TO do the one, certainly it increase the tariff,
and if il produces more than is required for the
administration of The Government, divide the sur
plus among the States. That is the doctrine of
the high protective tariff men all over the eoan-
try, and how would that affect the South? Why,
we would pay in the federal Golfers three dollars
and receive one in return minus the pxDense IF