The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-09

THE LAND BILL.


proceeds of which the revolutionary debt to be can
eled and the credit OF the nation preserved Other do
main was added to these old lands. The question grew
in Importance the policy that should govern their dspo
on has been the theme of constant debate and now the
subject requires be dealt with in the spirit OF wise states
manship.
In such spirit has been conceived the BULL which
wa, matured in the Senate mostly through the profound
craftsmanship of Hon. r. NJ T. Hunter of Virginia, and
has passed that body This embraces three great prnci
pies,
First IL carries the graduation pineple--proyi- [
ding that lands that have been open for 1--WE years or less
an ten years shall be sold for dollar per acre and
on down to twelve and half cents per for those
which have remained unsold for thirty years and over
There are millions of that have been exposed for sale
sixty years. and found purchasers at 81 20 per acre
The bill provides that State may take the lands within
its limits by an of its legislature, and fix the price
above the price prescribed and the to itself
but the title is not pass the purchaser until he has
paid the first the United States thus preventing
the States from becoming debtors to the nation Thus,
too each State will be the judge of the policy as TO the
lands within its own limits.
Second This bill recognises the principle that the United
States as landholder should aid in carrying enterprises
in the States within which the land lies and value
on itexactly private andhode disposes of lot on
easy who viii build it. in order to enhance
the value OF neghboring lots This bill proposes to allow
the States preemptors 10 take certain sections along
the line canal railroad and pay the original prices
to the government while the State viii receive the en-
HANGED price that will be given the land by the enter
prise In this way the whole embarrassing question of
grants for these purposes by Congress, is disposed Of
Thirdly The bin extends the presumption principle TO
the actual settlers After five years residence the land
he occupies he obtain title to the land at the gradu
ang prices This applies any free white person who is
the head of a family, who has arrived at the age OF
twenty-one years and is capable of holding lands under
1tal,c nr II in
a Territory who is capable Of acquiring pre-empon uI-
der the laws Of the United States.
These are the great features of this bill 1t is plain |
glance that it is framed upon the broadest statesman
ship If it does embrace the free homestead principle
it to it. 1t avoids the grave constitutional OBJ
ectons of distribution of the public lands among the
States IT agtating questions, such those per-
tanning the whole round Of local grants from the halls
of Congress 10 the local legislatures. While it looks to
substantial revenue for the treasury still it not framed
in the consideration that price in money the main thing
be looked at in the disposition of the lands but that
the chief thing is the settlement and growth of the
try and the social and political results that will flow from
this 1t goes upon the principle that land is of little
value until goes to it and cultvate This reminds
of the early land policy to New England The land
freely oted out it the years Of exposure to dan
ger-the years of labor and of sufering-ha made the
vaueless wdernesses become invaluable possessions.
like this, comprehensive so thorough so
conceived 1t is difficult foretell the grounds
which this bill may be opposed in the old States 1t
may be alleged that they will not get by it their share OF
the proceeds and that the tendency of il will be to build
up the West at the expense of the East This is old
gpmenthere in New England. it was zeaousy applied by
certain politicians here from 1903 1875 Such local ea
ousy through many speech, report and resolution
of those days and those politicians wont to alarm
people by pictures Of ruin from depopuatea districts The
growth Of the West too it alleged, would destroy the
old balance Of power The inquirer will nd this localsm
in lis perfection in the celebrated report of the Hartford
Convention This reads: None of the States find
interest in creating premaurely an overwhelming
influence THE southern States will first avail
themselves of their coniedeates to govern the East
and finally the western States, multiplied in numbers and
augmented in population will control the interests of the
whole This will show the ideas of this class of
politicians The class exists to-day and pre-
pared to see them urge that this land bill will rebound
the interests of the West; that it will build up States
that will give an impetus to already great western po
itical power; and that this will be deeterous to the
North to New England, to the 4 tantc States, 4
As reply such fears and appeals would ask
mercantile men, New England citizens Of all walks Of
life, to look a this matter broadly both financially and
politically That this land bill may produce immense
suits would not deny. 1t may be tsnanic in its n-
Auencc in feeding vacant wilds with population and
by thus attracting them that of all wealth. LABOR
may incidentally increase their value and then will
SuTeuly Hollow additional pOucal Tor the
States Union These the probable results of this
great measure
But it couended this day, that this growth
be detrimental the people of the Atlantic States?
to those of New England of Massachusetts? How has
been hereofore That the settlement OF Louisiana and
the West has materially prevented the increase of popua
ton in the old States is true. But those who emgrated
from these States united with those who came from
foreign lands and created communities. As their
increased their wants multiplied They became
toners for the products Of the old States They bought
fabrics This stimulated home industry Thus the in
of every community poured wealth into the lap Of
New England And to-day what suror receipt could there
be to make ships rot at wharves and the grass
grow in streets than cut off intercourse with
that mighty world Of trade the valley of the Mississippi?
Are similar results western growth to operate
in similar way in the uture2 Is it in the nature of
general law that western prosperity shall also promote
the prosperity OF the East? How hortsighted aop seem
tho old partisan, sectional appeals thqt this point were
snce made the intelligence of New England? Can such
sectional appeals, if made to-day in the spirit be
whit beer2 No. 1t is great and kndling truth that
every addition Of wealth and added the States
will necessarily in the long ran rebound to the welfare of
the old States The advantages enlarged markets-are
the compensation which the people of the old States will
derive from the settlement Of the new while politically MI
viii share in the growing strength Of the country The
idea that portion will rule another portion Of the
try that the South and the West will combine to Cypress
the East and that ultimately the West will Cypress both
is Utopian It is not the genius Of confederation to
yrannze the constitution is the yeneraed shield that