Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-06-21
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pAIEIGH, SATURDAY. JUNE II. 1854.

The pcople of North Carolina have been address
cd and appealed to for years by the leaders of the
Federal party on the subject of the public lands.
This subject has, indeed, constituted at times at
nresent almost the entire political stock in trade of
those leaders, they have rung the changes upon it in
all their newspapers and from every stump; and
really to listen to and believe them, unsophisti
Gated man would come to the conclusion that the
Democrats had combined to waste the public lands
or give them away, and that these Federal leaders
had been exerting themselves necessarily to retain
these lands and secure justice in them and by them
to the old States But what are the facts? Why,
the facts show that these Federal leaders have never
redeemed the first pledge which they have made to
the people on this subject. In 1871 when they had
the power, as the result of political victory which
| it was boasted would lead to distribution of the
proceeds so as to enable North Carolina to Increase
| vastly the usefulness of her Common Schools and
build Railroads almost in all directions, they passed
a bill making distribution; but the bill was SO franz
ed out of Difference to the States and the Tariff
Satss that the old Atlantic States, North Carolina in
elusive, received nothing in comparison with what was
given to other sections 1t was provided first that the
new States should receive each five hundred thous-
and acres gift, and secondly, that the old States
should have money out of the treasury in the way of
proceeds in the Tariff should not be raised above
twenty per cent Tie new States under this act, at
once located their ands-of course they selected the
best and their right to them became vested and fix
ed. But the Tariff States clamored for more protec-
ton, and expenses were running up under Whig
rule and so the Tariff was raised by the same party
above twenty per cent and the old States acere thus
euct: North Carolina got some twenty thousand
dollars instead of the millions which were promised
her; and she had to pay that back in duties on inn
ported goods and hundred of thousands more, under
the operations of the increased Tariff thus imposed
upon her by these leaders.
This is one specimen of the justice obtained for
THIS State by the Federal leaders, Their only excuse
IS that they tried in raising the Tariff, to strike out
the proviSo about distribution so as to continue dis
trbuton to the old States as we'll as the new, but
John Tyler, who was opposed to distribution would
not have signed such bill; but then, who elected
John Tyler? Was i. not their work? And why
uu 'hey insert the proviso at all? Why did they
@ prepare the Woy for injustice and aorong, accor
unS to their own admission, to the old States?
Inc people of this State have heard good deal
VI late, from Gen. Dockery and others, about the
grant OF land by Congress for building the Illinois
nalroad; and though this bill was signed by Mr.
inmore, as all others of the same kind were during
I'' administration, yet these Federal leaders would
nave the people believe that Democrats are en-
0'ey responsible for these measures. We now
and the records will show, that this BILL of
.A'cn SO much complaint has been made aods coted
'.' 70 Me Senate By Messrs. Nangum and Badger,
NJ. 1'S state and soas sustained By majority of
~ ""ys ana opposed By majority Of Democrats in
H0use OF Representatives. For the vote of Messrs.
ser and Mangum, see Cong. Globe, VOL 21, part
pase So4 What is true of this bill-for it was a
"s W one-holds good in relation to the others
~, 'nen, We have a body Of men attempting to
S0S an opposite party responsible for the very thing
r. Ivy nave done themselves, and striving to make
,doS,y s oy condemnirg the policy which they have
him. 'u and acted upon for years. They passed these
s,.. ""Ang gifts, grants and the like by alternate
"a, A' AZ and otherwise for Railroad improvements
h,' s oeneht, as then insist, of the new States
n,o..-. -'eS'dent approved them all without word Of
.,.' '' VI objection; and now they have the assur
c,.s ~ Set up cry over the injustice done to North
;n.. TO denounce Democrats as the cause of this
b"'e' and to charge even that the lands are now
kOoe .squandered, when it Is notorious, and they
,.. that not the first bill of this character ha.
nr.. ,u g inc approval Of President Pierce! Wha
men! - - s-'S - psSop''o p' 'uihA NAA VI suci
H.. "otner noticeable feature in this matter is tha
ast Wing National Convention was silent ON Is,
lenos " the public lands The reason for this 81
,,ron "as tnat the question might be handled to sui
NorS localities In the West and portions Of til,
bill, ~. e readers are orhomestead bills graduation
0 0r policy which would result in the los