Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-13

State SO as to control the course of politics, O
increase the value of the speculations, mad
| by the hosts of federal officers and agents con
cerned in the management of these lands
Are these small evils ? And can tho lane
States be expected patiently TO endure them
They cannot be said to have the eminent do
main Of their own territory, while this state o
things lasts. They do not enjoy that equality
which is the fundamental principle of ou
Constitution. We feel sure that Virginii
would not tolerate that any other government
drawing them from taxation, and maintaining
on them an army of agents and officers al
imperium an imperi0. She would not consider
her ancient dominion any longer sovereign, i
her citizens had to sue, as petitioners, to gov
ernment hundreds and thousands Of miles
distant, for the transaction Of many matters o.
the most ordinary police, which her county
courts now settle. We are accustomed to de
claim about the evils Ireland has suffered from
the absenteeism Of her English landlords; bui
they owned comparatively small portion Of
the country, and their property was subject ia
contribution and taxation for local purposes
it shared all the burdens of the lands Of resi-
dent owners. But here is nonresident and
absolute owner of more than half these States
claiming exemption from all local burdens,
exercising sovereign powers, and refusing to
contribute to improvements which double the
value of his own lands. Is this right ? and
can we wonder that the land States resort to
every expedient to rid themselves of such vas.
salage?
The consequence is, constant conflict be-
tween the old and new States, which ever grows
in bitterness. The former struggle to save the
revenue ; the latter vote for every appropria.
ton, which changes the ownership Of the lands,
and substitutes private and resident proprietors
| for the federal landlord. They are disposed to
| combine with any party who will assist in such
appropriations, and their growing strength
| threatens q not distant confscation of the pub
lie domain, in this corrupting and unconstitu-
tional manner.
Our wsest statesmen have long foreseen the
evils Of this state of things. In 1887, Mr. Cal.
houn declared his conviction that radical
change in our land system had become neces.
sary, and he then introduced his land bill, of
which so much has been lately said. 1t is now
confessed that it would have saved us from
great evils, and been q great measure of con.
stitutional reform. But it is worth remember.
ing, that he was as violently assailed for it at
the time as Mr. Hunter can be now. His opin-
ions and conduct, however, were not to be
shaken by such opposition. In 1889, he en-
"Not whether il would be wise to continue the
old system no, sir! far holder question WI IL
be praetica6ieS And If not practicable, 7rouM IL be
tcise TO continue it, till operthrocn Gy tie force of
| unauoidabh and irresistible causes? ! ask, what
would be the effects of such struggle? Would
il not be 10 excite, in the first instance animosy
and discord between the old and new States, and
in the end TO overthrow the entire land SYSTEM
with the certain loss, ultimately, of the public do
main q
When, on another occasion, it was denied
that the present system needed any reform, or
that the new States had any cause Of complaint,
he said
"Was il no evil that, session after session, for
The last ten twelve years, (now twenty-fveO
Congress should be engaged an angry and deeply
agItating discussions growing out of the public
lands, in which one side is denounced as the
friends and the other as the enemies of the new
Statess Was the increasing violence of this
agitation, from year TO year and threatening ulti-
matey, not only the loss OF the public domain,
but the tranquility and peace of the country no
evil Is il well, that onehrd Of the time Of Con-
gress should be consumed in legislating on sub
lects directly indirectly connected with the
public lands, thereby prolonging the sessions pro-
| portionately, and adding 10 the expense upward
of 100000! liar more now Is 1t no evil that the
| government should own half the lands within the
| limits OF nine now thirteenJ members OF this
| Union, and over which they can exercise no
authority, or control Is it nothing that the do
main Of so mony States should be under the ex-
elusive Legislation and guardianship of this gov
eminent. contrary 10 the genius Of the ConslItu
ton, which, intending 10 leave 10 each State the
regulation of its local and peculiar concerns dele
gated TO the Union those only in which all had
common interest? lfto all these be added the
vast amount OF patronage exercised by this gov
eminent, through the medium OF the public lands
over the new States and through them over the
whole Union, and the perncious influence there
by brought to bear on all other subjects oflegisa-
ton, can il be denied, that many and great evils
result from the system, as il now operates, which
call aloud for some speedy and efficient remedy ?"
His warnings were unheeded, and his great
measure defeated by blind opposition, led on
by his jealous adversaries. The consequence
has been what he predicted.
The time of Congress is more engrossed than
ever with land legislation; the old Wing pro-
ect Of distribution is revived, and, by the aid of
few recusant Democrats, passes Congress,
and is again arrested only by the executive
veto aud thousands Of schemes to squander
and give away the public lands for every un.
constitutional purpose, are proposed. So nu-
merous are their objects, that they will grad
ually draw every subject of State legislation
into the great federal whirlpool. The House
Committee on Public lands at this session, thus
describes their table:
+" The public lands are watched with a longing
eye. Your committee have now before them, es-
elusive Of the cases where there is promise OF
compensation, applications for grant Of land 10
establish and support normal schools in each State
TO educate young women as teachers; TO grant
lands TO support deaf, dumb, and lunatic asyums
in the State Of Wisconsin; 10 grant lands for the
support Of common schools in the different States !;
10 grant the proceeds OF the public lands for the
same purpose TO grant land TO each incorporated
college and university in the United States TO
grant land to establish juvenile reform schools in
the principal cities OF the Union TO grant, for the
purposes of education, the unsod lands in the re-
spective States which have been in market for
number Of years; TO grant 10 the old States large
portions Of the public domain 10 grant land 10
support Protestant university; TO grant land TO
support a private military school; TO grant the
site Of Fort Atkinson for purposes Of education
aud one party asks for grant OF land TO enable
him 10 carry an iron foundry To these may
be added the applications TO increase the list Of
soldiers 10 whom bounty land shall be given,
amounting in the whole 20 aggregate of some
thing like three hundred millions OF, acres equal
TO the whole amount Of public lands which have
been surveyed since the domain has been ac-
quired. To this extent are the applications now.