Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-19
THE Winchester Virginian, one of the Democrat


that are "dead"-that the little that yet said in de-
fence Of it, by Democratic papers in Virginia, is
mainly forced upon them by the necessity fjusiy-
ing n position they took too early, and without due
consideration-that it never had any warm friends in
this State but was merely acquiesced in by few as
matter Of policy. This is all true to the letter.
But for the wish to sustain Mr. Hunter, and heal the
dissensons in the party that bill would have had no
defenders in the State. The press of both parties,
without a single exception, had over and over con-
demned the principle it embraces. But Mr. Hunter,
thinking it n good chance to increase his popularity,
and promote his prospects for the Presidency not
strong enough to resist the temptation that stood in
his way. He eagerly bit at the bait and now finds
himself pretty well done for. Though s,rait.laced
Southern man in all his professions he seemed for the
entirely to have forgotten that there was any
South, but with his eyes and hopes all turned North
and Northwest he consents in response to the sug-
gesons of n restless and uuchastened ambition, TO
introduce and advocate "a bill for making Frecso ter
ritory of all the public domain" We doubt not that
he is already conscious Of the miserable blunder he
committed and would be willing to repent in sack
cloth and ashes, il thereby he could redeem hms Ii
from the fate that inevitably awaits him. We would
advise him to acknowledge his at once, give up
Loyalty, and sin no more.
The Winchester Virgipian, in its commentary upon
the Senator's bill, after contrasting Mr. Calhoun's
bill with that, says:
"The latter measure. have before stated, Airns
the homestead principle almost without disguise II
tains the government che burden and expense OF
present lsnd-sysem, with all the corupting patronag,
incident to it; and at the time makes to all
corners the properly that system intended 10 pro
teci. II the public lands are 10 be disposed OF in n
sweeping way, the best plan, it to will ne :"
shut up all the land offices, throw tue ground into
mon, and declare it free all who want it LIT it b.
subject to title but the title OF discovery Ike the
Falkland Islands or the Antarctic continent. But We
cause for this extreme step, and unable 10
understand the panic into which many OF the most trusted
representatives Of the Southern Atlantic States including
Mr.. Hunter, have been thrown. We believe the public
domain ought be of revenue; independent Of
she right of the old States to reimbursement, OF the
money expended in its purchase. In other way
the West, consuming comparatively small share Of
foreign imports and therefore paving but little in the
form Of duties, contribute its yearly quota tue
federal Golfers. Nor there any serious indications
cessation of this income. An article in another column
Of this days paper shows the receipts from public ar
TO have been last year larger than in any preceding
great in 1858. This is owing in large degree, the
eec of railways thus usying the policy of granite
alternate sections; and also the partial exhaustion
the military bounty warrants the location Of 300 900
understanding $4,000, 900 of acres-snce 1877
necessarily down the OF the land Office aud
in part for the stampede Congress on Thu
srbject."
In conclusion, it remarks upon the graduation fea.
tare, it says:
"Ar Hunters bill is blamesbe, not for establishing
graduation, but for abandoning aud nuiiyng it, together
with all the existing regulations for securing payment
for the lands It's sth and 9th sections allow aby free
white person, who is the head OF family or 25 Years
age, on making affidavit that he is purchasing his
elusive aud benefit, one hundred and sixty
acres OF land valued at one dollar per for rsty-
vs cents acre. and there 10 provision for securing
the payment OF tbst twenty-five cent? The seventy
hvs cents rather the whole price of dollar taken
oi OF the treasury and employed in purchasing the
friends Of the homestead bill in Congress and the fIaer
vote outside. Aud this is done the public domain
from becoming fund of political corruption The remcd,
radical one. certainly 1t provides against said funds
being employing to buy votes hereafter 10y consuming il
10 buying them now"
10 sell the public lands for the pitful sum OF
twenty five and twelve and.a half cents and ,n,t
no provision for securing the payment even of that,
This Is rather novel method, and a very automs,,
one, OF getting rid of the public domain, which De
nocrats have ever cortendod ought TO be- zeaopsIv
reserved rs great revenue fund for defraying rho
expenses OF the Government, Instead of paving them
out OF a tariff upon imports which, according to
their theory, ought to be admitted free This, il wi1
be remembered was a strong objection with them
against the distribution policy of Mr.. Clay II. the,
argued, you distribute the public lands or their nro
cesds among theseveral States, you cut OF the re-
venues Of tho government and mako il ncccss,r,
TO increase the duties upon imports. Now how.
ever instead OF distributing these lands among all tb
States equally, they propose TO cede them to few
and to give them away to all who may choose to tax,
them. This Is one way to make tho public lands
source Of revenue to the general Government. Bu
Democracy isrun.mad, and the times arc on. Of Joint
and nothing better, we suppose ought to be tx
pected.
The hackers aud defenders of the notorious F,rn,,
derive no aid or comfort from the Lynchbnrg ReyuG
Hen. That paper in its last issue rasps him viii
great JUNCTION and deserved severity II SAYS. "LU.
all dher gentlemen, we have disgust fpr this inIi
Vidual. The author II the Roberts letter was me-
cessarily dog. II would have been impossible
Tor any man having the feelings to say nothing o.
tue principles, oil an honorable man. 10 have wrtte
thAteIier. There were however some crimes which q,
did not expect him to conmit,-not that no was n
good to commit them, but that he was too cautiop
and sensible But !; seems that we were mistaken :,
even our own low estimate Of him" The Reppblics,
then refers to the outrageous conduct Of Fornev I,
deliberately altering act Of Congress and slsfv
ing tho records, on account Of which the followin
resolution was offered for his removal.
n
House by directing snd causing DO made the alterps
too OF House bill No $40, sniitled IAN act to aid IN
Territory OF Minnesota In the construction Of raitos
tesrein mentioned IN the report Of the special comme
ol THIS House. has flsfed record Of this House in vic
uo1 OF The parliamentary law and Of bis sworn duty an
tt ne said John W. Poruey, Clerk Of the House of req
resenauve' should he. and is hereby removed from m
oehcs OF Clerk Of this House
FOR ms resolution, the Republican informs u,
Powell, Ietoher, Caske, and Nilsson voted. of IN
Virginia delegation. It adds that doubtless the Who'll
delegation would have sustained it, but for the fac
that the session was within few hours Of its closs