Washington sentinel., 1854-07-25

them rejected.
The Fertilization bill was passed, and the
House adjourned.
THE GREAT LAND BILL.
In considering the details of the land bill
which has just passed the Senate by majority
so large as to stamp it p,ima. .tacie, well worthy
Of approval, we must not fail to bear in mind,
the difficulties which necessarily attended the
construction Of the bill. Every one feels that
it is question SO disturbing, and likely to be
of such long continuance, that it is q matter Of
the first Importance to remove SO prolific q
cause Of discord and mischief
We have few words for those opponents of
this, as Of all bills for general disposition of
the public lands, and who ground their objec-
tions upon the plea, that the public lands are
great inheritance, held as q security for our
national debt, and SO regarded by the holders
of government bonds that their possession by
the government improves its credit; that the
old thirteen States which acquired so much,
and have borne their share of the cost of all
lands since acquired, will receive nothing by
this bill That, on the contrary, it is well
calculated to drain them of desirable popu-
lation and to bring prematurely new lands
into rivalry with the lands of the old States.
To such objectors, whose difficulties we full.
Iy appreciate, we would appeal, in the first
place, to the teeming evidences before them,
that by one scheme or other, these lands will,
before many years, be wrung from the govern
ment, and in many ways more exceptionable
than anything in this bill They will occasion
in the mean time, all sorts of intriguing and
| Iog-rolling, consuming the time of Congress,
and perhaps corrupting it, while there would
be danger of collision between the Federal and
State governments. 1t must be palpable to
these objectors, that in some way these lands
will be disposed Of, and the only question is,
whether it is not better to accept this reasona-
BILE, practicable bill, than have the disposition
protracted amid SO many difficulties and &C.
companied by such Objectionable features. We
think a. sober consideration of these matters
will incline them TO accept this bill as the best
disposition that can be made.
1 As measure affecting the resources and
credit of the Federal government we would
suggest, that most of the settlers on the new
lands being additional population, on the duti
able goods consumed by them, government
will receive from year to year more than an
ample remuneration for the difference between
the rates of this bill and those under existing
laws, taking even the improbable supposition
that these laws viii be allowed TO remain un.
changed, and that no more of the public lands
will be squandered hereafter.
Those who 90 west to these new lands, be
come Immediately good customers to the east
and thus repay the loss Of their departure from
the east The generations brought up on
farms in the west will be healthy, brave, and
honest, and the migration will be limited by
the market price of produce. Settlement vii
cease when the products Of their farms will no
pay. Besides, as foreigners will come, thi'
price Of land will tempt sound and healthy
class to come amoug us; and States canno
spring up in the west without imparting i'm
petus to the business Of the east
Amid the varying, conflicting plans for thu
present and future disposition Of the public
land, il is Of course impossible 70 crafty to th'
full every expectation. All, therefore, that cal
be reasonably expected, is to present for &C
ceptance such bill as shall combine to thu
greatest extent all the important features o
other measures proposed, which have recon
mended themselves to favorable consideration
Il We think this bill eminently successful il
this respect. Other bills might be devise'
which would be preferred-some by one class
some by others, but we may safely affirm tha
the advocates of each Of the other modes o
disposition, failing to secure their own mode
would prefer this to any other. Such being, a
we believe, the facts in the case, il behoove
every well-wishcr for the harmony of Congress
and for the riddance Of a source of very poss
BILE and may be probable corruption and ger
eral log-rolling,rso hesitate before countenanc
: ing any change in this bill which can possibl
endanger its passage; but that on the contrary
eyery one will feel 1t incumbent on himself :
aid in the accomplishment Of so good an objet
: as this bill win secure.
: There are three principle features embrace
!. in this bill, which are familiar to the public
First The graduation provision. This pril
) ciple has been so long pressed, by such nun
? bers and such ability, as to command attentio
and Incorporation in any bill for the gener
disposition Of the public lands. Il provide