The daily union., 1854-12-13

heavier than in any other of the land States Indeed evil
deuee might produced almost extent corrobora
tive this view, showing rather that generally speak
ing lapse Of time Is better reason or increasing hah or
decreasing the price OF lands
This however the only erroneous view that seems
10 entertained the subject OF the pubic 40
main II has been alleged the hand that by 1t In
Justice done the old States while the utmost hperay
is manifested ards the and on the other mat IN
consequence of the government being lne gea.
IN the new States and its lands not subject TO taxauon the
settlements those States compelled to sustain
the expenses of State county, and municipal governments
unaded by that should be derived from taxing
ali the lands These views both sides OF the question
are greater less extent erroneous as the facts VIII
show.
The land system originated by Jefferson, and fash
ioned nts form by that great statesman, aided by Ly
ingston Gerry, Howell Read Williamson, Lang, King,
Johnson Stewart Gardner, Henry, Grayson, Ball Hous,
ton Monroe In the enactment OF the ordinance OF
1885 and the acts of 1885, 1900 and 1905, the nation
had the benefit of the wisdom and patriotism OF the
sapes who under Heaven founded our free and happy
government The advancement of the public interest was
then the only object sought The heavy debt OF the revo
ntion pressing the young republic required lqulda
ton every at the disposal OF the government
was carefully and judiciously applied to that object
Among these the public lands were considered perna-
and prominent item with the utmost care forecast
and wisdom the land system was brought to perfection b
series of laws and executive and judicial decisions TILL
by the passage of of cath April 1920 the cash
substituted for the credit system
our land system which has continued for over seventy
years. unaffected by radical change h the passage OF
This graduation act which, in its history for sim
pity harmony certainty, and uniformity has command
ed universal admiration.
Let us now how this system has been administered
with special reference the benefits derived from the pub
lie lands by old and States respectively excluding
of course, the lands on the Pacific
The bounty lands for services in the revolutionary war;
and that of 1872 flowed mostly to the citizens of the old
States say onehaf of those for services in the Mex
con war;
The amount actually paid the old States under the
act 4th September l84l of the surplus revenue H OF
course, charged to those States
As the proceeds Of the public lands went into the treas
ury and applied to aid in deayng the expenses Of
the the necessity was thus obvated of
ing the tariff that amount The tariff it il admitted
hears equally the entire population OF country
than any other The old States originally and until
within few years. vastly more populous than the
new and this relief therefore, applied in the proper
Suppose then that for the entire period Of the ope
ration Of the land syatem the average proportion OF the
population of the old States to that of the was as
three this basis the people of the old States
would have been benefited by breourhs of the proceeds
of the public lands and those OF the States by
fourth Of those proceeds.
10 state the account then these hypothesis tbs old
States chageabe with the amount of lands given as
hountes ia the revolutionary and that of 1872 in
Guiding that under the acts of 1850 and ls52say l9o9
One-half Of the act of ls47-say e,477,sso
Amour, actually paid the old States under '''0' :
the act of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 409,sl2 AZ
ll5,676,758 67
Making total of................ Of l46,l9564l 90
the benefit Of which has flowed chiefly entirely to
the people of the old States This amount it will be re-
membQSed, is exclusive of the sum Of than forty
eight and quarter millions receipts for imports the
ports Of Florida and Louisiana which into the
ury and by which the people Of the old States also
proporiionably benefited.
One of the greatest benefits however to the old States
and that which be estimated by dollars and cents
the opening given by the to the ambitious and
terprisng citizens OF the former and the facilities furnished
them by OF obtaining valuable farms at mere
nominal prices They have also enjoyed immense benefits
from the products of the Westhe supply being vastly
increased thereby and the cost proportonaby reduced
On the other hand grants have been made to the new
States and Territory of Minnesota for schools academies
terna 36e swamp lands being left
account because the Of that grant, the proceeds
10 be applied in draining those lands.say 34ssl-
O63 6D-i00 acres equal tp......... $436l3,829 SO
One-half the bounty-land act of l847-
6,477,s80 acres equal lto.......... 8,09T,3 1850 0O|
Amount actually paid under the act Of l84 1874 39l
One-four,h the proceeds. 37892,252 80
Two three and FIVE per cent fund..... 4662,sl3 "a
Making total of.................. 94,a44,3s7 IL
the benefits Of which would have flowed the States
on this basis.
Thus IT will perceived that mutual benefits i'm
extent and in about equal proportion, have flowed
10 both the old and States under this udicious sys
and either has apparently the advantage it is all
within the great family and not sufficient ground of
controversy between sres and sons.
The policy of the land system u.s. first encourage
the actual settlement and improvement of the pubic do
main This may be done by such amendments to the pre-
empton laws experience may necessary for the
purpose and by which every actual settler may his
improvements in reasonable time without risk Of compe
tition from Spectators.
And second to aid in providing the necessary facilities
for and for the transportation of
products of the lands market Although the railroad
excitement in many has been carried to excess
perence has proved that grants for such purposes when
carried in good aith alike beneficial the people,
the States, and the general government
To prevent speculation, and equiva-
lent the for the lands granted for those
poses, notifications in the acts making them
proper-as for instance, that grant should be made
cept the application of the legislature of State; that
the lands should be taken in alternate sections within
certain distance each side of the improvement the
mum price of the remaining sections to be doubled,
throughout the whole of the grant and the lands
TO be certified the States the work progresses with
provision OF forfeiture in of failure
1t impossible to portray the benefits already de-
rived by the West from this system Immense regions
have been disposed of that thought be wholly
saabe because of the difficulty of access and
the applications for these lands that in
for want of time they cannot be acted for months after
they made The government has consequently been
benefited will be in part from the following tables