Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-10
DAILY NATIONAL ERA.



A certain morning paper made some quota
tions the other day, from the deeds of Virgins
and other States ceding territory to the Con.
gress Of the Confederation, to show that Ben
netps Land Bill, which proposes to divide the
public lands among all the States, fairly car.
ries out the intentions of those cessions
Whatever may have been the intentions Of
Virginia and other States to the Federal Con-
stituti0n alone must we look for the power Of
Congress over United States territory Con-
gress il authorized Ito dispose Of and make all
needful rules and regulations respecting the
territory and other property belonging to the
United States" and it il bound, Of course, 10
to dispose Of it as to promote the public wei
fare
Even should it be admitted that some con-
sideration ID due to the intention Of the States
making cessions TO the Confederation, it must
be remembered that these cessons have already
been organized into States, and that but little
public land in them remains to be disposed OF.
As the Mississippi was then our western
boundary, they did not extend beyond that.
The Public Lands which Mr.. Benefits bill
concerns, chiefly, have been obtained by pnr-
chase from France and Spain, and conquest
from Mexico, not by cession from any State.
1t cannot be denied that this bill commands
the support Of strong party in Congress. Il
IL may not be approved by a majority but q
force can be rallied in its favor, sufficient to
fasten it as an amendment to any other project
for disposing Of public lands, and thereby pre-
vent any Legislation on the subject.
PROFESSIONALLY, wo prefer the policy Of this
bill to that system Of plunder, under the dis
guise Of grants Of land, to aid in the construc-
ton Of railroads, which has grown up Of late
years. Under such a system, the older States
are effectually deprived Of their legitimate
share Of the benefits Of the Public Domain,
the new States, or, rather, the land spectators
Of the new States, monopolizing them. Ben
nett's Bill is intended to remedy this evil, to
put stop to this plumber, and to secure an
equitable division Of the public patrimony
among the States II we must choose be-
tween the two schemes, give us his bill, which
will at least put the States upon an equal foot
ing. But we are not reduced to this alterna-
tive. There is another and better way of
managing this grand domain. II is the prop
erty Of the People let it be secured to the PEG.
pie. Under the policy of Benefits Land Bill,
should it become law, the States would soon
part with their respective grants to individual
or corporate spcculators little hope would re-
main for the poor, landless man. We hold
that it is the duty of Congress to preserve the
Public Lands as the heritage of the poor and
landess--to secure to every person, being the
head of family, one hundred and sixty acres
Of land, on condition Of occupancy and Guilt
vation-and to prevent their monopoly by spec
ulators and railroad or canal corporations.
Adopt this policy, and all the States will be
benefited. The population and wealth Of the
new States will be promoted !; the older States
will long be preserved from the evils growing
out Of density Of population and intensity of
competition, while new markets will be rapidly
opened to them; and the growth of free States
will be quickened Large capitalists North
and South, may not see in this policy anything
very inviting to them, but the masses of the
People are directly and deeply interested in it.