Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-08-05
The Graduation and Homestead Eli.

we lay before our readers the reflections and
opinions of several leading Democratic papers on
the Graduation and Homestead Bill of Mr.. Hunter,
which has passed the Senate. The Washington
Sentinel says:
"In considering the details of the land bill which
has just passed the Senate by majority large as
to stamp it. prinaa facie, we'll worthy of approval,
we must not fail to bear in mind the difficulties
which necessarily attended the construction of the
bill. Every feels tina. it is a question so dis
turbing, and likely to be of such long continuance,
that is matter of the first Importance to
prolific of dscord and mischief
I" We have few words for those opponents of this,
of all bills for general disposition of the public
lands and who ground their objections upon the
plea, that the public lands a great Inheritance
held security for national debt, and so re-
garded by the holders of government bonds; that
their possession by the government improves its
dit that the old thirteen States which acquired so
much, and have borne their share of the of all
lands since acquired, will receive nothing by this
bill. That, on the contrary, it is well calculated to
drain them of desirable population, and to bring
prematurely new lands into rivalry with the lands
of the old States To such DIRECTORS, whose difficult
ties fully appreciate, would appeal in the first
place. to the teeming evidences before them that by
scheme or other, these lands will, before many
years. be wrung from the government, and in many
ways more exceptonabe than anything in this bill.
They will occasion, in the time, all sorts of in
triguing and log rolling, consuming the time of Con-
gress, and perhaps corrupting it, while there would
be danger of collision between the Federal and State
governments. 1t must be palpable to these objcc
tors, that in way these lands will be disposed
of and the only question is, whether it is not better
accept this reasonable, practicable bill, than have
the disposition protracted amid so many difficulties
and accompanied by such Objectionable features.
We think sober consideration of these matters will
incline them to accept this bill the best DISPOSE
ton that can be made
CAS- measure affecting the resources and credit
of the Federal government, we would suggest, that
most of the settlers the new lands being addi-
NH
by them government will receive from year to year
more than am pie remuneration for the difference
between the rates of this bill and those under exist
ing laws, taking even the improbable supposition,
that these laws will be allowed to remain unchanged
and that more of the public lands will be squan-
dered hereafter.
"Those who 90 west to these new lands become
immediately good customers to the east and thus re-
pay the loss of their departure from the east The
generations brought up farms in the west viii be
healthy, brave and honest, and the migration will
be limited by the market price of produce. Settle
ment will cease when the products of their farms
will not paw Besides as foreigners will come, this
price of land will tempt sound and healthy class
to come among US; and States cannot spring up in
the west without imparting impetus to the business
of the east
"Amid the varying conflicting plans for the pre-
sent and future disposition of the public lands it is of
course impossible to crafty to the full every eNpec-
tation. All, therefore, that can be reasonably eX-
pected is to present for acceptance such bill as
shall combine to the greatest extent all the mpor
tant features of other proposed which have
recommended themselves to favorable consideration
eve think this bill eminently successful in this
respect. Other bills might be devised which would
be preferred--sone by class, some by Others
but we may safely affirm that the advocates Of each
of the other modes of disposition, failing to
their own mode, would prefer this to any other
Such being, as we believe, the facts in the case, it
behooves well-wishcr for the harmony of Con-
gress, and for the radiance of of very pos
sible and may be probable corruption of general log
rolling, to hesitate before conntenancng any change
in this bill which possibly endanger its passages
but that, the contrary, every one will feel 1t in
cun.bent himself to aid in the accomplishment of so
good object this bill will secure.
There are three principal features embraced in
this bill, which familiar to the public
First, The graduation provision. This principle
has been so long pressed by such numbers and such
ability, as to command attention and incorporation
in any bill for the general disposition of the public
lands. 1t provides, that lands which have been sub
ect private entry for period Of five and less than
ten years, shall be sold at dollar per acre; if
they have been subject for ten years and less than
fifteen at seventyfive cents per acre. if for fifteen
and less than twenty years. for fifty cents per
if for twenty and less than twenty-five years, at
twenty-five cents per acre; and If for the twenty
five years and more, for twelve and half cents per
"These are the stages which have been usual in
most of the graduation bills and such the terms
upon which individuals may enter the public lands,
unless the States shall avail themselves of the privil
emptors, the graduated lands within their borders,
provided, they take the whole of the lands so gra-
duated, the whole of any one class This they
may do without creating the relation of debtor and
creditor between the United States and the several
States. To avert that condition of affairs the bill
reserves the title from the individual purchaser until
he pays to the United States the price charged in this
bill for such lands as he may take The United
States are thus secured while yet the States may
take, as pre-emptors, without raising money or in
curing a debt. Should State choose to place an
advanced price the lands it do so, or it can
dispose of them at the moderate rate of its own pre-
emption price.
Titus each State can consult it's own policy, and
hasten or delay settlement within its borders,
as it may judge best for its interest. The United
States sell the lands for small pecuniary price, but
consideration and the States have sccur
ed themselves the right to regulate the policy and
process of settlement within their own borders
This is the application of the noninterTenton prin-
ciple the policy of the public lands reserving to
the United States its pecuniary interests, but ex-
Guiding the irritating policy of intrusion by the Fee
deral government. The fair presumption is, that |
the States will allow the lands to be taken by actu
al settlers at the low graduated prices and probably
charge an advanced price to those who take larger
quantities for speculation and future settlement
can any complain should they do so. The State |
cannot because the advanced price may compensate |
ler for postponment of the period OF taxation. so |
much for the first object of the bill.
"The second series of provisions has reference to
that settled idea in the public mind that the United
States landholder, should contribute something
to the enterprises Of the States by which the value
Of their property is enhanced The practical form
in which this idea has been expressed has much
seeming force Alternate sections along the rail