The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-06-27

force representatives to the alternative Of vio-
latiun of their conviction of constitutional right,
or seeming antagonsm to the interests Of
their constituents
believe sir, there is general desire that
this should cease believe it to be the feeling
of the country, that the public lands should be
disposed of, once for all-just|y and eqnitabIy
TO prevent improper combinations-to reduce
the length Of our sessions, and enable US to
legisate on other matters.
On the eve of Mr. Webster's first visit to
Europe he was asked the object of his trip
His reply was, that, In addition to desire to
see the objects OF natural interest, to one visit
Ing the Old Word, he wanted to get where he
could sre man who had never made bar
gain. would not intimate that this express
sion was in any way associated with, or the
result Of his political experience; but may
say without reflection upon that great man,
that the desire wa, by no means unnatural to
any one who had been even spectator OF the
Legislation Of Congress in reference to the pub
lie lands.
On this point will not enlarge. Sixteen
years ago, in 1889, Mr.. Calhoun, in speaking
of the subject, said:
81 ask not whether it would be wise to con-
tiuue the old system. No, sir far bolder
euestion-wil it bepracticable9
"It is easy to see how this would end the
public domain, the noble inheritance Of the
people of this Union, would be squandered, or
rather gambled away in the contest, aud would
thus he made at the same time the means of
plunder and corruption and of elevating to
power the most proijga'e and andacious."
Has this prediction been realized2 Let one
of many years experience in this House, aud
vet in the counsels of the country, answer
Three weeks since, speaking on Il bill that has
passed this House, Senator Thompson, of KY.
said
"It seems to me, since have had the hon
or to come to the national councils, whether III
this or the other house Of Congress, the public
lands have been banded about eternally AS a
bribe IN the shape of cession and retrocession,
i, the shape Of graduation and Of distribution,
and of every imaginable project"
Of all the interests Of the country, Mr.
Chairman the land or agricultural should be
least affected by or dependent upon, lesisla
Upon it rest all other branches Of national in.
dustry, and its value should be controlled by
laws uniform and permanent. Itis bad enough
that the commerce of the country should be
Influenced by measures purely political; but
trade pa,takes in some sort of the character of
an adventure. and readily adapts itself to cir.
cums,ances. Not so with land. The tiller Of
the soil may have knowledge of chemistry,
but he knows nothingof political chicanery.--
lie watches the changes in the natural, not in
the political elements and looks to the ground,
not TO Congress, for his annual profit or the in
creased value of his land. And yet if Con-
gress issue twenty millions Of land warrants,
as proposed by the bill of the gentleman from
New York, or throw as many acres of land
gratuitousIy, or at greatly reduced prices, upon
the market one year, and none the next, the
price of every mans farm will be as variable
as your commercial st,cks.
Sir, if you have the power, you have no
moral right thus to sEhject the staid and sober
interests of the home staying, hard working
farmers Of the country to the fluctuations of
YOUR commercial, or the tidal movements Of
your political sea.