Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-08-08

which its calendar WIS constantly crowded. III
consideration, if no other, ought TO secure for the bill
a general approval. The public lands had become
such constant subject for Congressional legislation
and controversy, fraud and pcculaon, that il would
have been better for the country To have disposed
them upon almost nny ernr rather than l,nvr drtnn.
ed them and suffered the evil consequences to which
they gave rise. Bnt the bill has merit in itself as q
just and judicious plan for accomplishing this object
which entities It 10 the general appreciation of III,
country, and reflects the Highest credit upon the a
~ Of Mr.. HUNTER.
One Of the provisions Of the bill is that the price
shall hc graduated according 10 the time the land has
been subject 10 entry. Heretofore til. lands have
been Offered ~ the uniform price vi dollar and
quarter per acre, without reference 10 nay or l"ca
un. The time for which they have .uiIIcl uIIsrld
constitutes the best evidence which tlie government
can have Of what they worth, and the ac' that
they have not been purchased is proof hat they a:r
not worth the price fixed upon them. This detect III
the former legislation upon the subject is r"mrird by
the provision of this bi which graduates the pric,
BY the value Of lan-basim. the estimate al the value
upon the time il has remained in market umSold
Another section Of the bill provides that any rn
road or canal company. whose Improvement pas, y
through public land, shall be entitled 10 twelve Sec
ticns for every mile Of iI,.ir improvement upon
payment of a price twenty-five cents lIss per aci,
than that at which individuals could hnvc entered tho
same land This We regard as wsC aiid just dis
elimination in their favor. The Government receives
"A full equivalent for Tins dinnuion ui price III the
the Improvement constructed 10y ihr company. |. is
noi an appropriation ni land for purposes ui Internal
Improvement, but Il SALE fr payment 10 be InnLc
partly in money, ami the rsitn" III the h':;mii WiIrh
the Government laudholdcr derives from The mn
prnvcmcnts by the company ut its expense. This b,
tt far exceeds the reduction al price in favor {" the
company. The power 10 make such discrimination
is warranted by every principle "t the Constitution,
and inscparablc from the character of the government
as landhudcr Those who deny to il this power
Al 10,
which must strip the government "t n!l bowers, as
well those which make II useful rs those winch make
it dangerous and pcrnciols.
Another section of the bill gives 10 the States in
which they lie the privilege Of acquiring prc-cmp-
ton right to all of the government lands "f any one
class, To be perfected to any part upon payment OF
the graduated price by tn" purchaser from the State
This will give To those Stntcs who desire II the right
to control the s!e and settlement of the lands within
their limits.
The last sections of the bill contun the substitute
for the Homestead Bill. 1t gives To any hcnd "t Il
family the privilege q" acquiring title to quarter
section of land after five years residence upon upon
payment Uf twenty-five cents per acre. II the land has
been in mark less than twenty wears, and twelve
and half cents per if more than that time. This
provision of the bill has been more Violently assacd
than any other. Yet we conceive there iS none which
rests Oh q surcr basis. None cau present n better
claim 10 discrimination in his favor than the actual
scllcr-tlc hardy pioneer who goes to make honc
in the wilderness. He coucrs substantial benefits
upon his country which give him special Clus To in-
vur. Such claims have always been rr-ar'lc' Ii
granting them is unconstitutional feature nj tins
bill then Congress has for years past been guilty al
continual iniructou~ of the Constitution, IN lnssln"
prc-cnpton laws which dscrinIntc Ill tnvnr Gf the
actual settler, and granted 10 him -peciu privileges
which were denied to others. They gave Ia him the
quarter section of land which he wanted upon cred
it of live years. when they required payment i'll cash
of all others Deduct interest for five from the
dollar and quarter which he pnys AT the c:'d Of that
time, and the price which Inc pan! is equivalent
to payment in cash of cighv-scvcn and half
cents per acre, whilst others pa,l n the rate ui
dollar and Il quarter per acre. Ever! Drnocraiic
President r the last thirty years hi. sn", Just such
bills, discriminating in favor uf the ac'uHi srttlcr.-
They considered that hc conferred hru.It upon hi-
country by converting the Willis o the West into cul
tivucd farms tccming with every crInth rl national
wealth and greatness and that this bcicii; uIudc him
worthy OF special favor at the hands %! The govern
lnent, and the enterprise i'll which hc C!hhlrkcd w"r-
thy of the bounty which lac received. We conceive
that this discrimination right ami constitutional
thcn and thar il i, equally now. IL WIZ right that
the actual settler who cut down the Fore: ANA ln-
proved tie country should puy less Tor h. land than
the non-resden, spcculator who b"u"h with View
70 profit by the enterprise of the hardy P'"Ccr. The
former gave benefit To the country w:tii his eighty
seven aud half cents worth fur more than the de-
duc.iou made in his favor whilst the latter gave no.
thing but hindrancc and delay tn the 'cnnc OF the
country, bv apprupraing the land md 't!iholdin-
il for the purpose of speculation. ILcv orincr en-
HANGED the value of the quarter src,r oI aGln-
cent government: land bv improvn. hts vwn, whilst
the latter did not Such rca>us have heretofore bccn
held sufficient justify observation-disclosures 'n""r {" the
actual settler. Time and experience, rs "t weak
cMn., have confirmed tic justice a'! "NS"dIcncy OF
acting upon them.