Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-08-09

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. prima tacie, well worthy of approval,
we must not fau to bear in mind, the difficulties
which necessarily attended the construction of the
bill. Every one 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 remove so
prolific a cause of discord and mischief -
We have q 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 great inheritance,
held as security for our national debt and so re-
garded by the holders of government bonds that
their possession by the government improves its cre
dit; that the old thirteen States which acquired so
much and have borne their share of the cost of all
lands since acquired, will receive nothing by this
bill. That on the contrary, it is we'll calculated to
drain them of desirable population, and to bring
prematurely new lands into rivalry with the lands
of the old States TO such objectors whose difficult
ties fully appreciate, would appeal in the first
place. to the teeming evidences before them, that by
one scheme or other these lands will, before many
years. be wrung from the government, and in many
ways more exceptonable than anything in this bill.
They will OCCASION in the mean 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 objec-
tors that in some way these lands will be disposed
Of and the only question is, whether it is not better
to 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 as the best dspos-
ton that can be made.
Gas measure affecting the resources and credit
of the Federal government, we would suggest, that
most of the settlers the new lands being addi-
tional population, on the dutiable goods consumed
by them government will receive from year to year
more than am pie remuneration for the difference
between the Of this bill and those under exist
ing laws, taking the improbable suppcsition,
tkat these laws will be allowed to remain unchanged
and that no more of the public lands will be squan
dered hereafter.
"ThoSc who go 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 will be
healthy, brave, and honest, and the migration will
be limited by the market price of produce. Settl'
ment will cease when the products of their farms
will pay. Besides, foreigners will come, this
price of land will tempt a sound and healthy class
| to come among US; and States cannot spring up in
the west without mparting 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 crafty to the full every expec-
tation. ALL therefore, that can be reasonably ex-
.sted, is to present for acceptance such bill as
snail combine to the greatest extent all the impor.
tant feature Of other measures proposed which have
| recommended themselves to favorable consideration
t 1--WE think this bill eminently successful i'll this
respect. Other bills might be devised which would
| be preferred-sore by one class, some by Others
but we may safely affirm that the advocates t each
| of the other modes Of disposition, falling to secure
their own mode, would prefer this to any other
Such being, we believe, the facts in the case, it
behooves every wcl-wisher for the harmony OF Con-
gress and for the riddance of of very pos
sibc and may be probable corruption of general log
rolling, to hesitate before countcnancng any change
in this bill which possibly endanger its passage;
but that on the contrary every one will feel it in
cumbent himself to aid in the accomplishment of so
good all object as 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 ssed 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 to private entry fora period of five and less than
ten years, shall be sold at one dollar per acre; il
they have been subject for ten years and less than
fifteen, at seventyhve cents per acre; IT tor fifteen
and less than twenty years. for fifty cents per acre
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
acre.
"These are the stages which have been usual in
most of the graduation blls and such the terms
upon which individuals may enter the public lands
unless the States shall avail themselves of the priv
ege which this bill gives to them of taking, as pre-
| emptors, the graduated lands within their borders
provided, they take the whole of the lands so grs
duated, or 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 unit
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 debt. Should State choose to place ar
advanced price on the lands it can do So or it car
dispose of them at the moderate rate Of its pre-
emption price.
"TAus each State can consult its own policy ant
hasten or delay settlement within its own borders
as it may Judge best for its interest. The United
States sell the lands for small pecuniary price, bu
substantial considerations and the States have secur
ed to themselves the right to regulate the policy ant
process of settlement within their own borders
This is the application of the noninterventon prin
ciple to the policy of the public lands, reserving
the United States its pecuniary interests, but ex
cluding the irritating policy of intrusion by the Fe
deral government. The fair presumption is, tina
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 large
quantities for speculation and future settlement no
, can any complain should they do The Stat
. cannot because the advanced price may compensat
her for postponment of the period of taxation s.
much for the first object of the bill.