Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-11
Wasbingtan gentinel
From the Boston Post.
The Land RiII.


ceding the lands she claimed, and thus insured
the adoption of the articles of the confedera-
ton. These lands came to be regarded as a
rich inheritance, with the proceeds Of which the
the revolutionary debt was to be cancelled and
the credit of the nation preserved. Other do
main was added to these old lands. The ques-
ton grew in Importance; the policy that should
govern their disposition has been the theme OF
constant debate, and now the subject requires
10 he dealt with in the spirit of wise statesman.
ship.
In such a spirit has been conceived the LAND
BILL, which was matured in the Senate, mostly
through the profound craftsmanship Of Hon. r.
NJ I. Hunter, of Virginia, and has passed that
body. This embraces three great principles.
First. 1t carries out the graduation principle
providing that lands have been open for five
years. or less than ten years, shall be sold for
one dollar per acre, and so on down to twelve
and half cents per acre for those which have
remained unsold for thirty years and over.
There are millions Of acres that have been e1-
posed for sale sixty years, and found no pur-
chasers at 81 25 per acre. The bill provides
that State may take the lands within its linn
its by an act of its Legislature, and fix the price
above the price prescribed, and reserve the ex-
cess to itself but the title is not to pass TO the
purchaser until he has paid the first sum to the
United States; thus preventing the States from
be coming debtors to the nation. Thus, too,
ea,h State will be the judge of the policy as to
the lands within its own limits.
Second. This bill recognises the principle
that the United States, as landholder, should
aid IN carrying on enterprises in the States
within which the land lies and that confer value
on it-exactly as a private landholder disposes
OF lot on easy terms to one who will build on
it in order to enhance the value of neighboring
lots. This bill proposes to allow the States, as
pre-emptors, to take certain sections along the
line of canal or railroad, and pay the original
prices to the government, while the State will
receive the enhanced price that viii be given to
the land by the enterprise. In this way the
whole embarrassing question of grants, for
these purposes, by Congress, is disposed of.
Thirdly. The bill extends the presumption
principle to actual settlers. After FIVE years
residence on the land he occupies, he can obtain
= title to the land at the graduating prices
This applies to any free white person who is
the head of a family, or who has arrived at the
ageOf twenty-one years, and is capable of hold
ing lands under the laws of the State in which
such person resides or, if in Territory, who
is capable of acquiring presumption under the
laws ofthe United States.
These are the great features Of this bill. 1t
IS plain, at glance, that it is framed upon the
broadest craftsmanship. If it does not embrace
the free homestead principle, it comes near to
II 1t avoids the grave constitutional objections
Ola distribution of the public lands among the
States. 1t removes agitating questions, such
as those pertaining to the whole round of local
grants, from the halls of Congress to the local
legislatures. While it looks to a substantial
revenue for the treasury still it is not framed
IN the consideration that price in money is the
main thing to be looked at in the disposition Of
the lands; but that the chief thing is the settle
ment and growth of the country, and the social
and political results that will flow from this. 1t
goes upon the principle that land is of little or
novaiue until man goes on 10 it and cultivates it.
This reminds us of the early land policy as to
New England. The land was freely lotted out
It was the years of exposure to dsnger-the
yaloeless wilderness become invaluable posses
sions
A measure Ike this, SO comprehensive, so
thorough, so far-reaching, should be examined
in the spirit in which il was conceived II is
not difficult TO foretell the grounds on which
this bill may be opposed in the old States. 1t
may be alleged that they will not get by it
their share of the proceeds, and that the ten.
dency Of If will be to build up the west at the
expense of the east. This is an old argument
here in New England. 1t was zealously ap-
piled by certain politicians here from 1903 TO
1915. Such local jealousy runs through many
q speech, report, and resolution OF those DAYS:
and those politicians were wont 10 alarm peo.
pie by pictures Of ruin from depopulated dis
tricts. The growth of the west, too. il was
alleged, would destroy the old balance Of power
The inquirer will find this localsm in its per
lection in the celebrated report Of the Hartford
convention. This reads: None Of the States
can find an interest in creating prematurely an
overwhelming western infuence;" "The
southern States viii first avail themselves OF
their new confedera,es to govern the east ; and
finally, the western States, multiplied in nun
bers, and augmented in population, will control
the interests Of the whole" This will serve
70 show the ideas Of this class of politicians
The same class exists today, and we are pre-
pared to see them urge that this land bill will
rebound to the interests Of the west; that il
viii build up new States; that it will give an
impetus TO an already great western political
power; and that this viii be deleterious to the
north, to New England, TO the Atlantic States.
rs reply to such fears and appeals. we
would ask our mercantile men, our New Eng
land citizens Of all walks of life, to look at this
matter broadly, both financially and politi-
Chul. ldud uol pIOiuCc I'M
nense results we would not deny. 1t may be
talismsnic in its influence in feeding our va.
want wilds with population; and by thus at
tracing to them that source Of all wealth,
LABOR, may intellectually increase their value |:
and then will assuredly follow additional polit
cal importance for the new States TO the Union
These are the probable results Of this great
measure.
But is it contended, at this day that this
western growth is to be detrimental to the PEG
pie Of the Atlantic States? 10 those of New
England? or Of Massachusetts, How has Il
been beretofore7 That the settlement OF
Louisiana and the west has materially prevented
the increase Of population in the old States is
true. But those who emigrated from these
States united with those who came from foreign
lands, and created new communities. As their
means increased their wants multiplied. They
became customers for the products Of the old
States. They bought our fabrics. This slim,
ulated home industry.
Thus the increase Of every community
q - q