Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-07
IR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
RICHMOND WING.
FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL Z, 1854.
To coRRsroypkNTs. !,
The Publle Lands.

cd Il has really lost but little Of its intrinsic inter-
est and Importance At least the people of Virginia
and South not conscious of having been just
ly dealt by in the matter, and they not yet dis
posed to give up in despair and make further e.
fort TO obtain what is justly due them. Amid the
member,css pratca schemes Of demagogucs and
sgrarians which being urged urged upon the
country with such resoute earncsncss the prospect
for securing simple justice to the old States is indeed
squally enough. 1t is not surprising however, that
the voice Of justice should be heard or il heard
shouldphe disregard when, now, rapine and fraud
~seF6tNc order Of the day-when public honesty and
honest legislation of cuuntenance and esteem
ed fiction. and wien public plumber is the chief aim
Of modern politicians and tho only shrine at which
they worship.
Inc public lands have long been, and are yet,
merely convenient, everyday hobby for that inf
mite host of mercenary dcmagogues to ride, with
which the country is cursed from Maine to Texas If
Wing counsels had preyailed-if vile and vapory
abstraction under the sp cia patronage of the De-
mocratic party at the South, had not been permitted
to override esson sound policy, ard common sense
the old States would not ave been frauded tn, r
rights, nor would ignorant and INSCRIPTIONS dema-
gogues have aow been in the ascendant in our ma
ton a councils. As il is the South has been plaged
and ribbed, the new STAGES have been greatly en-
riched, the demagogues have enjoyed long galadsy
aud ali too, through the potent Influence OF q per-
nicous Locofoco abstia ction. And if Virginia, +
my reasonably be anticipated is destined to derive
no material advantage from our immense national do
main, Let the Democratic party, who have persev,r-
ingly resisted every Effort to put her upon footing
OF equality in this respect with the States, c
made 10 bear the blame and atone for her misor.
tunes. 1t IS they, who have marred her destiny
thsy have been the great stumbng-block III tn, va,
Of her progress and prosperity, and upon them aolc
should iigntiully rest the responsibility.
The Indications numerous and decisive that tic
present session of Congress will witness a d,tni
settlement of the land question in form other
either for against the old States. Al the CID
States, Virginia among the humber, mean to ill.,
sist upon a recognition of their right to just anu
equal participation in the benefits of this common
fund" 1t is high time for them be vigorously con-
certing some to effect that object. There
IS no time 10 lose. Delay is dangerous. There is
much ut stake. Combinations a.e daily forming to
drive empty away 70 save ourselves may cost
u. at this day, hard and vigorous effort. But 10
get what justly belongs to usto preserve the rIgh
tho dignity the equality OF the elder born of the q,
federacy worthy OF effort, and 1t ought t. be
made.
The policy most likely to be adopted-after the
ravenous appetite of the agrarians is appeased-is
that of approprating the public lands TO the States
in which they lie. And more unjust, niqutous
and odlous policy was never concerncd-excepting
alw Iys the bill now pending in the Senate for tie
special relief of loaiers and vagabonds. The absurdi
ty and injustice of this policy is ably set forth in Mr.
Clays speech on the public lands in $50, an extract
from which we give below, and to which we invite
particular attention;
The argument in behalf OF the States founded on
the that the old States upon coming Of the
revolutionary war, had, claimed right all the
within their respective limits; aud have
been admitted the Union the same footing and
condition IN all respects with the old therefore they
entitled all tue lands embraced within boun.
deres But the argument iOrgets thas all the reyouoGa
~ had lands; that had very hlle
aud others one. il orgets the rights OF the States
10 the ands within their limits conroyerted;
that it insisted that. they had been conquered
common war, waged with means aud attended
with general scrhces the pu1Ic land should held
the benefit vi all the States IL OrgeLs in
Consequence OF thus right asserted Ia behalf OF the whole
Uion the states that co ained auy large bodies Of
lands (aud Virginia particularly, that had Os ceded
them 10 the Unon for the Ell al benefit OF all the States
II orgss that the very equality which is the basis OF tile
argument, would be totally suLTered by the admission OI
the validity Of the pretension. For how would the mat
hen stand! The revolutionary States will have d..
vested themselves OF the large districts Of lands
which they couiaincd io the benefit all tue
S'ate-; and those same lands will tue beue
ht u the States exclusively. Their. will be-
on the superstition OF the validity OF the pretenso
vrrsa Of e condition Of the claszes Of States Instead
oi the old having, is alleged the wild lands when they
included at the epoch OF the revolution tbey will hay
none, and the new States ALL Aud this in the aud
for The purpose oi equality amoug all the members OF thu
coniedrTacy! What especially, would be the Situation q,
VirSinaS She magraumously On empire IN extent
for the common benefit. And pr posed not on,
to withdraw that empire from tile ject Of s s,I.p,,,
dedication to the OF oil the States DENY her ans
pnruc patton IN " aud appropriate it exclusively the
beuebt Of the States carved orIt Of IL
1.-The right Of the Union the public Iand IA ncon,cs
table. IL ought be considered debatablc IL new
wa qnrruUe hut toy lev, whose mur,-trous heresy
il was probably supposed would escape hnmadyerson
r. the enormy o the absurity and the utter tmur,r
tictbty O the of the claim. TIE ryh; ol tho
vho j. sealed by the blood OF the revolution founded
solemn deeds OF cession from SOVEREIGN S.strs do
hberly executed 10 the face Of the world or tes,r ~
national treaties concluded with fore on movers M
anre equivalent contributed from the ueaui
OF peope Of the United States. The States ha,
right TO the public lands within their
jnr dicton han other States have the mint the fort,
and arsennls or public ships within thers ar tb,r,,L.
people Of tie District If Columbia 10 This sgni6cen,
cap 'ol, In whose splendid halls We no" de bera'en
tn The important question upon which 50 much depend
IN tho present srug Ism REV. whether spbs,to
pol is impregnabc, Is red in the negative BY Mr.
oiiphant, Whoto adm able wor, on n hores Of IN,
Black Sea has just been published in New York Mr. U
says;
of me fact there doubt ths, however veil for.
taed may be the approaches Sehastopol by sea- Their
10 not u x wh'iev u prevent any numb,r of uoop
landing foe miles ~ the south NJ the town In one Of tn
convenient bays Viih which the roast as FAR NJ Cap
Rhersoo is indened aud marching the main street
provided they strong enough defeat any ilitn
force that might he opposed IN them In the open field
sack the town and burn the feet
---------
SE- The AleTandria Care te, 10 N, flo ling psrs
graph puts quite pertinent osatory 70 our neigh
Dor II the Enquirer
10 ,os the Richmond Enquirer really believe thu. IN
Lag fr the pres ion NJ the circulation Of small notes
In th state, ill beer observed ny the Democra,
tim ny tho wbgs9 Nov, think, va do not make
graz venfrs, when say that after the fret Of Jun
nett y these notes ciFculIted ALL there will be
pariy issue IN the The Democrats will take then
and P''' them, j1s' as freely, as the Wings II they
taken or passed at all"
~ The value Of domestic produce exported 10 70
cgn states from the port Of New York. for the month
March, VS. e. 669.sl0 There was alec exported ii
tum Of i4ee,l97 In gold and silver.