The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-09-06
Thc Public Lands and senator
nMmmanw


would have passed the House had there been
time, is now generally discussed BY the press
Of the country. The expression is ina large
degree favorable to Mr. Hunters plan. His
proposition is regarded as coming nearer to a
settlement Of great question, and as calcu-
lated to give more extended satisfaction, than
perhaps any other which has been presented.
The passage of Mr.. Cobb's graduation bill,
lat the close of the last session, may render
amendment of the bill of Mr.. Hunter neces-
sary before Congress closes its second term;
but It Is quite time that the whole subject
should be disposed Of, now that we have al-
most reached a point upon which we can
agree. We are not surprised that objections
should be made to this project; the subject
is too vast not to excite differences but that
Mr.. Hunter should be made an object Of per-
Isonal assault in his own State, strikes us as
very extraordinary. There is class Of men
never content unless they have everything
their own way. When all others approve,
they cayil and complain. They seem to de
lightin being different from others, in oppo-
sing for the mere sake of opposition, and in
finding fault, no matter how coarsely and un-
lseasonably. Several of this class are great
II ont Of humor with Senator Hunter be-
cause of his land bill. They know they cam
not get all they may need; but they will not
YIELD It must be "all or none; )" and in ta-
king this course they willingly disregard the
sensible and practical advice of John G. Cali
houn on this very subject. We are indebted
Ito the editor of the Richmond Enquirer for
this excellent admoniton:
"Mr Calhoun (says the Enquirer) did not
pretend that his plan was absolutely perfect
and exempt from all possible objection. On
the contrary, he preferred the existing sys-
TEN: but, foreseeing its eventual overthrow,
and anxious to escape great calamity which
his prophetic eye discerned III the not distant
future. he submitted his substitute, and de
Tended It from the assaults of Webster and
Clay, with that power of argument for which
he was conspicuous. Like our own distin
puished senator, Mr.. Calhoun was taunted
with desertion or compromise of principle;
and what was his reply : In answer, L say,
we must Go as we are often compelled to do
through life accommodate ourselves to cir
cumstances mitigate evils we cannot over
come, and retald and lessen those we cannot
prevent. Such are the laws to which beings
of our limited powers and control over events
must necessarily YIELD i regard it, said
he further, as one of the wisest maxims in
human affairs, that when we see an inevita-
ble evil like this, not to be resisted, approach
ing to make concessions IA time, aoLite t0e can
DO 1t Nth dignity and not TO wait until me-
oessity eompeEs Us to act and when conces-
sion instead of gratitude will excite con-
tempt The maxim is not new. have de-
rived it from the greatest of modern states
men. Edmund Burke. He urged its adop-
ton on the British government IN the early
stages of our revolution and If the obsfi.
nate and infatuated statesman, Lord North,
then at the head of affairs, had listened to
his warning voice, it may be doubted wheth-
er our revolution would have taken place
The inevitable evil to which allusion is
made in this paragraph, is more distinctly
indicated in the following: Let il be borne
in mind that all sides agree that the new
States will soon be able to command their
own terms when others less favorable to the
common interest lthan those proposed by
Mr.. Calhoun) will be imposed. If we of the
old States make it point to hold out to the
last, they will, by a necessary reaction, make
it a point to extort all they can when they
get the power. But If zoe yieId an time, a
durable arrangement may be made mutually
beneficial and satisfactory to both parties =
Again, in the same speech, Mr.. Calhoun said:
This 1neasurer reluctantly forced upon me By
tie necessity Of the case, has been introduced
with desire to terminate great political
evils, and I think, therefore, that instead Of
attempting to resist any longer what must
eventually happen, 1t a0ould be better for all !
concerned that Congress should yield at once
to TIE force Of circumstances, and cede the pub
kic DOMAIN.
This is the counsel of geat man-an
uncompromising mana bold and sagacious
thinker---a pure patriot. We may apply it |
TO every question with great efect-to the
question Of slavery. to rivers and harbors, to
public lands, and to, almost every subject Of
legislation. North and South should
ponder it we'll. Mr.. Hunter stands too high
in the affections of his country to be dam
aged by unfair and violent criticism.-
He is one Of the leading minds of the ma
ton; he is model statesman; he is labori-
Gus, economical, upright, and orthodox. TIL
he can settle, orhelp to settle, the public-land |
question, he will be rendering a service to his
country that will far outweigh all temporary
praise or blame. Washington Union.
Know NorHING1sM.- M.-It very evident that
tbo f,tbere If the American Renubl;o wore