The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-10

government They fll the empted Golfers OF both State
and federal government Were we TO Withdraw from
the national treasury S200O000O and distribute among
the States would decrease State taxation but TO pay
the debt and deray the expenses of the nation must
not the emptied vaults be filed, and filed sir by the
very men whose State taxes have been decreased 2
Just far have reduced State we have increased
national taxation. And where Is the gain2 None sir
none; but much loss loss in this that State taxation
being upon all property is equal each paying in pro-
portion TO his wealthhs ability to pay while federal
taxation not being at all upon the real of the
NY but upon the property which consumed by the peo-
Pile Is unequal. The of wealth may not and in hun
dreds Of thousands of do not consume more OF the
imported goods which pay duty than their poorer neigh
bo by taking from the national treasury aud giving to
the States we would greatly relieve the property holders
from State taxation but just much increase the
dens upon the men who eat and and the goods
which are imported and which taxed by this govern
ment feel sir that have shown that If this land dis
ibnon scheme would the States the full amount
OF the S5300o000 which il would withdraw from the ma
tona treasury II would be an unwise measure But go
much further and assert that while the lands bring this
government 81 25 per acre the States under these bills
could not realize from them than the oneha Of that
amount
The price of land like that Of other property is greatly
regulated by demand and supply Under these bills land
warrants would issue the States the forty
three million four hundred and fifty thousand acres The
warrants would be placed under the control of the States
Immediately upon the passage of the laws Under the pro-
visions of the bills the States cannot make the locations and
hold the lands themselves but may sell and assign the
rants and the purchasers win make the locations. There
would be speed among the States to furnish the
ke before the extraordinary supply would reduce the price
and there would be thrown into the market land
TO the large amount | have mentioned At no
time not in 1885, when the Spirit of speculation
widest in the country, has there been demand equal
such supply For many years past the demand shown
by the sales has exceeded and think not reached an
average of three millions of per ask the
friends of this measure what the States realize from the
sales OF their when the supply exceeds the demand
by than forty millions ofacres? Sir cannot est
mate the depreciation in market thus gutted.
Look at the effect produced upon the price by the issue
nf
ry l847 and of September 1850 During the year ending
November 1851 warrants issued amounting four
million six hundred and forty thousand six hundred and
eighty acres and during the subsequent about the
number These warrants into every neigh
borhood in the country and wherever there pur-
chaser warrant likely to be found large portion
Of the warrants thrown into market but oca-
ted by the Under such circumstances when
the market supply have fallen greatly below four mil
lions of per annum, what price did the warrants
command have not accurate information this sub
ect but think am safe in saying that during the years
lS5l52 the average market value of the warrants OF
hundred and sixty did not exceed Sl25 about
seventy yeght cents per If supply little beyond
the demand reduced the price Of the public lands great
ly what will be the depreciation when the supply is i'm
creased ten times much when at there is thrown into
the market supply equal TO the demand Of fifteen years
and when instead Of being scattered the country the
warrants thrown in immense quantities into the stock
markets Sir my judgment is well satisfied that the States
would realize for the lands distributed under these bills
fifty cents per To favor the States asked to
go for land distributions miserable scheme that would
ute among the States less than $22oOo00O This is
craftsmanship that abandons the general good 10 address
supposed local interest Sir the scheme is wrongwrong
because il will increase the burdens OF the taxpayers
wrong because il against sound principle and wrong
because il is shameful squanderng of the property Of
general government without securing 10 the States
adequate substantial good. Whose scheme is this ?
Who is TO be benefited by i2 Mr. Chairman let sup
pose the deed done these bills passed, and the warrants
delivered TO the State authorities The newspapers have
been filed with notices of the times and places of the sale
Of the warrants. Let attend some Of the sales. On
Wall street New York sells her six millions Of acres Penn
sylvania is selling her ive millions in Philadelphia and
New England her six millions in Boston. Whom do we
meet1 The laborer purchasing homestead The me
chanc and the farmer securing lands for their boys
Modest and retiring, the sons Of tor are crowded
back while speculation, wealth, and associated capi-
tai occupy the front places and speak in controlling
language These bills do not limit the quantity OF
man or association of men. The sales over the
receipts by the States small but the public lands in
the vaults OF stockholders warrants 10 locate fortyhree
millions Of Of spectators and foreign capitalists
The next step is taken The locations made and
the richest and most desirable portions Of the lands gone
from the government and under the control and power
Of capital Industry excluded except upon hard terms
There homesteads except at the specuaors
price. Sir this measure is scheme for land monopoly,
that enemy Of civil liberty and greatest 10 any peo-
pie The struggle between labor and capital very
quail when good standing place upon the soil Is
given to labor but " the lands given TO capital the
contest B over labor bends the knee and capital rules
Mr.. Clays distribution condemned By the
country and believe abandoned by himself and his party
But he proposed no sale OF land scrip monopoly of
land The present system Of sales continue and the
proceeds TO be distributed among the States Mr. Clays
measure--condemned and abandonedwas fun Of excel
lence and perfection compared with this scheme
Mr.. Chairman go against this measure because am an
earnest friend Of the homestead policy would rejoice 10
every freehoder and industry with burdens
TO bear while she tills the soil In my Judgment
claim 10 be friend Of the homestead pocyof cheap
lands to the setter-and support this mighty scheme Of
land monopoly DO not these bills take from the settlers at
fortythree millions Of acres Of the lands? And does
not Of the amendments the b offered by the gen
eman from New York Mr. BrsSTTT propose that the
warrants transferred by the States shall be located upon
alternate halscctons and that the remaining hasecons
shall not e sold for less than 81 SO per acre2 Foryhrce
millions given the States and upon hirty-threc mil
settler shall be charged double price to make up the loss
for the given away the States and 10 enable the
specuator TO get q high price for his lands in other
words the settler who Is buying land for home shall pay
double price for H. that this government may provide
schools and asylums in the old and wealthy States Sir
have language strong enough TO express my adherence
Of this proposition We give the lands to the States
in large quantities. aud homestesds to the people
upon easy terms II is not good to say there
will be lands enough left There will be lands left know,
but they will he inaccessible to the settler This
would throw fortythree millions Of into the hands Of
Spectators They would the lands adjoining the
settemens-upon the rvers--the rich bottom land and
the coast and The emgrant to home must
pay the spectators price with his family pass beyond
the settlements beyond the nonopolzed lands beyond
markets and schools and civilization and upon refuse
lands take up his abode in the wilderness.
The gentleman from New York [Mr. BENNETT bases his
m upon the position that the western States have obtained
by grants from Congress than their proportion OF
the lands and he entities Il bill eqnaze the grants
lands the spypral an the