Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-06-23
Wings souander,ng tn. Public Lands.

wings squandering the Public Lands.
The people of North Carolina have been addressed
and appealed TO for years by the leaders of the Fede
raj party on the subject of the public lands. This
subject has, indeed constituted at times, at pres
ent almost the entire political stock in trade of those
leaders they have rung the changes upon it in all
the;. newspapers and from every stump and really
to listen to and believe them, unsophisticated man
would come to the conclusion that the Democrats had
combined to waste the public lands or give them
away and that these Federal leaders had been exer
ting themselves necessarily 10 retain these lands and
secure Justice in them and by them to the old Statea
But what are the facts Why the facts show that
these federal leaders have redeemed the first
pledge which they have made to the people this
subject. In 184l, when they had the power, as the
result of political victory which, ii was boosted,
would lead to a distribution of the proceeds to
enable North Carolina 10 increase vastly the usefnl-
ness Of her common schools and build railroads al
most in all directions. they passed bill making dis
tribution but the bill was framed, out OF defe-
renee the States and the Tariff States that the
old Atlantic States North Carolina inclusive received
nothing in comparison with what was given to other
sections. 1t provided, first that the new States
should receive each five hundred thousand acres as
gift and secondly, that the old States should have
money out of the treasury in the way of proceeds in
case the Tariff should not be raised above 20 per
cent. Tho new States under this act at once located
their lands-of they selected the best and the
right TO them became vested and fixed. But the Ia
FIN States CldmOreu lot more prOtccCOn, ana eXpen
were running up under Wing rule, and so the
Tariff was raised by the party above 20 per
cent. and the Old States yere thus cut off. North
Carolina cot twenty thousand dollars instead
of the millions which were promised her and she
had to pay that back in duties on imported goods,
and hundreds of thousands more under the opera
tons of the increased Tariff thus imposed upon her
by these leaders.
This is one specimen of the justice obtained for
this State by the Federal leaders Their only
is, that they tried, in raising the Tariff to strike out
the proVlso about distribution so as to continue dis
tribution to the old States well to the new but
John Tyler, who was opposed TO distribution would
not have signed such bill but then, who elected
! John Tyler? Was it not their work And why
did they insert the proviso at all Why did they
thus prepare the 1cay for injustice and wrOng. accord
ing to their own admission, to the old States
The people of this State have heard good deal
of late, from Gen. Dockery and others, about the
grant Of land by Congress for building the Illinois
Railroad; and though this bill was signed by Mr.
Fillmore, all others of the same kind were during
his administration, yet these Federal leaders would
have the people believe that Democrats entirely
responsible for these measures. We now assert, and
the records will show, that this bill, of which so
much complaint has been made Uoted fer IN the
Senate by MeSsrs Mangum and Badger, of this State
and sustained by a majority Of Whigs aud OPP
posed by q majority Of Democrats an the House of
Representatives. For the vote of Messrs Badger and
Mangum see Cong. Globe, vol. 81 . part L. page 904
/
holds good in relation to the others.
/ Here, then. we have body of men attempting to
hold an opposite party responsible for the very thing
they have done themselves and striving to make
votes by condemning the policy which they have
adopted and acted upon for years They passed these
bills making gifts grants and the like by alternate
sections and otherwise for Railroad Improvements for
the benefit, as they insist, of the States; their
President approved them all without word of pro-
test or objection and now they have the assurance
4ho iy1, 1np To
DINA, 10 denounce Democrats as the cause OF this
injustice, and 10 charge that the lands are now
being suuandered, when it is notorious, and they
know it, that not the first bill of this character has
received the approval of President Pierce! What
must the honest masses of the people think of such
men
Another noticeable feature in this matter is that
the last Wing National Convention silent the
subject of the public lands. The for this ST.
lence was that the question might be handled to suit
various localities. In the West and portions of the
North the leaders for homestead bills, graduation
bills and for policy which would result in the loss
of the whole domain; and in the old States South
they camor for a division of the lands among the
States and oppose all homestead and graduation bills
and this they do as good Wings because their plat
form does not bind them to any thing on the subject.
Most liberal patriots they in the new States, rea
dy to give every man, whether foreigner or not, a
farm without charge most afflicted patriots are they
in the old Staes ready to say do almost anything
to rouse the people against the locotoco lnJus-
tice, they term it, of giving the lands away and
depriving North Carolina of her rights
We charge it on these Wing leaders that they
have squandered the public lands, and we point to
the record and show the proof Let them now an
swer it 10 the people. Let them tell why and how
it was Mr. Mangum and MIR. Badger voted for this
Illinois grant and why and how it was their "model
PRESIDENT Mr.. Fillmore affixed his signature to the
bill. They have charged that this bill, and Others
of similar character were grossly unjust to North
Carolina, and that the certain tendency of such
policy 10 deprive the old States Of all chance to
obtain anything either of lands proceeds; we take
them on their grounds and in the presence OF
deceived and honest people declare that they are re-
sponsble for the very acts they denounce and ahec
to deplore! There is the record-let them meet 1t II
they can. There are the facts, from 1871 TO the
present day let them, if they can muster the as
surance to do So add some contemplate excuse FOL
their conduct in this matter TO the wrong inflicted on
the State as they allege, and we have proved, by
their own act!-Rdleigh Standard.
SLAVE EM1GRTIoN TO KANSAS AND NEBRASKA.-Ihere
, have been meetings held at Independence and West
port Mo- TO couneract the emigration from the free
States into the territories by slave emigration
The resolutions adopted declare in substance that those
who composed the meeting would take their slaves
with them, and hold them, peaceably IT they could
and forcibly they must against the efforts OF organ
, lied parties from the free States.
OUR BOOK BINDERY.
OUR Book Bndery is complete in every article ne
cessary to turn work handsome and substantial style
Mr. Phillip Heinsberger, under whose charge Blndery
placed is a master workman, and have doubt will