Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-10-22
Public L.uds...ra,es.-.Relief Of n, peoD,..

anu the result cannot but be gratifying and glorious
Public Lands Taxes Relief Of the People.
The people Of Virginia are groaning under hea-
w burden of txation imposed exclusively for their
internal improvements, while some of the States are
enabled, by the unequal policy of the Federal Go
vernment, to carry magnificent SYSTEMS Of public
works, without imposing n dollars tax upon their
people.
Some few years since, Congress donated to the
State of Illinois than four millions of acres of
the public lands for building her great central rail-
road across her entire territory OF these lands there
remain unsod about two millions and half Of acres,
which are worth now, and actually selling at six
teen dollars per acre, worth, in the aggregate the
enormous sum of $4,000, 200, Forty millions Of
dollars giren BY Congress to single State to build
her railroads tcith!
And at the last session of Congress, the State Of
Iowa. State Of yesterday-received for railroad
purposes four millions three hundred and tnenty
thousand acres Of the public domain! These lands
are said TO be worth this day least ten dollars per
acre, and are every month increasing in value. So
that Congress, last winter, gave young Iowa forty
three millions Of dollars and upwards for making
Improvements, and with this vast sum she is prepa-
ring to construct four railroads across her territory
from the Mississippi to the Missouri the aggregate
length Of which is ,l25 miles An extent OF rail-
road greater than the aggregate length OF the Nor
folk and Petersburg South Side Richmond and Dan
vile, Virginia and Tennessee, Gordonsvile aud Alex
andria, Central and Covington and Ohio Railroads all
together Other States also received similar dona-
tons, amounting, In ALL TO than 90 millions of
acres.
Now, these public lands belong to all the States
equally, having been acquired by the common BLOOD
and treasure of them all And Virginia ceded in
the Revolution to the United State 100 000, 900
acres, Thieh belonged TO her. and her alone compo-
sing the present States of Ohio, Indiana Illinois
Michigan and Wisconsin
Now, to the people Of Virginia, grosning as they
are under heavy taxation, and who must be taxed
yet more heavily to complete their improvements
two Important practical questions arise for their con-
sideration: l. How comes it that Illinois can get
from Congress $40, 00O, oO0 and Iowa SiS. 900 Ooo
to build railroads with while Virginia who gave the
Union an empire, cannot get dollarf >. What
would be the condition OF her people in regard to
taxation, il she could come in for anything ike her
rightful share of the public lands,
On the first point the answer is-it is the fault of
her representatives in Congress for, recently,
Mr.. Carlie, member from Virginia, submitted
bill for giving to Virginia and all the old States a
portion Of the public lands and II all the Virgin.
Ia delegation bod eotsd Jor his 6H, it would have
PISSED, and Virginia would have received several
millions OF dollars under its provisions
Our delegation reply that according to the Demo
cratic PLATFORM Congress has power to distribute
the proceeds Of the public lands among the States
and yet they turn round, their party in Congress
does, and give away hundreds Of millions of acres
Of the land itself They can't give away the pro-
ceeds of the land sales but give away the lands
themselves BY this sort of party bumbug are the
people Of Virginia cheated robbed OF their Just share
Of the great common fund Of the public lands, and
heavy taxes imposed Oh them, which would not be
if they had their rights, II they choose to continue
the party i'll power that thus wrongs and despoils
them, and continue 10 be mercieSsly taxed when
there is no necessity Tor it, it is their right 10 do so
hut one OF the taxpayers of the State, we pro-
test against it, and so ought every Taxpayer in the
Commonwealth.
T. Secondly, il Virginia had her rghtful share OF
the common domain, what might she not do with it !.
She could do this, ut eaSt-she could pay off her
public debt, finish her railroads and canals, and al
most entirely relieve her people of taxes As Mr..
| Richie once said, in approving the distribution
scheme of Mr.. McLane, Gen. Jackson's Secretary
OF the Treasury What might not Virginia do with
an annual dividend of 100000, or even the half of
it? How many miles of road might she not com
pleteg How many schools establish"
Suppose she had one-half of what Illinois or Iowa
received-why she could at once pay off every dol
lar Of her debt and have her improvements left to
pay bOunteous revenue into the Treasury, and vet
more reduce the taxes Of the people
Suppose she should receive only ten millions-she
would have nearly enough to complete her great
central railway to the Ohio
As it is-under present party auspices-she can.
not get dollar-not even a few hundred thousand
acres to enable her 10 discharge her sacred engage
ments to her officers and soldiers Of the Revolution
The people of Virginia should look well TO this
matter OF practical concern. II they desire the con-
tinuance Of their present hard taxes. and vet fur
ther Increase of them, let them retain the present
dynasty In power. For ourselves if we had no 9th
er objection to the Democratic party than this crv
ing wrong To Virginia and all her people this woud
be insuperable. While, for party effect-to get
votes in the West and Southwest-it gives scores of
millions to the States and not cent TO the old
States that bore the brunt Of the Revolution. and
bought and paid for the public domain, we can new
er give il our support Virginia can never have ius
tice from it,
The Tournament on Monday,