The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-20

lutism.
The Public Lands-A soarce Of PROFIT and
OF c0rrSptfon.
The government Of the United States is the
proprietor Of sixteen hundred millions Of acres
ot land. OF this immen estate the larger por-
ton Of 1t is unsarvey ed, and much Of it with
out even preliminary Typographical and astro-
nomical observations Something less, it is be
lievsd, than ten hundred millions Of these
acres, lying chiefly in the mountain regions
and extending, at points, up to Nebraska and
Kansas and to Minnesota on the north and
east, are wholly valueless. What the exact
amount OF these swamp and mountain districts
may be it is not material to inquire at this
time. Population is so small compared with
the supply of land, that, at least within this
and the next generation, we shall not require
additional territory to give it employment and
subsistence. The direct sales by the govern
ment during the last year were about fourteen
millions of acres: the quantity appropriated
to various corporations and under the bounty
laws of Congress- amount, according to the re-
port Of the Commissioner Of the Land ONCE,
to something like four times that amount.
The report Of the Commissioner, which we
have published, is certainly not remarkable
paper. It's exhibits arc unimportant in tone
and scope; and, relating, as they do to the
affairs of one Of the most interesting subjects
connected with the general administration,
they are wholly unsatisfactory. This is to be
regretted, as the time has come when the peo-
pie Of the United States should give more at
tention to this department of their public in
terests. The truth is, the whole land system
partakes largely Of accident 1t has been a
continuous operation, withoutproper design or
appreciation. When the constitution was
adopted the Territories were unimportant, and
it has been since the discovery of steam as a
propelliDg power that the lands coded to the
general government have grown to any con-
siderable magnitude. Congress was made the
general trustee Of, and authorized to establish
needful rules and regulations for their sale.
When this duty was performed neither the
national legislature nor anybody else at all
comprehended the great value Of the Terrific
ries, or the future extent of the demand for
their cultivation by the people. 1t is only by
subsequent events that that value has been
fixed; and in creating it the public lands have
risen to be the most important interest in the
government. 1t has its political as we'll as its
economical bearings, and it is as q political
machine" as Mr.. Hamilton dcnominated the
Bank, that it should be regarded by the peo-
pie.
The government is the owner of sixteen
hundred millions Of acres. This is vast es-
tate entrusted to the legislative department
for its administration. 1t must be seen at
once, that as subject Of Legislation it is likely
to exert powerful influence upon public men
and put to the severest test the integrity of the
legislator. Had its magnitude been appreciat-
ed by the trainers of the constitution, it is
fair to presume that the wisdom and patriot.
ism Of those rcn would have devised some
scheme by which the temptation to population
and fraud involved in the disposal of the 60
vernment estates might have been avoided.
Certain it is when regarded in the light Of ex-
perience, tested by it's power to seduce public
men, ard by The insane zeal tor general plum
report of the Commissioner, and particularly
in the history OF the Minnesota bill of the last
session of Congress, the existence Of the pub
lie domain may be regarded as anything but u
public blessing.
In this country of freedom aud striking In.
diyiduality--in this country Of independence,
and Of not too guarded personal and national
morality-it was not we'll to open fountain
Of corruption within the very halls Of its le-
sislation. 1t was not necessary, certainly, t.
throw upon the integrity Of Congress temp
tation which experience has demonstrated
they could not Withstand. Precisely this was
done when that body was authorized to dispose
Of the public domain.
All the objections that have been ur ed
against the Bank Of the United States sits
tendency to corrupt the public morals--its
greater or less influence with members Of Con-
gress-the instrument Of personal profits ut
the expense of personal integrity md indepen-
dence are equally applicable to the present
land system. No sound economist denies that
the bank was capable at times of performing
lnItTl dut tclNlCCc W Vic SVunhJt 'ut I'D WI
influences, its liability to abuses, ise political
tendencies, its power to approach aud to con-
troll public men, and ultimately, il continued,
its power and disposition to exact its rccogn-
ton Us department Of the government itself,
were more than sufficient to balance all its po.
sitiye benefits.
What is most needed In this country is in
tegrity IN the national legislator. All
experience shows that he has been a.
sailed and requires fortifying. There Is
no way to do this successfully except
by removing from the sphere Of his
labors those subjects the matter of which
are likely to influence the judgment, cap
ture the vote and prostitute tho man. Who
Will say that legislation on the subject of the
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