Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-05-28
Prom the Riehmond. fY...Nwhir.

IRON the Richmond ifa-,l wing
The Enquirer and the Public Lands.
We had occasion yesterday to refer to the "coa-
iition, which we believe to exist between the De-
mocraey of the South aud the Democracy of the
Northwest 10 reference to the public lands We sf
nrmed it as deliberate conviction that corrupt
and Infamous bargain had been entered into be-
tween them, whereby the Democratic politicians OF
the South consent to surrender the interests Of Vr
GINA and the other Southern old States in the pub
lie land to the Northwestern States upon con-
dltion that the latter should adhere to the national
~ Democratic organization and support for Presi
ldent and Vice President the candidates of the ma
ttondI ~ Democratic party. This is the specfcsc-
cusation we make against those Democratic politi-
clans here in Virginia and throughout the South,
who are now SO utterly and violently opposing the
proposition for just and equitable distribution OF
the common domain; and daily transpiring devel-
opments conspire to subslaniate the t.nth of that
accusation.
But ss thoroughly as we believe in the existence
OF the coalition" alluded to, we had no thought
that we should have proof of the fact in the
columns of leading Democratic journal published
here in the Metropolis OF Virginia But such, we
are sorry to say appears to u to be the case. As
between the proposition to distribute the public
lands fairly and equally among all the States, and
the proposition to cede the tChOle of them to the
States in which they lie, what do is the opeE-
ly svowed position Of the Richmond Enquirer
Tell it not in Gath, and proclaim it not in the
streets Of Ascalonl' We actually find the ERqui
rer taking sides n favor of cedng the public lands
to the Statesin which they lie, in preference osup-
porting the scheme Of equal dstrbutionl When
we assert this TO be position of the the Enquirer,
will the good honest people of Virginia believe that
we are telling them only the TRUTH the whole truth,
and nothing but the truh? If they will not believe
without proof they shall have proof aud here it is
from the columns of the Inquirer itself In its issue
of yesterday, it says-"Bnt # the public domain,
Belonging to the United St1tes nation, and in
tended for tie p9yneat of tie expenses Of the Gener
al GOur7ament, IS to be Incorporated through
the NAL edSdnce of the authorities to Whose exclusive
control At has been entrusted WE ARE FREE TO CON-
FEss, THAT WE CONSIDER IT THE LEAST DANGEROUS
DEPOSITION, As WELL AS MUCH MORE IN ACCORD
ANcE WITH SOUND NATIONAL SENTIMENT, THAN Dis
TRIBUTIoN, TO ALLOW THE LANDS TO THOSE STATES
IN WHICH THEY LIE, AND WHERE THEY ARE ABso-
LUTELY NEEDED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR
RESOURCES AS A SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT PEG
PIE, BUT BELONGING TO THE SAME BROTHERHOOD,
CONFORMING TO A COMMON CONSTITUTION, AND up
HOLDING THE UNION, IN WHICH AND UNDER WHICH
WE ALL HOPE TO LIVE HAPPILY, AND PR0sPEROUsLY
TOGETHER" There is the language of the Richmond
Enquirer upon this grave subject And does it not
strike the minds OF Southern men with utter aston
isbment?
Unless coalition" like that referred to, does
exist between the Democratic politicians of Vir-
gnia and the South, and the democratic politicians
of the Northwest, why is it that Virginia Demo
cratic journal should favor the cession of the public
lands to the new States in preference to favoring
an equal distribution Of the same among all the !
States Virginia inclusive? Wherefore aud how, |
would the cedng OF these lands TO the new States
be less dangerous disposition" Of them, than |
distributionS How is it that the policy thus pre-
ferred by the Enquirer would "Inore in accord
ance with a sound national sentiment" 1t is |
universally admitted that these lands were ceded
by Virginia and other States to the General Gov |
eminent for the common use and benefit of |
all the States. And would not fair and equal |
distribution OF them or their proceeds among all |
the States-the scheme advocated by us-accom-
plish the object intended? But If that would not,
pray tell how the ER9ltirer'S policy could come
in gun shot of accomplishing it, when by that
policy the public ldnds-every acre nd every rod |
would enure to the exclusive benefit of three OF |
four States only? Has it come to this complexion
at ast-that the Democratic opponents of distribu-
ton IN Virginia prefer that all the benefits and |
advantages Of the common inheritance" should
How to the new States to the utter and irrevocable
exclusion of Virginia and the other old States p
Hhy do these Virginia Democrats insist that these
lands Shall be given to the States, instead of
to NlrgIniaY There must be a reason tor so strange
and unpatriotic preference on their part What
Is 1t! What can it be? For one, we know not,
unless it be the result of that corrupt bargain aud
coalition, which we have already adverted to, and |
which, in our consciences we believe exists be-
tween the Democratic politicians of the South and |
the Democratic politicians of the Northwest
That is the only explanation we can offer for their
course in taking sides with the AbolitiOnized |
Northwestern States against Virginia and the South
Ii they have other excuse, let it be stated TO the
public As for justification, they have none, and |
can have none.
Oar readers will recollect that we have all along
that the people OF Virginia aud the |
other old States must either 90 in for distribution
md go an for az nO0, or they must submit to the |
outrageous alternative preferred by the Eaq1tirsr-
An alternative which invol es the complete and |
eternal surrender of the rights of the old States in
The public lands 10 the Free-soil States of the
orthWest. These We repeat, are the two al;erna-
lives between which the intelligent and patriotic |
masses Of the Virginia people must choose-and
they must choose quickly. Hence the overwbelm-
ing importance OF electing some stauncb and able
members of Congress from Virginia,
on Thursday next-men who will oppose TO the |
bitter end the aagitious and Infamous scheme,
which would rob Virginia of all her rights in the
public lands, Without cents consideration, TO the
States in which they ie-to the Abolitionized
States OF the North-west-to the States that voted
for Fremont, and that warning with all their
might upon the institutions of the South.
We desire TO put this question to the Democratic
candidates for Congress-dO they or 10 they not
agree with the Enquirer in preterring to the
whole Of the public lands ceded to the States in
which tn lie, to seeing distribution succeed. In
the event of bill being introduced in the next
Congress to distribute the public lands or their pro-
ceeds among all the States, aud another bill to cede
these lands TO the States in which they lie, which !
will they support Win they go for distribution,
Or will they go for wholesale cesson, whereby Viz.
GINA will be ousted of her rights utterly and ire
lrievablyH We demand OF the Democratic candi-
dates for Congress to answer these questions. And
we exhort the people to make them answer.-We
appeal to Democratic voters themselves 20 say, if |
they would not rather Virginia should have her |
share of the public lands than for the States to
appropriate the whole of them; as proposed by the
Enquirer.