The true Democrat., 1857-05-05
Distribution of Public Lands.

The Know Nothing order in Virginia have recently revived this subject and attempted to make an issue upon it in the approaching State elections The Richmond Enquirer thus responds to the proposition for an issue upon distribution of the public lands:
 "There are crises constantly recurring in politics which severely and satisfactorily test the faith of parties and leaders. And espe- cially is this true among republican people, where preferment and place are the rewards of popularity and power. When new measures, the coins of old principles, are introduced, or novel questions appealing only to popular pre- judIces are sprung upon the public; or even when obsolete issues that have long ago been laid low by the battle-axe of argument and truth, and deposited in the catecombs of ex- ploded error, are exhumed and again exposed
 in the political market place, there are thou sands in all parties who halt for a while be- tween two opinions, some from honest doubt because they lack light and thought on the subject, and others from selfish fear for the result of the popular verdict pro or con. Among the most recent instances Illus trative of this tact are the advent of Know Nottingham, and the revival of the hue and cry of the opposition, over the public lands.- Sam insdiousy ingratated himself with mapy we'll meaning men, and imposed upon the time serving timdity of others But the unparal- leled energy, eoquence, and arguments of Henry A. Wise, saved Virginia and the south from the blighting curse that threatened them, and the bubble of Know Nottingham soon burst upon the pillows of the tide of time, to be known no more earth forever. The public
 land question, with its spacious sophi3ms and plausible prctexts for the public good, has also, perhaps, injurously effected the popular mind, though in all almost inconsderabe degree.- The few who are left of the whi1 and Ameri- can parties have planted themselves upon the qulcksand of "distrbution,' as though they stood upon an impregnable basis, and occupied a position from which they have not been re- peatedlv routed. And it may be that there are aemocratS-few and far between--some from an improper understanding and appre- henslon Of the merits of the question, and others from the fear of being beaten for office
 in crcumscrbed localities, which have hereto fore been held by the opposition, who are n- cined to an adoption of the dangerous doctrine of distribution If so let them think again before they take the fatal leap. Let them pause upon the preciplce and ponder the prin- cipes of their party; let them anaze and assay the subject before they commit themselves to the cause of apportioning the public lands among the several States It is plain ques- ton, and needs only to be studied with an
 unbiased mind, to be properly apprchended even by the most ordinary understanding Under such circumstances, and after d full and free discussion of the question, an advocacy of distribution will amount to apostacy from the democratic party. Error ceases to be dan gerous when reason is left free to combat it, Is an aphorlsm at once truthful wise, consider ate and element A men are liable to be mised in their opinion, but they are endowed with the capacity to retrieve their oversi 5hts and amend their mistakes by thinking for them selves; and f after careful investigation and calm consideration of the land question, iii its er9ln and consequences, there are democrats who assent to the policy of distribution, they will find themselves in the delicate dilemma oi being recognized by neither party With the Americau-whi,s or wing Americans they will have but one point of cougenialtv; and by the democracy they will be considered unsafe and unsound having deserted to the cuemy on the field of battle-enlisted with the opposition upon the only issue on which they at present pretend to meet us"