Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-04-24
CHAS. " BUTTON.
Changing the gs.We.

Ouf neignDpr thnd we trust tudt hplWlihslhbu-
ing difference of opinion on some points, we
may 6nd him such in every seHse,) of the Repub-
can. has found est. md insinuates that
we either " do not understand the land question,
or, are very unfortunate in selecting arguments
10 maintain our particular views Of the subject ~
and thenceforth presents facts and figures to
prove what every body admits, that the immense
grants of land made by the General Govern
ment to the Illinois Central Railroad Company,
have, by the construction of that great work.
augmented the value Of the alternate sections re
servel, which fact is particularly fatal to the
Virginans isiribuiion hobby" Marvellnusi
Did we ever maintain that because these grants
of land for internal improvements, increased the
value of contiguous territory. that therefore
they were wrong Never And We would wish
tho Republican 10 give us categorical answer
as 10 whether the Democratic party has ever
assumed that this mode of increasing the yalue
of its reserved lands obviated the constitutional
difficulty, which, as n party, but not as indipid-
u1is, they have interposed 10 all such grants
That is the question. If it be unconstitutional
for the government TO donate lands to States or
corporations, there is no contingent good what.
ever TINT will Justify the act With all defer.
cnce it strikes Us that there Is n singular
defect in tho argument Ut our neghbpr upon
this point. We contend TINT il is both conslitu
iiona and proper for Congress to make dona-
tions Of the public domain for the purposes of
education aud internal improvement; and for the
very reason assigned by the Republican in in.,i
Gcaton Of the lberality Of Congress towards the
Illinois Company, but we want its bouuty--f that
can be called bounty, which we demand
right--to be dispensed with an impartial hand.
1t il because internal impr vements enhance the
value Of lands through which they penetrate, and
add to the general prosperity. that we wish to
complete our own system. And here, il will be
seen that we agree with tho Repubican, but
when Virginia a,ks for har share of these public
land, with the view Of providing the means of
bringing into market much of her territory that
is now comparatively worthless aud for promo
ting her general interests. tho Republican will
tauut with the unconstilutonalilv of such
procedure. though il will Justify ita> 10 Illinois,
upon the very ground where we fest the nrRu-
meut. (holding, ourselves, no constitutional scru
ples,) that Of promoting the senornl welfare
1t is really amusing 10 see how our opponents
dodge this question, aud seek by every manner
of contriyance. to erade the pressure which pub.
lie opinion is bringing to bear upon it. Two
thirds of democratic Senate may vote away, in
the face of their platform, millions Of acres of
the public lands for the benefit of Western States,
but they do it Us the representatives of sectional
or local interests, and the democratic party must
not he held responsible fnr the acts of local rep.
resentativos, swayed by local interests, who doiT
the Democrat Tor tho time being. \ certain
Arch. Bishop who was given to wine, cards. aud
sundry other practices not strictly in harmony
with the proprieties of his holy office, was asked
how he could reconcile the apparent iuconsis-
tency. e. said he, Il do these as u man. not
as n!BiSbop. But" said his intcrocuter,p pressing
tho enquiry, my Lord when the devil gets the
man, what will become of the Bishop !" The
public will be equally careful TO hold the demo-
orntie party responsible for the actions of its
members IN Congress.