Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-22

MONDAY, JUNE %, 1857.



The subject of the public lands, and how
they shall be administered has come to be
most nromiuent topic of discussion. 1t is
asked BY our opponents, why is this 500 We
answer, it is because the policy of squander-
ing them upon railroads in the new States and
Territories, inaugurated within the last few
years, and checked in the Congress of 1854,
has, 10 the last Congress, been carried to an
unprecedented and fearful extent. AT the
last Congress a solid body of lands were given
away. sic miles wide along a line OF more than
siz thousand miles Of railroad. The donations
were to forty two different roads and branch
roads, through eight States and Territories,
making perfect network of railroads through
them, TO be built without costing the people
Of those States one cent, and leaving large
surplus of lands besides, the proceeds Of which
will go into their State treasures; besides
furnishing public improvements, the dividends
on which will pay the taxes of the people, as
is now the case with the finished roads in Il
linois.
While this is going on around us, Tennessee
has been refused single acre; and has been
compelled already to incur State debt and
liabilities of about twelve millions of dollars
10 an effort to keep pace, in such improve
ments, with States, thus enjoying property
that belongs in common TO all the States of
the Union. 1t is true that under the Act of
l64l, the refuse lands in Tennessee were given
to this State amounting TO 100000 acres;
but it was not until they had been picked and
culled over from the days Of the Revolution,
till 184l to satisfy North Carolina land war
rants and other entries; and it is an official
fact in the books of the State Treasury that
they only yielded the aggregate sum of fifty
one thousand dollars. They were worthless,
barren rigde lands. But the fresh, rich lands
nowss being given away will yield from five to
thirty dollars per acre. At the last Congress
100000 acres were given to Minnesota, to
build seven different roads and branch roads,
of an aggregate length of l 100 miles! 5000,
900 acres to Alabama, to build eleven roads
and branches, of an aggregate length Of more
than 300 miles! 100000 acres to Michigan,
to build five roads and branches Of more than
62O miles: 1,O5O,OOO o Mississippi, to build
three roads of about 275 miles; $500, 600 to
! Wisconsin, to build three roads of $40 miles;
| 1905 900 10 Florida, to build four roads, of
about 400 miles; 100000 to Louisiana, to
build three roads of about 40 miles, (besdes
about 25O, 900 acres, to build road from Mo-
bile to n OrleansG and about 100000 acres
to Iowa, to build five roads and branches, of
about 200 mlesl
Now, the public lands were acquired by the
common blood and treasure of all the States,
or We're ceded by the original land States, for
| the common use and benefit of all; and if this
recent policy is to be pursued, Tennessee and
other old States, must assert their rights, or
they will soon be bereft of their just nher-
lance Let u5 again consider the actual his
torical facts In previous articles upon this
subject we have given the main facts, but
we again refer to them, because we want the
people to act advisedly and nnderstan lingly,
when they come to vote upon this question.
The thirteen colonies, prior to the Revolu-
ton, though separate and Independent in their
domestic governments, were under the COM
mon yoke of the government Of Great Britain;
and, when driven by common danger to take
up arms, waged war as united colonies, and,
in common str uggle, finally achieved their
independence. Prior to the outbreak of hos
Utilities, they assembled together in a first Con-
gress, as united Colonies. Early in the con-
! fct their subsequent Congresses declared them
independent States, and frmed for them CAR
tices of Confederation and perpetual Union :"
this latter event occurring five years before the
war of the revolution was ended, and their in
| dependence achieved. So, they fought cut the
war, and. won for themselves empire and q
place among nations, IN joint struggle as
! United Colonies or States. II was early fore
seen that vast extent of vacant lands, un-
granted to individuals, would be wrested from
the British Crown; and the question as to how
they should be disposed of, was long great
| obstacle, aud, indeed, "the only obstacle" to
the union of all the States under the proposed
! Confederacy-(See declaration Of Congress,
Sept. z, l7S0)-The States within whose lin
its these lands lay had set up exclusive claim
tOthem, under their charters from the English
King; while the other States contended, that
when "wrested from the dethroned authority
by the equal exertions of all, they should ere
suit, in right and equity, to the benefit of all,
(See Madison papers, p I'D In 1879, Con
gress declared that the Interference with the
vacant lands by the States claiming them,
would "be attended with great mischiefs -
and recommended soon after, that they be ce-
( ded to the United States. Maryland 'made il
prerequisite TO entering into the confedera-
tiUn) that the vacant lands TO be) acquired
from the British Crown, should be common
Jund."-(See same reference) On the 10Th
of October, 1880, Congress reslved "that the
unappropriated lands that may be coded or re.
linquished to the United States, pursuant to
the recommendation of Congress of the 9th
day of September last, shall Be disposed Of tov
the common beRsJft Of the United States" (See
Hiokey's COMP alton, p. 42l) Then, anC
not till then Marylsnd agreed to come into the
confederacy; aud simultaneously March /
1881 New York ceded her lands TO the Uni
ted States; Virginia, Massachusetts,, Connecli
cut, the Caroinss, aud Georgia, subsequently
following the example. Virginia, North Car
olns and Georgia, expressly oeded their lands
las common fund for the use and benefit OF
al the States; and the other States employed
language, which was in substance tantamouni
10 this. Accordingly on the Goth May, 1885
when about halt the States bad made thei
cessions, Congress passed an ordinance. [Se,
Biuren aud Duane's edition Of the Laws Of u.