Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-19

arge revenue from the operation, which goes far
owards the support of her administration. Before
his grant the State of Illinois was on the verge of
Now it is one of the most hourishing
states in the Union and will soon be the first One
enect OF these grants has been draw to the States
receiving them, population and capital from other
States and by that additional proportion they are
enriched and the others impoverished No State
can flourish whose population and capital find stron-
ger Inducements elsewhere. And it most frequent
ly happens that the enerprising and wealthy. form
the emgrating class. And among the old States
for years past there has been another motive one
rating, and tending to inouce emigration and the
withdrawal of capital and that is to escape burdens
The old States are nearly all heavily indebted
Having no grants of land out of which to build their
roads, they were compelled from time to time to put
their credit in market or remain in primeval state
and drag on in the rear Of the great m rch of the
age. The result of their policy, has already been
in some instances, to increase the burdens of the
people, and in others, the same result is apprehen-
ded, in future. Is it strange under such circum-
stances, that capital and enterprise, should flee
from the wrath present to come and seek locali-
ties where public works are built without private
cost Where schools are maintained at the public
expense, and under the influence of all which there
must be, of course, high state of prosperity
This tendency is already manifest, and time is
likely to quicken and magnify it. The effects of it
are inevitable and disastrous. Let the public
debts now owing by the old States, once fall upon
the people, and will not hundreds and thousands fly
from it as from pettilence? And is not the effect
of that to increase the burdens of those that remain
in exact proportion? But strange as it may seem,
the old States have been for years past aiding the
new States in obtaining these large grants of land
and have asked nothing for themselves They have
actually created and endowed power of attraction
in the States, the effect of which is to draw off
their population and resources and lest it might
not be sufficient they have created large debts to
build their roads, and thus put in operation pro.
pelling power at home, that their population is
both drawn and propelled. No scheme within the
range of human Device could so efectually cripple
and impair the prosperity of the old States, as this
policy of giving lands to the new States, and for
the promotion of projects within their limits with
ont any equivalent to themselves. / repeat, is this
equality? Is there any safety, or sense or Justice
in it? But is not too late vet obtain our rights
A suficiency of the public lands yet remain TO re-
store equality among the States, and give, though
late yet surely to the old States the means of recu
perating their exhausted energies and saving them
from comparative decline.
| have said, there remains at least one thousand
million of acres OF the public land yet unappropri
ated. To restore equality among the States in this
regard, would give to Tennessee not less than forty
million of acres. This result is attained by looking
to our popular representation in Congress. We
have ten members. Now the State of Iowa recev-
ed eight million of acres, and had but two members
That being the highest amount received by any
State in proportion to her number of members in
Congress, would form the standard by which to reg
uate the claims of the other States If | should be
wrong in the quantity Of land yet remaining land
feel sure sm not) still this measure of equality
would apply. Then l conclude that Tennessee
would receive in order to equaze appropriations of
lands among the States, forty millions of acres This
equalization would leave still remaining, but little
less than two hundred million of acres to be dis
posed of as may be deemed best. But what would
our forty million be worth? Upon this no certain
data can be given, but the growing demand for real
estate may warrant the belief that it would bring at
least 10 cents per acre, which would yield thirty
millions OF dollars. And what would Tennessee do
with thirty million of dollars? Do just what her con-
stiutOn requires her to do with it. apply it to educa
ton and internal improvement. Its singular fact
that while men are opposing this policy, and some
of them on the preteXt of its unconstutionaltv the
trainers OF our cOnstituton-men of all parties ard
wise men they were too, seem to have taken the
policy for granted and nxed by proviso to the 10th
Sec of Art. II, the objects to which these lands
would be applied or so much of Them or their pro-
was then expected by all parties, that the whole of
the public lands or their proceeds, would soon be
distributed among the States, and it policy
favored in all sections OF the country But these
golden hopes and expectations were blighted. |
shall not attempt to discuss the causes which con-
tributed to its defeat. One cause was founded in
the heavy monetOry panic and pressure which soon
afterwards befel the country, breaking up private
enterprise and impairing the national finances
yoto
the policy.
A new era was then dawning upon the country
The application of steam power to locomOtion on
land, had found its way to the West, and soon be
gan to win upon the confidence of every cOmmu
nifty. Tennessee still locked up within her limits
as at the time of her advent into the Union, and
excluded from the markets of the world, had pc
cular reasons for embarking in the railroad system
| Nature had done much for her. but not in the wal
of outlets to the sea. Her own right arm, that con
quered the wilderness and expelled the savages
could only accomplish her deIiverance from com
mercial thraldom. All the world was going by
steam, and if she did not adopt the motive
| power, she must be inevitably over left be
| hind in the race. She had no means-nOthing bu
her own unsullied credit and the hearts and snnew,
| of her people. To her credit she appealed-and
her system of railroads now pervades every section
rather however in progress than in a state of com
| petion. The direct public debt Of the State thu:
incurred, and which sooner or later must be paid i,
| not less than four millions. The contingent debt
already accrued, and made up of bonds loaned and
bonds endorsed, and for the payment Of which lier
is reserved upon the roads and their equipments, i
not less than eight Millions and liable to some in
| crease in future under existing provisions Of law
NV opinion is, that the roads which have been anc
will be completed, will be able to save the State
harmless in the end that is so far as the contingent
debt is concerned. And no one expects all or any
of the various projects, to which State aid was Of
| fered, but which have hitherto failed to take any
steps be completed or TO involve the State in any
liability. They will be swept from the statute book
But the direct debt OF four millions will have 70 b,
met by the State, with but little aid from the turn
pike roads, for the construction of which il mainly
! originated. And If We allow for a failure TO SOM
extent by the roads in meeting the contingent debt
and estimate the loss at three millions We then hav
! public debt Of seven millions, which the State vii
have to meet. That it will exceed this there is y,
reasonable ground Of apprehension, unless Their
should be further extension Of State aid which NJ
candidate organ is now advocating, and which
is presumed will not with any prudent regard &
the safety Of the public credit be done. The mag
nitude of the public liability as il now stands thong
not alarming to an honest and enterprisng people
is sufficient TO induce caution and some disquietude
That Tennessee will meet her public engagement
whatever they are, do not entertain doubt I
the name Of her glorious history and the high tone
honor of her people, / say she will And in th
name Of her interest, say she must! Let her bond
holders, wherever they are, sleep quietly upon thei
rights. They will be protected promptly add fully
certainly as the stars continue shine in the sky
Reputation can never find Judgment in the heart
of the people OF Tennessee, until they undergo
radical degeneracv IN morals, and in selErespec
Nor then, while the teeming memories and trad
tons of the past continue to remind them, whenc
they emanated and the loyal stock from which the
descend. Speaking for myself, sooner than see Ii
State repudiate, no matter what her debt might b,
| would pray for some kind wave Of the ocean,
break from It's boundaries, and engulph her forever
il another dead sen. States that will not meet the
just engagements deserve the fate Of the cities ,
the plain, and the curses Of mankind