Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-06-30
LETTER FRox HON. JAMES C JONES.

me United Sl0Lee db a wing, CoultAAlro 10 lus
d~octrires OF that party, and OF course bound By
every consideration OF duty and honor to sus-
tain and carry out those principles as far as
could. Hence I availed myself Of an early op-
portunity to endssvor to engraft on the policy
Of the country the old Wing doctrine OF an
equal distribution OF the proceeds of the szleu
Of the public lands among the States, according
to their federal population. In this attempt
was most signally defeated, finding a large ma,
iority Of the Senate opposed to it. Failing il
this, / then inquired what was the next best
disposition to be made Of them, one that woulC
Approximate to something like equality anC
Justice? Ny attention was called to the policy
Of granting them literally to the soldiers wild
/. ows and children Of the war Of the Revolution
and those Of the war Of 1912. This system
being in accordance with ny sense Of justice
and gratitude to those gallant defenders of our
country and their descendants, received my con-
slant and hearty support.
There was vet another mode Of disposing Of
a portion OF the public lands presented to my
consideration, and on which was called 10
act. This was the policy inaugurated before
I became a member Of the Senate, Of granting
to the States (uot to individuals or companies
as has been enormously stately in which the
lands lay, in alternate sections, for a specified
number Of miles on either side of the contem-
plated Railroads, for the purpose of aiding in
the construction Of such reads. This was not,
in my Judgment, as equitable a mode Of dis
posing Of the lands as a general distribution OF
their proceeds amongst the States. Yet, find
ing | could not get what l thought best, l was
not willing to reject everything because it did
not come up to my standard Of what / thought
best was not willing to play the part Of the
dog in the manger hsnceI generally supported
the policy of granting alternate sections Of
land to the States in which the lands Law, to
aid them in the works Of Internal Improve
ment.
an aware this system has been b some
strongly condemned, and I am free to admit
nat it is not wholly exeInrt from objection in
deed it is impossible = 1ncsivs OF any system
Of disposing Of tie pa.iL lands to which OBJ
lection may not be Urged. TINS wss the only
practical system presented, the only one that
had strength enough to sustain it, and | as a
legislator, had only to satisfy myself that the
good to flow from il greatly preponderated
over the evil, and that q much larger amount
OF benefit would inure to the whole country BY
its adoption than rejection, to determine me to
give it ny support.
It il urged as an objection % this system,
that it is partial ia its operation This is true
to some extent, bat not to the extent claimed
for it. Every candid mind that will investi-
gate this subject, will be constrained to admit
that it is not wholly LEGAL in its benshts, but to
no inconsIderable degree, general-eOnferri g
its advantages On all the States in a grestsr OF
less degree But it Is said with an air Of triumph,
as argument conclusive against the mole Of dis
posing of a portion OF the lands, that Tennes-
sac has received no pogtion of them to aid her
in making her works Of improvement. True
does it follow OF course that sbe has not
benefited By it. Large quantities Of
have been given to the States OF Illinois,
Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama, most, il
not all, OF which have been made tributary to
the prosperity Of Tennessee, by opening up
avenues OF trade, commerce and travel, which
must have remained closed for years, il not for
ever, without this aid. In yerihcstion Of this,
I refer you to the Central Illinois Road, the
Mobile and Ohio Road, Memphis and Little
Rock Road, Cairo and Fulton Road, all Of them
connecting with and tributary 10 cur works.
It is impossible to conceive OF a railroad Of
any great magnitude which is local in its benz
fits and operation ; you cannot cOnfne these to
the narrow limits OF a Stats-they promote the
general prosperity, tend to connect the bonds
Of union, and to preserve the fra:ernsl relations
that ought to exist ami must exist il we re-
main one people. To benefits ike these, no
patriot who desires to preserve the Union can
be Indifferent. Who has been injured-who de-
'rauded BY the operation of This system' No
one. Has Tennessee lost anything by a dimi-
Of the receipts, from the lants, in the
Treasury? Not one dollar, but, on the contra
Y, the records show that where the roads have
been made By these grants OF lsRd, the Govern
.ent has made, instead Of losing, money. The
snds hat had been in the market for more than
/ Charter of a century unsold, and would have
another quarter, have been brought
INTO the market and sold-aRd selling at double
he price heretofore asked for them. Then we,
lie a part Of the nation, one of the partners in J
be lands, are not injured but benefited.
Such has been my course in regard to the ,
'ublic lands since / have had the honor Of a .
in the Senate. have never had any scru- :
about the power Of Congress 70 distribute u
he proceeds Of those lands amongst the States, q
ut many, very many able and patriotic gentle c
aer have differed with me on thss subject. A j.
Of The American pso7:e hare differed .
Nth me and continue to differ VIA me, and it =
My remains for ne, as a patriot recognizing =
be right Of the majority to rule, to scquieses
n the decision thus often and defnitivsly made. =
again that I recognize the right
{ Congress to distribute the proceeds Of the =,
amongst the States, Just as it did the sur h
les in the Treasury, yet It is due 20 frankness r
D say that I do nos see the wisdom and do not =
pPrOvs the policy Of thrusting this question !,
n the public attention at this time. Do any :,
Z It's advocates regard it as a prstical question? \
10 any Of them believe it zttainable at this },
ne, or any time within the nsyt four years :,
sttsinable at sll2 So to suppose would be n
imPute to them an amount Of ignorance :,
bout the position Of parties and the oft-ex- >
ressed opinions Of public men that / would Il
It willingly imPute to any. m
Is it net known to the country that a decided ts
Of the Senate is opposed TO this poll al
T; and is it not known that it will be many hi
before its complexion can be changed, il, T
deed, il shall ever be changed? In addition A
this, is it not known to every mar who TT
ows anything Of public men or public things, di
at the President OF the United States is now, OF
d has been for mole that a fourth OF a CEN th
", opposed to it OF constitutional grounds, ar
d that he stands ple5ged in his acceptance Of ci
; nomination for the Presidency to resist be
8 policy? With these facts known to ali, co
", I ask, is this question presented to the pc
lntry at this time, and made an issue in the N
nding canvass 10 this Stats7 Without the ar
adow Of a hope of success, no possible de
OF accomplishing the object protested ly
be sought, what the motive, what the pur- pc
Sc, every man is left free to form his own Bl
hope | shall not be deemed un- ca
irritable whea declare It as my conviction, inI
At it is a mere ruse, a diversion, calculated, BY
not insended, to call Of the public attention al
IN Tic true position Of things and divert CT
en- frsm the real issaes before the country.
this b The purpose Of those now urging this by
esticn on the public attention, land I rsn tn
sgius no Other,) confess l feel no syDpa- =,
: With such an object and il ] was before wi
people seeking to deal fairly and hOnoTa' Ts