The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-07-17
A jUsT RIGHT sPURNED.

not been answered. 1t is a right she has, as
sovereign State Uf this Unicn, but which is
denied and spurned by the so-caled democ-
racy of this day The strongest argument
we have heard against It, is, that if we take
the lands or their, proceeds from the public
treasury we will have to pay il buck in in
creased taxation. This argument too is seri
ously put forth, when the treasury is over
flowing and absolutely groahing under a
plethora of coin. II has never been pretend.
ed, in all the recb essness of the opposition,
that the measure advocated by us would ab-
sorb the surplus revenues of the government.
And the simple rqth is that this measure Of
justice might be stecnted, and then leave
ample room Fos :. q sction of the current
revenue. Bu, ye;, IN DE face of this unde-
niable fact, il is urged that it is only taking
money out of one pocket, to put it into
another. In addition 70 the falsty of this
position as matter of fact, and its utter
nonsense as n serious argument, it is mar.
row, ilibera and dscreditabe view Of State
policy.
If We shall obtain our share of the public
lands, our State consultation has already
provided for their disposition, in saying that
they shall be applied to purposes of inter
nal Improvement and education. Wberev-
er railroad is constructed, the incidental ad-
vantages arising out of it, Ia the enhance.
ment OF land, the increase of fcOmmerciaI con-
venience, and of individual comfort, gives il
its Importance and establishes its benefits
Upon this principle and with this view,
many men have subscribed stock in railroad
enterprises, when it was doubtful whether
they would be completed, and when it was
never supposed that the stock would pay
dividends, solely TO secure the incidental ad-
haneed one thousand dollars by the running
of a. road in his vicinity, he can well afford to
Cite five hundred to secure its construction.
Most of the roads Of the country have been
built upon this principle and with these re-
suits. There.are but few men of any means
whatever, who cannot so invest them, rs TO
bring an interest much greater than almost
any of the railroad stocks and dividends. 1t
is not the money which is paid for road,
which is expected TO be returned in kind; but
it is that other kind of remuneration, which
increases the great body OF the State and in
dividual prosperity; which gives life and vig-
or to the energies Of The. people, and quick
ems even the productigeness of soil, by the
bringing il into Ovation, and ia niiording
speedy and certain outlet 10 its products
Granting therefore, that the land policy ad-
vocated by the American party, and which 10
OF the highest moment to Tennessee as a
measure of domestic policy, would have the
effect, which is enormously chimed, to take
out Of zone pock,s md put into another"
the benefits would still be such as would in
duce every man, who acts for the general
welfare, to support il. 1t is not the simple
transfer Of money from one place OF deposit
to another II bears with It the character of
an investment, pruaucing sn interes! fm ex-
ceedng nominal. exchange. These facts
are ncontrovertlt4e; they are within the dai-
ly experience of large proportion Of The
people of Tennessee, and are susceptible of
a clear and mathematical demonstration to
those who have not seen and felt the prac,c-
al operation of railroads.
In the matter Of common schools, which
are also to be fostered by this policy, there
are none to deny the importance of educa-
ton, general diffusion of knowledge and
intelligence among the people. Tennessee
has felt this want as seriously as any other
State in the Union. Her educational statis-
tics show n greater deficiency in this respect,
than those of any Of her sister States. She
has more grown mp men and women, who
are unable TO read and write, than any other
State Of the Union, in proportion to popula-
tion. The question is, shall this state of
things contiaue;s sS shall we, by asserting our
fair and just rights, build school houses, ed-
ucate our children, and by.a general system
of internal improvements, develop our re-
sources, and thus secare the prosperity and
happiness of the peoplel-Ndsh. Pat.
RArrLGsKA < r--ssssa.s Grenada, Mississippi,
Locomotive, says The hands working on Nj.
II. S. Crowder's plantation in Tallahatchie
county, killed siziy ratiesnakes in the last
month. Many more are supposed to have