Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-03-19
spOlinsIon of tho Public Lands.

Wa, "htSu VIII DC VI kdbiHSA iH'O
ensuing summer, and admitted into the Unlon
at the next session of Congress, viii receive
one million and three hundred thousand acres
of public land, donated fer thepnrpose OF con-
structing certain railroads 925 miles in aggre-
gate length.
The discussion had upon this bill was brief,
but instructive. Ii seems that Southern De
mocratic Senator was it, special patron MI
Toonbs, Of Georgia, is the man TO whom be-
longs the peculiar honor of promoting and car
rying through measure, so partial and us
eliminating in its character, and so rank III
injustice and wrong to the Southern States
He sustained and defended it throughout; and
but one Democratic Senator had the patriotism
and courage to raise his voice against II; and
he attacked it in a feeble and hesitating man
ner. We allude to Mr.. Biggs. Of North Caro-
Ina, who merely remarked "that 1t was per-
haps too late &c object to this policy OF railroad
grants; but still he deemed it his duty to IN
terpose an objection to this bill. lie wished
to call the attention of the Senate to the fact
that this bin permitted these companies, where
the lands six miles on each side was occupied
by IRE emptors, to select other land T the
distance of fifteen miles. He was opposed 10
the whole policy of railroad grants, and wished
to enter his protest, feeble as iJ might be, as
Senator from one Of the old States, against II"
Mr.. Foot. a Vermont Black Republican,
"thought it entirely too late to raise objections
to this policy. The subject had been very
deliberately discussed at the last session, when
much larger grants had been made than those
contained in the bill before them, TO all the
new States, eleven in number" Mr.. Stuart,
the great Democratic and-grabber from the
State of Michigan said that this "bill had re-
ceived the unanimous sanction of the COmmi =
tee on Public Lands" of which Mr.. Stuart
himself is chairman, and who reported against
the petition presented by Senator Hunter for
an appropriation of public lands in aid Of one
of our Virginia railroads.
The cry that it is "tto late" to object to this
unjust and wholesale spOliatiOn of the public
lands, is the cry Of either a knave or fool.
How can it ever be too late to object to an
every day, radical wrong9 And yet this alb
surd and hypOcritical cry is started, at the
same moment, both by a Southern Democratic
Senator and by Northern Black Republican
Senator. Disagreeing in other things, they
concur in the idea that it were bOotless TO
make opposition to policy, which is building
up and enriching the new States, while impOv-
erishing and humi!iatiDg the old. How Is it
''too lsten to protest and speak and vote against
these Northwestern bills Why is it "tOo
iate" to abandon aud renouuce the partial, IN
just, one-siGed and tyranical policy now pre-
yailing, and substitute ia its stead another
more in consonance with fairness, justice, pa
triotsm, and common sense2 Is it too late"
ever to try to remedy gross, fragrant and &C
knowledged wrong2 Is it 100 late" for Vir-
giDia and the South to surrender their capri
cious notions and Whimsical distractions, aud
insist upon Congress, the common trustee OF
all the States, dealing honestly and equtably
by them in the administration of a common
trust fund? Has it come to this, that Virginia
and the old States may be pillaged and plum
dered with impuDity, and that resistance TO
the pillagers and plunderer5 would be Of no
avail-that it is "too laten to resist them sue
cessfully2
If there be any force in the cry alluded to-
then we desire to offer a suggest N, which we
trust Congress will adopt and act upon at the
earliest practicable moment. If the old State;
admit their inability to resist the land-grab.
bing policy, which now fourshes 30 luxuriAnt.
iy, and puts right and justice to shame, and i
there is no present probability of their obtain
ing their fair and legitimate share Of the pub
lie lands, then the dictates Of wisdom, pru
dence patriot m and good morals would sug
R6St Ill6 VI iuS bhS W lblO y
the public lands to the States and Territories il
| which they lie, and without unnecessary de
| Law. The public domain, as at present admin
istered, constitutes only vast corruption funt
| wherewith members of Congress are Dough
and sold as cattle in the market, and the who'll
government, in all lis departments, is demon
| allied and debauched. Every species of legs
lation is contaminated by its Influence; and ev
/ ,f 10 Grin, oil oil
and sustained By it We thertfJre 90 for tn
! general government completely Kidding itsel
! of these public lands, as quickly as possible, il
some form or other If the old States are Il
be denied all participation in their enjoyment
let Congress so declare, promptly and distinct
! "; and then let bill be introduced aud pass
ed donating the whole of them to the State
and Territories in which they lie Such is tn
policy we ad socate, and shall continue to insis
upon it, although as is alleged, lis now too late
to make effectual opposition to the present un
lust and iniquitous system, the object Of whic
ia to appropriate the entire public domaia t
the new States by degrees, and TO refuse IN
appropriation Of single acre 10 the old States
We want these lands removed utterly and for
ever beyond the reach of Congress; for. as lon
as they remain as they are, corruption wi
stalk abroad at MONDAY, and the goyernmeu
itself be but an Infamous and sccursed engin
to promote the schemes and crafty the rapac
ty of professional spectators and hucksterin
politicians Let them, therefore, either
distributed among all the States in equal Pre-
horizons, or let them be ceded to the me-
States exclusively; and let either the one thin
or the other be done, with as little delay {
practicable.
For one, however, we prefer that a strenr
Gus aud united last effort should be made o
the part of Virginia and the other old State
before we conclude to surrender all our RICH
title and claim in the public lands TO the re
States. We believe it yet feasible TO procuI
orr Just proportion Of these lands, if men OF n
parties will join together and press this Wit
question upon the calm and deliberate after
ton of Congress We believe it is not yet ito
late" to secure favorable response to orr d'
mands for right and justice upon this suffice
But whatever is to be done, should be dor
promptly and quickly. Every day witness
tbo absorb ion Of Ihese lands by the whoesal
and if we would procure what we are enlitle
to. we must move in the matter unitediy al
zealously, and at once.
What say the people of Virginia in regar
TO this suggestioul Are they willing TO COT
tinue to be taxed double, and TO groaD, al
vet make no .xerlion to obtain relIeii Is
sides. as Southern men and patriots, can yc
longer consent for Congress TO prostitute win
Justly belongs to you to the building a., al
enriching, and strengthening the Abolitl~
States oftne Northl Look q. the amazing pr
gress of the Northwest in wealth, power al
political Importance See the vast number
new States rapidly springing up in that reglo
and daily knocking for admission into u
Unioll Witness the constantly augmenti'
political power Of the Northern free STATE
and then turn your eyes 10 the South and 40
the wide and alarming difference between q
growth and physical prosperity of the two Sc
tons! And Why is all thsl Is it not own
principally. If not altogether, to the fact Tia
The legislative policy If the general COVER
nent il purely Northern policy, 90 far as q