Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-01

1t had been our opinion until very Short fin.
past, that this Distribution question had been aonS
to remain undisturbed in the tomb which the non,
voice had assigned it, for very long period. Rn,
upon examination we find that from time to tim. Nv
Opposition have essayed to render it an issue rnoe e
which to sustain themselves in the State elections
we have before us an old Enquirer, of April 185,
IN which an account is given of abortive effort moS
by the Wing party in the Legislature to resurrect ,b
discussion OF The Land bill, and pledge our Senate
in Congress to its support MIR. Staples of Patr;cL
the chosen oracle by which the truths of Viro;
las redemption from debt were 10 be preached on
the bill of Mr. Bennett of New York, (the Defend.
of the Northern corrupted members,) was adopted
as the means of accomplishing so desirable resnlf
The effort, indeed the successful attempt 70
conduct the Spring elections on that principle was
made. But how different are the facts they then nro
duced 10 sustain them in their position from boso
they now s, imposingly array How eated tho
modern opponents of Democracy mustfee when thew
before their eyes this example of the boldness ana
entire disregard of consistency which has ever beeU
characteristic of their party Here is an extract from
Mr.. Staples powerful appea,
"When we deduct ON the amount of the soIo,
the amount OF the appropriations made for the nnh
lie lands, we will find that moi only is there not an.
dollar of revenue derived from that source but th
the administration of the public lands has annnal
for the last few years, brought the Government in
debt. By an examination of the documents of tho
last session of Congress it will be found that the a
aud three quarters in 1851, S. 5O8,82S amopn, If
appropriate ms from June, 1850, to December. 1881
IS 051 ,975-thus showing that the sales for t,y
years and three quarters amounted to but very lttl
than the appropriations for one year and half
For the years 1851 o2, the account will stand thus.
Appropriated for the public lands in
1851 and '52. 80. ..............$ 81 512 900
Collected from sales during the same pc.
ri o. go. ....' ''''''' '''''.''..'.. 1,947,347
, -
Excess of appropriation. ........... 81 565 eS1
1t Is easy 10 calculate how much revenue is de.
rived from the sales of the public land, when the ex
penses of one department ale in round numbers
about So 500, 00O and the amount of the sales does
not exceed 100000 annually"
Thus does it appear that the Wings of SO contend
ed that the land fund was a public burden, whilst
the party in ST contend that it is an inexl aus
tlble source of wealth. We suppose, however, the
firm of "Whig and American not responsible
for the debts due by the old firm of " Wing. Let it
be so then; We would be constantly employed we've
we TO undertake the task of bringing to light the
enormities of the new alliance independent of ex.
posing the garing incongruities of the aged member
There is one beautiful feature, however, which
prevails in both, that is the wonderfully just basis
on which this division of public property is proposed
to be conducted Their respectiy advocates request
that the land be apportioned among the States &C
cOrding to their Federal ratio-that is, that New
York with her thirty-sX representatives, should
have three times much land or the proceeds from
the sales thereof, as Virginia with her thirteen mem
bers, although Virginia ceded more than any other
State, and New York less. How powerfully does
such proposition appeal to our innate love of JUS
tice, and what effecual remedy would this be for
the evils which attended the present system.
There is one view of the suggested by the
mind of the great South Carolinian which seems TO
US wholly unanswerabe. We know that the major
portion territory has been acquired by pur.
chase and conquest. Now, how was the money rs.
senal to It's purchase and 10 the prosecution of the
war leading TO its conquest obtained Evidently by
laxatons; ON duties and that class of rev.
enue. 1t is of course denied by all men that Con.
gress has the right 10 distribute the ney collected
by indirect taxation-none so absurd to take
such bold untenabIe and unconstitutional ground as
this yet there are many who, whilst they would be
indignant that Congress should usurp so unauthor.
lied power over this branch of revenue, are yet
willing that it shall be converted into land and in
that form dispe sed of to the State
Such logic cannot fail 10 convince u.s. not of lis
soundness but of the utter reckessness of those en-
ployng il to defend their policy. Consider the pro.
position, fellow Democrats The money itself cannot
be touched-oh. that is sacredy defended by
constitutional provisions but change it into land
and then convert it into money again, and it can be
scattered by Congress in whatever manner that au.
gust body may feel disposed. Upon such egregous
folly we forbear 10 comment, convinced as we are
that the popular intelligence, however overated it
may be- cannot fail to detect and condemn so con.
temptible because SO palpable falIacy.
War1enton Flag.
SKIRTS Us. SLEEvEs.-The important suit which