American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-04-25

Fairmont "a, April Is, 1857.

Mr.. EDIToR-- Dear Sir: You will
have the kindness to publish the follow
ing communication, giving my views on
the subject Of the distribution Of the
public domain, or the proceeds arising
from tho sales of the public lands, a.
mong the several States according to
their respectiee federal population.
do this by way of response to the
inquiries of some papers and various
individuals in this Congressional Dis
trict, and also to remove the erroneous
impression concerning my views on this
subject, which seems to have excited
some ill.natured remarks on the part
of others. l certainly do not question
the right of the people to demand Of
every candidate his position on great
leading questions of public policy
Perhaps my endorsement Of the Gin
cinnati Platform may have laid me liza
BILE to criticism in regard to this impor-
tant subject, by those differing from
myself in their view of that document.
But I think all candid men will con
cur with me in the opinion that the
aforesaid platform leaves the subject
OF distribution an open question. The
action of Congress, Immediately before
the meeting Of the Cincinnati Conven-
ton, granting public lands in different
States for purposes of internal improve
ments, the appropriation Immediately
afterwards, and Mr.. Buchanan's letter
during the last canvass in relation to
the California railroad, all show that
the great Democratic leaders recognize
the constitutional power of the general
government to make such use of the
public domain. The setting apart one
sixteenth Of the lands in the States in
which they lie, for educational purpo-
ses, is recognition of the constitution
al power to make such appropriations
as old almost as the constitution itself.
| would, as any rational man, ask what
is the constitutional difference between
paying by act of Congress the proceeds
of the sale of township of land into
the public school treasury of Ohio, and
paying the proceeds of the adjoining
township into the public school treasu-
ny OF Virginia! Ea
So with appropriations for works of
internal improvements. This is the
practical view ] take of the subject,
and L think myself sustained in it, by
the action of Presidents Pierce and
Buchanan, and by General Cass, Judge
Douglas, and other distinguished lead
crs OF the Democratic party.
II have given no inconsiderable atten-
ton to the subject under consideration,
and am fully persuaded that the distri-
button of the public domain among the
States, is measure founded in great
political foresight, and free from con-
stitutional objection. The great huc-
tuations in the sales of the public lands,
show plainly that the proceeds arising
therefrom, cannot be relied on as
source of revenue to meet the accruing
expenses of the general Government.
Duty on imports is much more regular
and certain; for instance in 1912 the
revenue from public lands was $780,
600, in 1855 it was $11, 49,, 000.-
These extremes show this source of
revenue to be unreliable. if ..a.t.I r
am further convinced that the dis
tribution among the States, would
greatly diminish our taxes, and form
a permanent fund for education in all
the States; which VIC 50 much need,
and which is so well understood by ev-
cry working man who wishes to educate
his children. I need only cite a few
facts in support Of this position. The
net revenue from all the public lands
received by the general government for
the last eighteen years, excluding some
S65,000,000 given to railroads, &c., is
$122,311,274. Virginia's share of
that amount, according to federal pop
ulation, is about $9,337,70O. Each
county in this Congressional District
would have received nearly as follows:
Ohio, $150,700
Marshall, 80 ..#u $3.50
Brooke, ... g.. 1920
Hancock, 34,25O
Wetzel, 36,100
Tyler, . ... 1920
Peasants, $1,000 ;
Marion, ......... $500
Monongalia, 100000
Taylor, a. .... .... $4,000
Pension Q2 Q00