Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-04-08
che Public Lands.

on the Public Lands, to which we alluded last
week will be found on the first page OF tins pa
per. It presents facts which must produce an
effect at this time, and we commend 1t to the
careful consideration of our readers. Coming
from the source it does, it cannot be called
Know-Nothing trick The opposition have g.
dopted the policy of denouncing distribution as
a humbug, not advocated for an honest purpose.
but gotten up at this particular juncture to dis-
tract the Democracy. The lnteiligencer, now
ever. shows that now is the time-and the only
opportunity we shall have-to assert our rights
in regard to the public domain. In 1888, IVES
tern members of Congress avowed the purpose
to appropriate to themselves all the public lands
and one of them openly declared that latter the
census of 1859 the power to do so would be ire
sistable. Tie falflneat Of that threat as almost
complete, and after the census OF 1850 the ola
States will be utterly powerless unless they u
mite cordially for their common protection. =
The question is not whether distribution as an
original scheme is judcious-that might admit
of q difference of opinion; but we now have 10
decide whether we shall demand our Just share
of the common property, or permit the new
srates TO absorb the whole. This is the plain
and solitary alternative. Democratic stump
orators and presses in Virginia may denounce
distribution until Doomsday, and Democratic
Platforms may declare that the public lands
ought to be kept as "a sacred fund" &C.; yet
Democratic members of Congress are voting a.
way the lands by millions of acres at time,
and Democratic President are signing the bills,
Illinois and Alabama Democrats go into the Ma
tional Conventions and vote for the Platforms,
and then 90 into Congress and vote the lands to
themselves; while poor old Virginia is too honest
and too proud to take what belongs to her. Vas
there ever such mock honesty, such ridiculous
pride
In this connection we will adduce some facts
and arguments on the subject, from letter ad-
dressed to the people of the Eleventh Congress
ional District by the Hon. John S. Carlie.-
While we were engaged in the Revolutionary
War, says Mr.. Garlic, several of the States re-
fused to become members of the Confederation
unless Virginia and other land States would a.
gree to share their lands with all the members
of the Confederacy. The General Assembly OF
Maryland, in 1879, sent instructions to the dele
gates of that State in Congress, OF which the
following is an extract:
Virginia, by selling on the most moderate
terms a small proportion of the lands in question,
would draw into her treasury vast sums OF
money, and, in proportion to the sums arising
from such sales, would be enabled to lessen her
taxes Lands comparatively cheap, and taxes
comparatively low, with the lands and taxes oi
an adjacent State, would quickly drain the State
thus disadvantageously circunstanced, OF Its
most useful inhabitants its wealth, and its con-
sequence in the scale of the contederated States,
would sink, OF course"
To remove this obstacle in the way OF the u
Mon, Virginia, in 1884, executed her deed OF
cession, granting all her territory beyond the
Ohio river to the United States, for the use and
benefit of all the States, Virginia inclusive
From that day to the present, however, in spite
of the conditions of the deed, Congress has grant
q ed these lands to particular States to the great
injury of Virginia What Maryland said would
be Virginia's condition if she retained her lands,
is now the condition of the Western States TO
whom Congress has given these lands; and Vir-
GINA is now in the condition Maryland appre-
hended for herself in 1879. Lands in the West
are comparatively cheap and taxes compara-
lively low" while in Virginia the people are
grooming under taxation, and the State is drain
ed "of its most useful inhabitants; its wealth
and its consequence in the scale OF the contedera
ted States" are rapidly sinking, "of course" In
order to arrest this comparative decline, 1t Is
only necessary for Virginia to receive her just
share of the proceeds of that common property
which she gave for the use and benefit OF all the
States, herself inclusive.
A plausible argument urged by the opPo
nents of distribution is, that the money arising
from public lands must so into the Federal
Treasury, and that thus alone can all the States
derive equal benefit from it. But the lands are
not kept as "a source of revenue" Even IN the
last wear nine millions of acres only were sold,
while more than fifteen millions we're given a
way for Railroad purposes. In addition to this
the Federal Treasury is now full to oyertowing,
and the Government wants no more money,
but on the contrary is at loss to know what TO
do with what it already has. The surplus IN
the Treasury on the 30th of June next Will De
sos. OOO. 900. Congress made an effort at the
last session to reduce the revenue by lowering
the duties upon imports, but Mr.. Hunter shows
that even this low tariff will produce surplus.
The reduction, he says sis as far as it would be
safe, under present circumstances, to go, yet
-, $50 .oJ,,oo Tho dnties imnortatiOn and con-
sumption will be increased, and we are more
likely to have an excessive than deficit reve-
nue.. The Secretary of tile Treasury estimates
that the reduced tariff bill will yield four NIL
lions more than the Government can properly
use. and that the receipts from the pu3hc lands
will amout to six millions. Here then are ten
millions of dollars, besides the surplus already
accumulated in the Treasury. What shall be
done with the money! Shall it be left in the |
Treasury. to the great detriment of the business
of the country, or shall it be distributed The
General Government does not want tyr
ginia has debt of thirty live millions OF dollars,
her Railroads are unfinished, her people are
burdened with taxes. What do the Democracy
of Virginia propose for our reliefs
ssMy opponent" says Mr. Garlic, opposes
nv propositton-d enounces it as monstrous; but
so far as | am advised, offers nothing and prom |
ises nothing for your relief. Choose ye between
u.s."
Narrow Escape.
On Friday last little son of MIR. WIN. D.
Johnson. who resides about three miles from