Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-05-27

From 1886 to 1916, Notwithstanding the
building of our turnpikes and the foster
ing (after a fashion, of our common schools,
the value of our lands was steadily decreas-
ing. In 1S4S, just before the commence
ment of our first railroads, this depression
had reached withinthree cents per acre, gifts
lowest point. Since 1850, the year, we be-
lieVe, in which the first locomotive was put
in motion in Tennessee, the increase has
been so rapid, that in period of four
years, it had regained all it had lost, and
passed beyond the highest previous aver
age, Sirty cents per acre. Now the pro-
| ducts of the farm are not garnered for the
use of insects, but the markets of the South
ern States, and even the Northern States
and of the world, are open to US. Our
bacon, wheat, corn, stock, &C., go forth
upon the wings of wide commerce, and
we are receiving the most substantial and
gratifying returns. Commerce and agri-
culture, have joined hands, and are leading
us on to prosperity.
We have achieved this result by much
heavy labor, and by mourning heavy res
possibilities, public and private. There are
complaints of our increasing debts and La
bilties, and many men Of all parties, view
ing the subject in the light of question of
State policy, are becoming fearful of the
ultimate effect of the State aid theory and
practice, upon our pecuniary interests.
And we confess that these fears are not
ungrounded. By the rapid issue of our
State bonds, and the rush of them upon the
market, our credit is depressed several dol
lars on every neutrality-suspicious. an aver
age of ten. 1t is becoming. serious con-
sideratioE with our best and most sagacious
citizens, whether we should as State,
continue the present policy, or for the
future, withhold the State aid. In the
one case, we run the risk of squan-
dering the public money on irresponsible
companies, and non-paying roads; in the
other you hazard the success of enterprises
Of great necessity, which have been under
taken under the inducements held out by
the State. On the one hand we subject
ourselves to financial losses and difficulties
ON the other to the charge of bad faith,
and of obStructing the interests and pro-
gresS of the State.
If we shall be rightly dealt with by the
general government, and permitted to have
our equal proportional particpations in the
public lands-if even only to the extent
which other States have had as an unbought
bounty-this whole difficulty WILDE put to
rest, and the State will be amply able, to
see all her railroads completed, a magnif-
cent system of public schools established
all without detriment to the public inter-
est, but to its infinite advancement. Upon
reasonable calculation, as we showed a
few days ago, we are entitled to hirty-tloO
millions of dollars, or its equivalent in lands
at seventy-fve cents per acre. And this
leaves the main question of future distribu-
ton out of the account, as also the past
proceeds which have gone into the treasu-
ry. Will not the taxpayers of Tennessee
take this subject into their considerations,
and act as men of Intelligence and indepen-
dence, aud not as the blind followers of
partizan leaders