Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1857-03-17
Written for III" uni INST
.IpoW.Npthing Land Bill. =

= An article appeared in the Unionist
from aFcorrespon1 Dent. calculated to mis-
lead some persons with reference 70, TIKI
position Of parties on the question Of die
tributing the public lands among TIKI
States; and We were grayely told this wa
not 4 party question. -
Why. this question, has been agitated
In one form or another for moro than !
quarter Of century, and the distribution
rof the public lands or the proceeds there
Of has beens condemned and repadiated
BY the Democratic party and the country
half . dozen times, as being an'onstita'
honal, snriss and inexpei,ent Jefferson
Madison, Mon zoe. Jackson, Polk Il Pierce
oil regarded such measure IS unconStitu.
tional. The distribution of the landt
themselves among the States the mos,
odious form in which the question hi,
syerrbeen presented for public approval
and the distribution ,of the proceeds
thereof 10 the least Objectionable form,
yet even this Was regarded by every
Democratic President az Unconstitutional
Moreover, il has been 81 declared over
and over again. in the platforms II DE
National Democratic Party. In, the
National Democratic Platform Of 1859,
upon which President Pierce WAS electsd,
and in that of 1856. upon which Buch-
snsn was elected, 1.-The following plank is
found: j.. Il. - X,
..lessolpsd, 9th, That the proceeds Of
the public lands ought to be sacredly ap1
piled to the national objects specified il
the constitution, and that we are opposed
to any law for the distribution OF such
proceeds amoag the States, a. alike ine1-
psdieat in policy and REruoHAHr 70 THl
coKsrITUTtoN."' u,
~ Gen. Jackson WAS particularly hostile
] 10 all such distribu ion schemes. In his
LAND Bill Veto Message = December 4,
lass. he denounces such measures a.
grossly unconstitutional, and in their ulti-
mate consequences fatal TO the indepen.
ssdsnces Of the States. :" 81 ~ =
The Democratic party has always been
s unit on this question, and / undertake
now to say. that, in the Slate Of Virginia,
not one Democratic paper. nor one Dem
ecrat Of respectable standing in the party
can be found in favor Of . "Lsnd dis.
tribution. Bill'' Of any sort. Such I
course would At once sever him from the
Democratic patty. = -.
This land distribution bill is nothing
bu. Know Nothing triek-the dssper.
ate expedieut Of . corrupt party that has
already brought upon itself the odium Of
the country. ! repeat, that, throughout
the broad limits Of our State, not one
Democrat Of position in the party advo:
Gates it, - S' =. go r
It~was said that E1s GOV. Smith voted
for it.. butthAt was d mistake. He voted
AMPLY 70 suspend the. rule of the House,
% % Is bring It before the House, but
hsvsever voted for the Bib itself; and on
oil subsequent occasions, when the sub
sject has come up. he has said So; and
further says that he regardstit as plainly
unconstitutional. Is it possible that an y
Democrat can be trickef into going for
such . measure? Will not Democrats
lppo6tby the experience Of the last years
when % many Of them we're seduced into
Know No hing lodges. under the pre-.
tsncs that Know Nsthingistn was NOT
opposed 70 Democracy? +.
Aud Whist arguments do the Know.
Mornings urge in favor Of Mr. Garlic,
Land Bill! Why, they say tina. Congress.
10 giving away eli the public lands 10 rail
roads aud 70 new Ssa.es. 11is Is false
The land that is given 70 railroad com
pAaies . given in alternate sections. Fol
this consideration the companies build
railroads. The same Act Of Congress-
which thus parts with these alternase
sections doubles the price Of the remain.
ing sections. and enacts that they shall
not be cold for less than two dollars and
Q half per acrs. and they must 6rst bespul
up at auction before they can be bought
n that price. S. that the remaining
lands, on account Of the railroads being
built. sells fsrm more than the whole Of the
lands would have dons without tho rail.
rosds. And, now. % regards the public
lands givsnito tie new States: they ara
allowed era per cent. Of the proceeds o,
the sales Of public lands lying within
shsir limits. This ioossd up 10 ill the
NJ AsAA s1ez.n = SfAy niiirrs .!