The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-05-22
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
iProm the Nashville Banner.l


Of Minnesota by the last Congress, and I'M
mense grants of the public lands have pee"
made to the new States generally "Hhlh ''s
last few years. Twelve million acres Oh 'anu
are worth more than as many dollars 70 '"'
infant State,-a rich dOwry we shou'u say
The old States are beginning to 'ook WIN
longing eyes TO the rich possessions 'nu' "o
ina so partially distributed II Is '''"s '"I'
decided grounds were taken upon '"'S SUI
-, - one of vital interest to every cit
,hs old States, and unless promptly
da.idsd. it will soon be without the reach oil
a. eoutabIe and fair adjustment. Already
ninet, eight out Of the two hundred aud
,b;,tv four representatives are from States in
which public lands are situated, and perhaps
half dozen years will see these States able
to dispose Of the public lands as their inter-
.s,s NAV dictate. The question which now
rrsss.s rpon us is-shGl the old States ADAM
don the public lands to the neW States!
Democratic politicians will tell us that 1t
4
n pro rata interest in the public lands,or the
income arising from their sale. But this IS
noargument against the policy we advocate
in view of the fact that every session o! Con-
oress adds to the enormous appropriations oil
lands in the new States for railroad, educa-
tional, and other purposes. Democrat ora
tors and writers will tell us that they are the
nrotectors Of the public lands. Protectors,
indeed. "Such protection as vultures give
to lanbs-eoverng and devourng them!--
Instead OF guarding they have squandered
them in the most unexampled manner
They have given away, millions upon mill
ions of acres of lapds to the new States for
railroad pnrposes-ffly millions of acres of
swamp lands, besides sixty millions for ed
ucational purposes 10 these States, while
Tennessee, MS well as other old States, has
been struggling undei heavy taxation in a
vain attempt to develope her resources and
educate her children. -,i
The following statement in brief shows
tDe HhnneT lu WHICH 'heSc Janus ""'S VIZ"
protected by democracy--a party which
breaches, or has preached. the doctrine that
the public lands should be reserved for rev.
enue:
1872, 10000 acres sold, money gone TO Treas.
100000 to internal improvements.
100000 to r. Roads by last Congress.
66,O0O,0OO to Schools and Universities.
5O,OOU,OO0 Swamp lands to States.
$4,000 to Asylums.
28O,OU0 to Companies and individuals.
These two hundred million acres have
been given away to the new States, ard only
one hundred aud thirty-two million sold!-'
In all this the old States have derived no
benefit, and democracy has been prating of
protecting the public landi Is such par
tia unjust system, as a contemporary peril
nently enquiries, TO be for ever kept upt-
There are left in the State and Territories
one thousand million of public land unsold.
These lands are doubtless worth in the ag-
gregate thousand million of dollars, at
least. Divided according to the representa-
ton in Congress among the several States
this would give for every representative some
four or Ave, and perhaps six or eight million
dollars. Thus Tennessee would receive
some fifty or sixty millions which expended
judiciously, upon wide and extended sys-
TEN of Improvements would be of incalcua-
bic benefit to our Slate and, besides CON-
pletng vast system of improvements
would afford fund whose income would
support II system of free public instruction,
and thus the means Of education would be
placed within the reach Of all, and become
as free rs the elements we use.
We have examples before us Of few OF
the bene6cent effects which such disirlbu-
ton would produce. 1t will be recolected
that both Indiana and Illinois were, few
years since, so grievously oppressed with the
burden of public debt and consequent tax
alton, that they were on the verge Of repu-
da,ion. But Congress by prodigal gift OF
land has enabled these States to complete q
system of pubic improvements, the revenue
of which, has already nearly or quite liqui-
dated their debts, and it is thought they will
hereafter afford revenue amply sufficient to |
support the government and system OF free |
schools and thus entirely relieve the people |
of those States of the burden of direct tax
atien.