Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-01-17
Fhn Puhl;c E.aEdN.

-hQei - s@Ii, ae TINS slldS, III Tie Vpposi-
ton papers, about the public lands, and m
.iting discussion Of the propriety Of distrib-
uting the proceeds or dividing the lands a.
niong the States. II this were an original
proposition, and il the measure itself had
not been 50 repeatedly decided against, there
might be propriety in It's discussion. With
cut pretending to 60 into history Of this
measure, ii viii answer our purpose to state,
gonerally, that it has always been regarded
as unconstitutional by the Democratic par
", though some Of its members may have
entertained different opinions upon the sub
ieet BY the deeds Of cession, these lands
We're designed for the common benefit Of all
the States, and il no way, it has been sup
posed, could that benefit be better derived
than BY throwing the proceeds into the gen
eral treasury Of the Union, where they aided
10 the extent of the receipts therefrom, in
lesseHing the burdens OF ta4ation--for to
lie amount Of the receipts from these lands,
there would be that much deficiency in the
public revenue, and this deficiency would
have to be supplied by increasing the tariff
Of duties Indeed, it has often been assert
Cd, and not without a shew Of reason, that
the measure itself originated with the adyo-
Gates of high tariff, in order to create ne
cessity for an increased rate Of duties But
the proceeds are now wanted to relieve the
States from indebtedness--ana this assump-
lion of State debts was the main reason why
this particular measure has been so strenu-
ously opposed. Improvements must be
made, but it is infinitely better for any COM
munity, that these improvements be made
by the States, where they are of a local
character, instead of looking to The general
government for aid-such a course would
check individual enterprise and invite ex-
trasagance upon the part Of those who had
the management Of public works paid for by
government money. High taxes are con-
sequence upon Internal improvements is
an ordeal through which every State has to
pass that has a system Of improvements. s.
The money must come from some source.
How was it in New York with her canal
system, urged aud advocated by her Clinton,
how bitterly was he denounced, and for
no other reason than the high taxes coDse-
quent upon the improvements made under
his administration. HE same in Pennsyl-
sania, Maryland, and IN fact every State
in which system Of improvements has beon
completed or commenced Virginia IS now
passing through the same oTdeal-an ordeal
the ought to have been made pass fifty years
aso-then would her young men have re
laaiued upon her soil, and not gone 10 peo-
PIE other States which are new outstrpping
her in the race Of Improvement.
Bid suppose the proceeds Of The public
lands, or the lands themselves distributed
among the States How fsF would either
scheme reduce taxation The amount alb
straetcl from the general treasury would
have to be replaced in some way, and if the
State taxes were made that much less the
governmental taxes, or tariff ofduties, woull
he raised that much higher. The amount Of
proceeds of sales seldom exceed three mill
ions Of dollars, annually; divide this amount
among the thirty-one States in proportion to
federal numbers, and the distributiyo share
Of each State would not much reduce the
burden Of taxation. Still less would it be
reduced, II the lands themselves were taken
by the States. Instead then Of land Offices
being kept UP st the expense Of the general
government, these would have To he kept as
The expense of the Statasbesides the pay
ment Of taxes to the States in which the
funds lie, there would be Il troop Of land Of
icers and land surveyors to be provided fer
out Of the proceeds Of these sales, and on
making up the account current for this lat
Ter scheme, we should not wonder at a bal
Enee being struck against the State, partie-
ularly MS no margin has been left for steal,
tags Vhosc are some of the reasons which
have beef urged against distribution.
But broader view ought now to be taken
the interest of the old States demands IT,
Within tho past few months millions of a.
cres of the public lands have been granted 10
the North Western Statos-llInois has re-
eeived a million for the purpose of construct
ing railroad through the centre Of her ter
STORY. Thus, while the old States are tax
ing her people to make internal improve
meuts, Congress is indirectly making i'm
prevements for the new States, 10y grants Of
the public lands. The reason assigned for
this policy is, that the Improvement of the
new States brings the rablic lands moro
readily into market--stiH It is unjust that
the new States should be improved at the
sxpense of the old This has contributed
mere than anything else to give ascendancy
to the North over the South, BY increasing
Northern representation in Congress and d.
minishing the Southern
The time has come to change this policy
Of the government or the South will be
driven out of tie Union. fit is right to
grant lands to the new Stares, il is equally
right to grant them 10 tic Old Stales-let
justice be done. Virginia gave away an
nmnire which has been pea6ied bv narsons