Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-05-15
CLARKsBURG FRIDAY. @aTaIgg7 7sT.5aaa15

costs the Federal government near ls5 one
million Of dollars annually TO keep up its
Land Office. What would be the cost ol
thirty land offices kept up by the Sc.
yeral States . It now costs the Federal
Government some eleven millions Of dol.
lars to maintain one army to defend hel
land and protect her settlers. Wha,
would it cost TO maintain, thirty-one ar.
mics for the same purpose Mr.. Clay,
in his celebrated report. presents other
pernicious consequences which would re-
suit from this scheme of dividing the
lands amongst the States
" The lands are now sold under one
uniform plan, regulated, and controlled
by single Legislative authority, and the
practical operation is perfectly understood.
If they were transferred to the States, the
subsequent disposition would be accord
ing to laws emanaving from various legis-
latiye sources. Competition would pro-
badly arise between the States in the
terms which they would offer to purcha-
sers. Each State would be DESTROYS Of
inviting the greatest number of emigrants,
not only for the laudable purpose of pop>
ulating rapidly its own territories. but
with the view to the acquisition of funds
to enable it to fulfil its engagements to the
general government. Collisions between
the States would probably arise. and their
injurious consequences may be imagined.
A spirit of hazardous speculation would
be engendered. Various schemes ID the
new States would be put afloat to sell or
divide the public lands. Companies and
combinations would be formed in this
country, ii not in foreign countries. pre-.
senting gigantic and tempting but delu-
sive projects. and the history Of legisla.
ton insome of the States Of the Union
admonishes US that a too ready ear is
sometimes given by majority. in legis
lative assembly, to such projects"
But will not pursue this reckless and
revolutionary scheme further. Such pol.
iIiciuns as Messrs. CariIe and Bennett
may find such hobbies useful in riding
successfully over congressional district.
Blu: the sober judgment of the country
cannot regard them otherwise than as eli
tber visionary or wicked.
WHAT WOULD BE THE AMOUNT FOR ANNUAL
DISTRIBUTION
opposition press to dignity the present is
sue. and to attract the attention and Gu
pidity of the people, are the false and fall
laciouI statements of the amount that
would be for distribution. In this dis
creditable game. regret to see that the
respectable editors Of the National Intel.
ligencer have played SO conspicuous q
part. They have prepared tabular state.
ments designed for general circulation,
and which have been eagerly seized upon
by our editors in this State, exhibiting
the total gross aggregate receipts from
the public lands, IRON 1859 to the lst of
July. 1856, amounting, according to the
statement, to Sl22. 2.3ll, ,994. which they
very generously proceed to distribute /;
and they announce the wonderful dis.
having been applied to the national bat
ties OF our country against foreign inva-
ders, were at.this moment in the national
treasury and ready for distribution. the
share of Virginia would be SO, ,337,773,
all duly set forth in daring capitals.
WoNDERBUL Discovery And they
might with equal fairness have made out
tabular statements to show that it all the
money which had been collected from
customs. from the foundation Of the gov
ernment 10 the present time. was at This
moment, in the national treasury ready
| for distribution. what an amazing pile it
would be ! But beg leave TO assure the
editors OF the National 1ntelligencer. that.
as poor and needy as they may suppose
the people of Virginia to be. and as fond
of money, they prefer their laws. liber.
ties. institutions and independence even
to the golden visions which they have
portrayed before them nor do they look
back with any regret to the expenditures
of the last seventy years. when they feel
that the money has been nobly applied
to the acquisition of their liberties, the
preservation OF their national indepen-
dence. and the maintenance of that noble
system of civil government under which
we live. But why are such visionary
statements placed before the popular
mind Is it not TO bewilder and mislead
the public judgment Is there a sane
teuance Il distribution of money not now
in the treasury, and, which durng-a pc
riod Of seventy years has been expended
in support of the government Then
why parade such statements before the
popular mind. if not designed purposeIy
to produce false hopes which they know
are utterly absurd and unattainable.
The editors Of the National Intelligen.
Ger. in giving TO the public the gross ag.
gregate receipts of the public lands. dc
not favor US with the sums with which
that fund is chargeable for costs of origi.
nal purchase, extinguishment Of Indian
titles. expenses of surveys. DC. Had
they condescended to do SO. we should
have the remarkable idea boldly present
ed Of distributing q fund which is ALREADY