Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-26

linz and become citizen Of one Of the western
States in order to entitle himself to the bounty OF
his G0sernment.
IT. THs ANnuAL DISTRIBUTION AMONGST rHE STATES
or TIE MONEY ARISING FROM TIE SALES OF LAND: y.
There is something in the idea of making the /
States of the Union regular recipients of money Il
from the Federal Treasury, standing dependents. II
not supplicants and annual pilgrims, il not mendi-
cants TO the federal head, shocking to all my notions
Of the relations that ought to subsst between the
two authorities Nothing is better calculated to de-
sroy the just influence Of the States as checks on
federal abuses, and the members of State Legisla-
lures will feel themselves released from all the
usual incentives to economy when they can transfer
the responsibility of imposing taxes to distant and
comparatively irresponsible authority 1t is the tax
bill that brings home to each individual voter the
enormity of extravagant expenditures, and few leg
isators would practice economy If they were under
no responsibility for the tax bill necessary to meet
their appropriations
tenn, even if by unjust compliances M the first in
stance it could be passed. could not be saved from
repeal except by the old States constantly submit
ting to the exactions of the new States. Creating
no vested rights for the future. there would be UNI
ceasng agitation for its repeal and We know that
it would be repealed not only from our knowledge
of the increasing strength Of the land States, but
from our experience at former period, when those
States much less potent in Congress and Pres
identia elections than at present.
gress for the distribution of the proceeds OF the
public lands amongst the States. 1t provided that
ten per cent. of the net proceeds of sales within
their limits should be paid to the States Of Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi.
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Michigan; that each of
these nine States should be entitled to select and
take five hundred thousand acres, and that the bal
ance of the proceeds should be divided seml-annu-
ally amongst all the States, the nine above enumer
ated included, according to federal population The
A. MTG
of half million acres each, to which they acquired
a vested right on the passage OF the act, ana OF
which no subsequent repeal Of the law could dlvest
them. The States all got one semi annual DIVIDEND,
amounting to mere pittance; and on 3Oth August
following less than one year after its passage ana
by the same Congress that had passed it, the act
was repealed. 1t was pretended, at the time, that
the act was for the benefit of the old States and to
secure to them their share of the public lands
but the sole effect Of it was to make magnificent
grants to the land States that had already received
50 much. We have no right to attribute fraudulent
designs to others merely because their acts result
frauduleny, but it is significant fact that the IN
diyiduals who had passed it. almost without excep.
ton, voted for the bill by which it repealed
Such is our experience, and all the experience we
have of the distribution policy respectfully SUBJ
NIT that the policy is thereby commended to our
approval. OF subsequent distribution schemes the
most famous is
III. "BENNEr's LAND BILL"
1t proposed to give TO the new States quantities
varying from one to four millions of acres each, and
amounting in the aggregate to about forty millions
of acres-about double the area of the State of
North Carolina-and TO divide the balance equally
amongst all the States and preferred States incud-
ed. Or, in other words, after the new States had
selected out all that worth having, the old States
were to be graciously permitted to take upon them
selves the burden of the refuse and worthless land,
which would have been worse for US than gift of
the whole to the new States, because it would have
imposed upon us burden, without the possibility
fin wHs as If s4 ss .s sf s6e new sa a.
were stronger. The new States still stronger
now, and growing more SO every day and when
distribution is talked Of now, l mean with those
who alone have strength to pass it, it means giving
all the proceeds of the lands TO the States eav
ing the expenses Of acquisition and management to
be borne out of the common treasury.
". The next project is, The DIVISION OF THE
LANDS THEMSELVES AMONGST THE STATES. Much that
l have said about the distribution of the proceeds,
will equally apply to this project 1t possesses
advantage, however, in this if such act
passed, it could not afterwards be repealed to
divest the title of the States 1t would be fin-
al and complete disposition of the subject so far as
Congress is concerned. In addition to which, many
think it more free from constitutional difficulties:
but, there objections peculiar to this plan which
l will briefly notice.
The plan contempates an cqnal division by metcs
ton. &C.. and the assignment to each State of its
share to be holden in fee simple. There is some.
thing grand in the idea of thus parcellng out the
Rocky mountains, with its buffalo, its wolves and
its Indians; but we might as well attempt, with
chain and compass, to parcel tthe starry irtna-
ment above US to assign to each State equal
number Of the happy beings with whom the imagi.
nation delights to people those planets that in their
majestic course through the heavens look down up.
on us with such steady efulgence. If we attempt
DIVISION according to quality and value, it would
be impract'cable because the vast wilder is
explored, and mortal man cannot now assign bounds
to the fertile land and circumscribe the barrens If
divide by parallels of latitude and longitude, it
would be found, when the wave Of settlement had
reached and opened it to view that some States had
got the barren and uninhabted stfppes that consti
ute large part of it. whilst others had got the val
liable river bottoms and fertile plains. No system
of policy ought to receive the appreciation of
statesman, that trusts the affairs of nations luck
and leaves whole empires to the destiny assigned
them by tickle chance.
But suppose this difficulty overcome, and that
North Carolina has assigned to her, by me:es and
bounds, with rivers and mountains for her bound
aries, fertile and valuable tract of her own size
this side the Rocky mountains. Who is to remove
hostile Indians, and keep off intruders? The Con-
stitution forbids the States from keeping troops,
making treaties. or engaging in war, without the
consent of Congress We neither adopt the
policy of the Roman Senate and ransom our lands
with money, nor, like the stern old general of the
empire cast the sword into the scale. We can ncith-
er treat, nor fight, except under the gracious and
merciful supervision of Congress, whilst savage
tribes, lawess intruders. may occupy every foot
of our land. But suppose the savage and the squat.
ter respect our rights, a whole army of surveyors
and their assistants agents. registers and receivers
are to be employed and paid by North Carolina, to
prepare the lands for sale, and to sell them Her
people must be bufdened with = large present ex-
penditure, with but remote and uncertain pros.
dren If the people are to be still further taxed.
would rather see the money expended in improving,