The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-03-02

him to a single instance where the price.
per acre, had been doubled in this way,
and said if it could be done he would L" eat
his head We therefore inform the gen.
tleman that we know of an instance of this
kind, but assure him that we shall not re-
quire him to "eat his head" upon hearing
it. A gentleman in this town had to pay
50 so per acre for land through which
line of one of those railroads had been
marked out, the price of which, previous
to the donations to the road, was 81 25.
This is one instance where the price has
been doubled-there are many more.
The speaker argued that it was consti-
tutional to distribute the lands. but said
nothing about the terms of The deeds of
cession s" forbidding it. The lands ac-
quired by gift or purchase is the common
property of all the Statesmen of the States
separately. but of the United States-and
we cannot see how Congress can give
| them away to the separate States. thus
violating not only the constitution, but the
sacred trust contracted in the acts of cession.
1t was expressly stipulated in the deeds of
cession by Virginia, that the lands so coded
"shall be considered a common fund for
the use and benefit of such of the United
States as have become, or shall become,
members of the Confederation or Federal
alliance of the States, and shall be faith
fully and bona fde disposed of for that
purpose, and for no other use or purpose
lChateUer."
Among other authorities cited by Mr.
McRae in favor of distribution, was Mr.
Calhoun. Now if the reader will turn to
the Congressional records, and especially
to a speech delivered by Mr. Calhoun in
l841, he will be impressed with the idea
that Mr. Calhoun was in favor Of anything
else than distribution. In speech at that
| time he argued against the eonsttutionality
of the measure, and contended that if the
lands were to go out of the hands of the
general Government they should be given
to the new States entirely. He contended
that the lands and their proceeds belonged
to the national Treasury to be used for
Governmental expenses.
democratic State Convention which is to
assemble in Charlotte. Don't forget, read
er, that he ProtesSes to be a democrat still,
notwithstanding his assaults on democratic
measures, men and papers. He said the
Convention would pass platform which
could be construed in one way in the East
and i'll another way in the West. From
the gentle mans remarks on this subject a
stranger might have supposed him to be
bitter n know nothing wing as ever lived,
and no doubt would have been startled at
hearing him say that he was democrat.
lie concluded by telling an anecdote and
cautioning democrats against some fthose
who had recently joined the party. He
called them political rats, and said a few
tolerably funny things for the benefit of
those present fond of laughing.
| At the commencement of the speech Mr.
! McRae said that the Charlotte Democrat
and Raleigh Standard had abused and Wilt
| fed him. He is laboring under as great a
mistake in regard to that as he is in suppos-
ing that he can disOrganize the democratic
party and have himself elected Governor
Or have majority in the Legislature who
will make him U. S. Senator. We have
not abused or villifed him, but we have
seen proper to expose his political conduct.
and we now give him notice that we intend
to continue to do SO as long as he puts MIN
self up in opposition to the party and goes
through the State attacking its principles
and ridiculing democratic editors.
He is good orator, and has always dis
played talents of a superior order; and we
could wish that he would use them in a
better cause than that in which he is now
engaged.