Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-24

undertake Railroads in distant regions merely to get
hold of the alternate sections. s.-s r.
But admit, for arguments sake, that the lands
are being squandered, and that we are in danger OF
losing our share" What is the remedyf Is it to
propose and adopt general scheme of plundera If
they are squandered, they are squandered by q ma
ority for their benefit Think you, if they have de-
termined to take them all, that they will give us
any? What would they say if we were to ask
them? They would say, we have no idea Of taking
them ALIVE are only improving and rendering
them more valuable-we opposed to dividing
them; but if you will raise the tariff so as to enrich
still more the manufacturers. and if you will keep
quiet on the slavery question and give us all the
free States we want, it may De that we will give you
your "share." We protest, We denounce, we de-
mand our rights. They laugh at us. and tel. US to
vote the bill through and take =" our share" Could
we do It? Could all North Carolina, if all her peo-
nile were to utter one voice and utter it necessarily,
effect any thing? No. A homestead bill, for ex-
ample, is put in by Mr. Senator johnson. We call
It souandering bill to give lands to the
landess he calls it revenue measure, for he says
it will fill up the lands strengthen the country, and
increase the revenue. We oppose it, but it passes
and thus at one sweep the public domain loses one
hundred millions of acres What is the remedy
What can we do? And what is all this compared
with the aggressions upon our rights slavehold-
ers Before this Congress closes there will be n'ne
teen free to fourteen slave States, for we do not
count Delaware among the latter. Within the next
ten wears the free States will have two.thirds as
against the slave Sates and then they alter the
Constitution and take rapid steps for limiting and
abolishing slavery. Who believes when that cay ar
rives they will not do it? We had better, therefore,
unite as one man. and look in this direction in which
our vital interests and all we hold dear threatened
Is distribution expedient? Is it advisable? would
it be wise to distribute the lands? what would we
gain by it? In the first place, the people are as
much bound to support the general government as
they are to support the State government. They
have great stake in it, and it must be supported
How is this done? By taxation. 1t matters not
whether by tariff on imported goods or by direct
levy, it is taxation According to Mr. McRaes plan,
there would be no revenue from the lands, for he
would withdraw from sale all the lands in the Terrific
res, and he would distribute what remains in the
land States among the respective States. Mr.. King
estimated the average income of the land at 81 $780,
OON; Mr.. Calhoun at $500, GOO; and Mr.. Clay at
So, 600. Assume that the average annual in
come is the latter sum, and have loss of three
millions of dollars to the general government to
begin with. But the same general land system
must be kept up for the twelve hundred millions Of
in the Territories, referred to by Mr.. McRae
must be held and cared for; and the government
must also to the location of the land warrants
the land States. 1t must make good its title, and
must therefore, protect the lands against intruders
That would be at least million of dollars more,
making loss to the government of four millions of
dollars per annum. That would have to be raised
by a tariff on imported goods. All cotton and wool
en- goods are now taxed twenty -four per cent, iron
the same, salt fifteen per cent? sugar twenty-four
per cent, and other artielce in pruPuI tioii mat
is, every one who purchases one dollars worth OF
these articles has to pay twenty -four cents or fifteen
as the case may be- to the government. The i'm
porter pays it first, then the merchant and then the
consumer and the latter not only pays this but all
the profits of the importer and merchant, besides
cost of transportation. According to an estimate
made by Mr. Gorrell, of Guilford, during the last
session of the Legislature, North Carolina consumes
annually about thirteen millions of dollars worth OF
foreign merchandise. This, at twenty per cent,
which is about the average, would be $2,6OO,O 600
per annum which her people now pay in tar.
riff.taxes Mr.. McRae would not only add to these
taxes North Cardinals proportion of the four mil.
lions of which he would deprive the general govern
ment, but he would saddle her with the expense and
trouble of vending land warrants, and he would
bring into the field against her in this business thr-
ty other States, all equally interested in selling
thereby adding thirty fold to the expense of land
SYSTEM and, by general competition among the VEN
ders, reducing the value of the warrants to a mere
song Instead of diminishing it would increase our
burdens. Instead of tightening it would actually
add to our taxes 1t would render us more aud more
dependent on the Northern manufacturers--more and
dependent the federal government, for after
we had sold warrants we could not even make ii.
tie, but would have to look to the general govern.
ment to do it for US. And to crown the enormous
evil, this great inheritance of the public domain
would pass from our hands at heavy sacrifice
would be wasted and lost amid such scenes of spec
ulaton, extravaganza and debauchery of public faith
and public morals as this country has never SEEM
State would wrange with State corporation would
chatter with and defraud corporation, spectators
and land monopolists would trample on the rights
OF emigrants and Cypress the poor; while the gen.
era government chief party to the prevailing cor
ruption the unworthy strife, and the deadly feuds
between citizens and sovereign States, would stand
by making titles to such as her officers might de-
eide to be the purchasers. Like the Virginia lands
referred to by Mr. Clay in of his speeches in the
Senate, the most desirable spots of the public do
main would be literally shinged over with conflict
ing claims" and the warrants of the States would be
cut and shuffled from hand to hand like greasy
pack Of cards. Our burdens would therefore, MOI
only be increased, while the lands themselve,
would be hopelessly squandered, but State char
acter end State dignity would be lowered and even
tuallY sacrificed - - --