The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-06-15
Integrity OF Principle.

"Men change. but principles eternal, is an Ak.
ION OF repeated by wordy politicians and we sup
pose there Is truth in it, for have seen il llustra-
ted pretty forciby in not few instances which have
come under our observation. We do not intend writ.
ing an essay on this subject at present. but merely
glance at a matter which lies on lis outskirts.
The principles involved in the following resolution
adopted by the recent Democratic Convention at Ora
ham, have been repeated Iom year to year, and form
ed prominent feature in the Democratic platform for
twenty thirty years. and suppose, therefore. are
10 he considered as fixed and eternal" least far
as that party is concerned. The resolution is worded
as follows:
Rcsoiued. That the public lands. being the
common property of all the States, should be
held BY the general government, and their
proceeds strictly applied 10 meet and defray
the commou charge and expenditure Of the
government, and we are opposed TO their dis
trbution Among the several States. as well as
any policy by which one State is favored at
the expense Of another, Or by which the lands
are squaniered on pet corporations or par.
ticular States.
Under this declaration Of principle in regard to tho
deposition Of the public lans, have been elected
and sent 10 Congress- supposed 10 be pledged to
form their action TO the true spirit Of the resolution
Bot when these Democratic members are assem-
hled at Washington, what principle prevails Are
the public lan.is held as the common property Of al
the States" and their proceeds strictly applied
meet aud dcfray the common charge and expenditure
If the Government ?" Is no one State favored al thu
expense Of sno,heri' Are none of the lands susn.
dered on pet corporations particular States -
The answer can bc found on the journals Of Con.
gress. From them !, win appear, tina, Cor more than
quarter Of century the interests Of the old States have
been continually sacrificed 10 satisfy the requirements
of the new-hat by every Congress that has assembled
during that period. hundreds anil thousands Of
The public Ianis have hccn given dmatian. 10 the
new sta,cs-to rear their public eihee. 20 establish
schoohouses. TO endow colleges build railroads,
construct canals. 10 sustain asyums. &C.. nc. The
effect Of I'll this distinctly appears when cast our
eyes over The map Of the country. We railroads
projecting in all directions. and connecting all impor
tan, points, emgans lacking in, snd cities springins
up as il by nsgc and al in consequence Of improve.
nent. which cost the people no money.
Nov these men. who 60 10 Congress snd vote these
large donations Of the public domain tn the States
direct opposition the letter aud spirit Of the
Iuiion which have qustel. when they retur. HON,
rres,el ~ their party jus, good Democrats a.
ever. n raisriPLss never change. how can &c
count f this discrepancy IN The setion o. the Dcmo
cratic psryi l. il because the eternal principle ia
% Mr. Clays proposition Place al lhr states upon
an equality relation 70 the benefits resulting from
the prccels 81 the pubic IanI. such certainly sp
pears be The case on REVERSING the history Of III,
land question.