Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-07-05
Wilmington, n. c., Thursday, July 5, 1860.

are the most and useful class of our feowct
and emnenty deserve all the advantages which
laws nave already extended to hem e mere snoua pe no
barassment of the large body of respectable artans and
pusues his calling must labor long before he purchase
quarter section of land whilst the ter of the soil Who
the Government The numerous body of mechanics IN our
large cities cannot by emang to the West take ad
vantage Of the provisions Of this bill without entering upon
new occupation for which their habits of life have rem
dered them unfit.
This bill is unjust to the old States of the Union in
many respects and amongst these States so tar as the pup
lie lands concerned may enumerate State east
OF the Mississippi with the exception OF Wisconsin and
portion of Minnesota
1t is common belief within their limits that the older
states ct the Conederacy do not derive their pFopoonate
benefit from the public lands This is just opinion
1t doubtful whether they could be rendered bene
ca to these States under any other system that which
at present exists !her proceeds go 1910 the common
Treasury to accomplish the objects of the Government and
in this all the States benefited in just proper
ton But 10 give this inheritance away would de-
the old States of their just proportion of this revenue
without holding out any, the least corresponding advantage
Whist IS our common glory that the new States have pc
prosperous and popOus there is good reason
why the old States should offer to their ct
Zens TO emlgrate from them TO the "es hat IaDu OF
promise presents in itself sufficient aurements to young
and entrprising citizens without any adventious aid The
Offer OF free farms would probably have powerful eect IN
encouraging emigration, especially from States like Hi
nos Tennessee and Kentucky the west of the Missis
ppl and could not fail to reduce the price OF property
within their imits An Individual in States thus situated
would not pay its fair value for land when by crossing the
Mississippi he could go upon the public lands and obtain
farm almost without money and without price.
e. This bill will open one vast field for speculation Men
will not 81 Is for lands when they purchase them
for fifth of that price Large numbers of actual settlers
will be red out by capitalists upon agreements to give
them half of the land for the Improvement Of the other half
This cannot be avoided Secret of this kind will
be numerous In the entry OF graduated lands the expert
ence OF the Land Office jusIies this objection.
l. We ought ever to maintain the most perfect equality
between native and naurazed citizens They equal
and always ought eqna before the laws Our laws
welcome foreigners to shores and will
respected. Whilst these the sentiments which have
acted through fe not my opinion expedient to pro-
shall
rive in this country from foreign shore AID de clare bis In
tention become citizen shalt receive farm of hun
dred and sixty of entyve twenty cents
per acre, he will only reside on it and cultivate It, Inc
invitation extends to all and this bill becomes law we
may have actual settlers from China and Other
eastern nations, enjoying its benefits the great Pacn(
slope The bill makes distinction in favor Of such peTson
native and naturaized citizens When applied to suc
citizens, it is confined to such heads OF families; bu
when Applicable to persons of foreign birth recently
shores such restriction. Such
not be the heads of families provided they have filed de
claration OF intention to become citizens perhaps hls ds
ncton was an inadverence but 1t Is nevertheless par
S. The creates unjust distinction persons claim
At ing the benefit of presumption laws Whilst reduces tn
price of the land to existing preemptos sxwo and ha
cents and gives them credit on this sum Tor two
from the present date no matter how long they may have nit
pay double this price per There justice
or The effect this bill on public be app
er all Should become law the reduction of the
a. years Of its szjsti5
al Of wo years will SO diminish public lands
render expectation Of future from that
Secretary Of the Interior estimated the revenue from the pub
tn that land would remain unchanged Shou
this bill become law he does not believe that 81 100000 Will
This bill at the root of our present adm
Nc rabe land system. The public land Inheritance OF va
W value and to descendants 1t Is resource
~ which we in the hour of difficulty and danger
managed heretofore with the greatest wsdo
existing laws. In this management, the rights OF
settlers have been cOnCated with the interests OF
| Government The price to all has been reduced from -
% for fresh lands and the claims of actual
tiers been secured by pleempton laws ANY III
us can acquire title in simple to a homestead
eighty acres, the minimum price OF ST. Is per acre,
revenue from the public lands of $lOOO00OO per annu
when the bounty land satisfied, without oppr
sion any being. In time Of war; when all otl
of seriously impaired. this Will rem
intact. 1t may become the best security Tor puolc lot
% hereafter, i'll times of difficulty and danger, as 1t has Ok
heretofore. Why should impair or destroy this syst
at the present moment? What necessity exists for
people of the United States have advanced with stef
but rapid strides to their present condition OF power
prosperity. They have been guided in their progress oy
fixed principle of protecting the equal rights OF ALL Whet
they be rich poor. No agraran sentiment has ever
vailed among them. The honest poor man, by truSdty
" industry can any part of country, acquire com
tence himself and his family and in doing this he
- that he the bread OF independence be desires
charity either from the Government from his neighb
INV This bill, which proposes to give him land at an an ain
nominal price, out OF the property OF the government,
go far denoralze the people, and repres this noble 81
~ of independence 1t may introduce among US those Pc
% social theories which have proved SO disastrous IN
IS OF or countries JAMES BUCHhNAH
81 WASHINGTON, June y, 1860.