St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-12-04
The-Union7 and Gold.


From the Philadelphia Press.
/ The forthcoming December number Of
the Continental llouth!y, which will prob
ably appear early next week, will contain
two papers FROM Hon R. J. Walker, en-
titled respectively, 1.-THE Union" and
"Gold." The first goes statistically aud
philosophically to show the effect Of sla-
very upon our national progress in wealth,
population, science, literature, education,
religion and intellectual development. 1t
compares the slaveholding with the nou-
s|avehoiding States, and shows the. WON
derful superiority of the latter in all these
great elements. 1t then proceeds to H.
lustrate this position b. The history Of in
dividqal States and compares the prog
less, since l7JU, ofsMassachusetts, Mary
land, and South Carolina. 1t developes
and establishes these astounding facts
from the last census, that Massachusetts,
with free lab " and free schools, produces
three hundred dollars per capita Mary
land, n'nety-one dollars per capita and
South Carolina ftty-sir!
TO this Mr.. Walker adds table, in reference
to the progress Of the savage Indian tribes,
showing their products to be fourteen dollars
and sixty cents per capita. Thus it appears
that Massachusetts, with free labor and free
schools, produces per capita three times
much MS Maryland, aud 1--WE times ~ much
South Caro- Ina and that Maryland with, few
slaves produces nearly twice As much as South
Caroln, with many But the most astounding
disclosure is tbs fact that Massachusetts, in
this respect, is further in advance Of South
Carolina than the latter is in advance of tho
savages. Mr.. Walker makes on this basis,
three divisions in the progress Of civilization
First Massachusetts, the most highly civilized
community in this country and in the Who'll.
world. Second, South Carolina semi civilized
and third the barbarous savage Tribes
have only room to give one further item
which will be interesting to the newspapers
press; viz: that the annual circulation Of
newspapers and periodical. in Massachusetts
is one hundred aud two millions. Maryland
twenty millions, and South Carolina three
millions! So much for the State that proposes
to instruct our own country and other nations
in the great problem Of Government. Mr..
Walker shows by his tables that If each State
| and Territory Of the Union produced as much
| every year, per capita, rs Massachusetts. our
| whole annual products would exceed nine
billions Of dollars Mr.. Walkers article on
>, Colds discusses that subject, including the
| lie recommends the subdivision Of these land.
into one-acrc tracts, their examination and
appraisemen,, and sales by bids commune ted
to the Interior Department, no, below the
minimum appraisement.
This system. he thinks, would bring At least
FIVE hundred millions of dollars in the course
; Of time into the treasury Of the United STATES.
The subdivision into tracts Of ono acre cnch he
would contine TO lands producing gold and
silver, and the other mineral lands into forty
acre tracts, as now authorized by law. This
system Mr. Walker recommends rs regard
unoccupicd mineral lands. AS TO those wor
kcd by the present miners, the pioneers who
| ~ great sacrifices Of life and money, lave ex~
, pl-rel these regions and developed the mines
IN Ter the acqucsrense Of the Government and
, an implied pledge Of protection. he advises
that the miucr's code AMI surveys should b.
adopted and confirmed by the Government.
and tina. Il full title in fee simple should be
issued to these pioneer miners a, the cos, Of
survey and incidental expenses. This he est;
mates would prove alike advantageous TO tho
Government and the miners, enabling many
who now have no title, by receiving . perfect
right, tc secure the cabit"l indispensable TO the
full development and successful working ef
their mines
The views Of Gov. Walker are entitled to
the careful consideration OF the Government.