The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-10
TrNa .ho s.. Louis Donoera II Z

Convicted Out Of It's own Mouth. a
The Illinois State Register, the central
organ OF the Sucker State Democracy,
responding to our appeal to the North in
behalf Of National aid for Emancipation
in MISSOURI, said: faa ~ eali
Let those who derive the benefit foot
up the bill We have no doubt Missouri
would have been greatly benefited, would
have made Still further advances in MAJ
terial prosperity, hSd her vast system of
railroads been completed and particu-
larly so had the other States Of the Union
been made responsible for the cost. Her
increased growth in this behalf would
not have been without its compensating
advantages to her neighbors, and would
have added 10 the general wealth, but
would it not have been absurd in the
4 Missouri Democrat to have called upon the
Northern States to tax themselves TO pro-
duce this advantageous Missouri result
In reply we took occasion to refer TO
the fact that the above argument came
with an i'll grace from a Democratic organ
of Illinois, State which, through the
influence of Stephen A. Douglas, had re-
ceiyed aid from the General Govern
ment for the purpose of building her
rsiroads, TO the extent Of millions of
dollars, in the sape of Government lands
donated by Congress for that purpose,
and which belonged 10 the people OF
Missouri as much as TO The people Of illi-
nois, quite as muck so as. the moneys in
the Government sub treasury.
| fNha Dootefos IN l. 4
mits the facts as stated by us. Illinois
did receive efficient and liberal aid in
the building of her railroad system, from
Congress, out of property belonging
equally to the people of the whole ma
tion. But, says the Register, although the
Government did give her porperty, as a
donation, to help build Illinois railroads,
she made money by the operation, as she
owned other lands which were enhanced
in value, in consequence of the railroads,
to greater extent than the value of the,
land she gave away. Hence she, in fact,
gave nothing. She simply made loan
in the form of Congressional grant, and
got her money back with interest, in the
increased sales Of her other property.
Says the Register ias1a9I
But was not the obligation reciprocal?
Did Massachusetts or Missouri tax them
selves dollar for the purpose? Did not
the government realize the full price Of
the lands which she bad been asking FOR
years, without purchasers Did she not
sell them almost instantaneously, putting
their price into the national treasury,
and relieving herselfof an..annual expense
for the maintenance of numerous land
offices in the State? In this transaction
Illinoisis is under no obligation to the other
States of the nation for dollar by extra
taxation. On the contrary, the benefits
were mutual, reciprocal. The nation
> speedily got rid of Its lands, at its own
original price, and the State got magni-
ficeRt railroad, which, developing her
immense latent resources brought under
cultivation whole counties of idle acres,
increased the national production and the
national wealth. Instead of obligation,
the nation only permitted Illinois to give
value to government property which it
previously had not"
Precisely. We admit the force and
I accuracy of the statement. But il is our
argument, exactly in favor of national
contribution, through Congress, 10 ala
| mlboDulA III licCihB ifOU slavery.
We endeayOred TO show, and we think
successfully, that such contribution would
! be simply a loan with a certainty OF
, speedy repayment; that the benefits
! which the free States of the North would
: derive from having MISSOURI made free
q like themselves, would greatly outweigh
: all their contributions for that purpose
! that such would of necC ssity prove TO be
! the case, from the better communication
: il would secure between tho free States
! east and west Of her from her own in
! creased development in consequence and
: expanded commercial relations with hel
neighbOrs, and the enlarged gsvenues she
would, under the national tax law, bl
!, enabled 10 pay into the nationnt treas
= ury. 'e% Nae
: But theirs is apother'conside IL
!, this connection, in favor Of the proposi
: tion, which is right in point, and flll
4 precisely the case made in argument By
: the Register. II grows out of the fact
: that the Government is to-day a large
! land -holder in Missouri She owns mil
! lions Of acres here, She has offered
4 them for sale year after year, withou
\ finding purchaser. SO long have som'
\ of them been in the market that under
j the graduation law, their price has beer
j reduced TO twelve and one half cents pei
] acre, and yet they are begging for sale
I Now, remove the incubus Of slavery
!. which is pressing down upon Missouri
!, and open up the broad government do
main within her boundaries, now lying
waste and idle and involving a con.
slant bill Of expense, to the unobstruct'
J. ed immigration Of the hardy sons Of
IS the free North, who are constantly press
II ing westward 10 quest Of homes, and how
} much longer would this state Of thing
y continue? II is no exaggeration TO sag
. that emancipation in Missouri would, Ol
l. fhe dav ia tyaa aceomolished alfhougl