Tin? I have sworn upon the Altars-God, eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over the Miud of Man'-Thomaa Jcffer. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. WEBB. Votume IV. BI,OOMSBTOG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, FA. SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 27; 1841 Number 44. OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT, "brroMTE St. Paul's Church, Main-st "TERMS : The COLUMBIA DEMOCMtwill be 'published every Saturday mottling, a' TfVO DOLLARS per annum, payable Fifty Cents, if not paid tvilhin the yeaf. JNo subscription will betaken for a shorte : i7. . ;. . 7! .1 jyej tuit mini aim niuniiia i nui uiiy uioLuti- tinuance permitted, until all arrearages are discharged. ADVERTISEMENTS not exceeding a square will be conspicuously inserted at One Ddllarfor the first three insertions, and Twenty-Jive cents for every subse quent nscrlion. CJA liberal discount made to those whb advertise by the year. LETTERS addressed on business, must be post paid: (PUBLISHED- BY REQUEST.) From the Keystont. PUBLIC LANDS; Messrs. Editors : I have nol yet seen any good reasons why the public lands bwned by the United States, should not be gradually sold and the proceeds distributed among the states. Those opposed to this course give no better reason than "bocause the United States Government might one day want thern," and in the same breath fcay "that they cost more to dispose of them than they brine !" The United States Go- yernment has a legitimate means td pay tier expenses without adopting one that is illegitimate. Tho duties of foreign articles in every government, carrying on an exten sive foreign trade, should amount to a sum qual to the necessary expenses; and par ticuiarly in a government composed of sop rate and individual state governments. A government like oure can own no property which does not belong to the individual states except that wrrfch"Ts"used for offencys end defence, that being delegated to the get ml government by the constiiution.for As sole use. The sellinir of the nubile LinRe. J ..Hf nnd appropriating their proceeds to the penses of the genetal government, is as Un constitutional as any other act ever attempt ed by this government. When the constitution was formod,pcwjr vas given to tho general government, jo levy a tariff, for the express purpose of rais ing a revenue to meet the oxpensos of thVt government. Every person knows thit with the exception of two or three yeat tho balance of trade has been in favor of fop eisners. and thai w - -w J t4 uijKII JU nually drained of large amounts of precio-io metals. If a tariff s.ifllfin viwHn v ubii ay n;u expenses of the general government esistelj we would at least derive that much benefit from those importations. This tnriff would end ought to come off that class of ninn1 who indulge in tho extravagant luxuries of life, and would not be fell by the industrious portion ol the people. I am even disposed to co so far as trt ssv that the United States Government has no right whatever to use the proceeds of these lands to pay her current espouses. That the proceeds should bo carefully preserved ior me use oi tlie individual states, until a law is created for their distribution. If it is admitted that the general govern ment has tho sole right to these lands, hour easy would it be for a sectional interest to unite with the north or the south.and enact !such revenue laws as to prostrate the ener gies of a portion of the Union. The lands would bo sold as wanted to meet the expen ses of government, and that gdvernment tiould go on under such circumstances for centuries, as readily as for one year. It Would be placing it beyond tho reach of the Mates. Does any one desire this This is precisely the position in which wo might place ourselves if we admit that the owner hip rests in the general government. Or. the other hand if the lands aro grad ually suld, and the proceeds distributed a- rnong the states, the whole country feels the value of them and receives the nrnfit.ivhiUi :, i .... , . . t keeps within control of the states the gen - rd government, The 2d clause of tho third section of the article four of the constitution is as follows: Congress shall have power to dispose of ind make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this constitution shall bo so construed, as to prejudice any claims of the United States or any particular state.' "Congress shall have the power to dis' posq of" our public lands. That is granted by every porson; but what io to be done With the proceeds! Would it not bo preju dicing the claim of "a particular state" to appropriate them to tho use of tho general government? The United Stales, as an agent, should if she has not already been paid, receive the amount drawn from her treasury to pay for these lands. Her claim to them wduld then be,or is now.liquidated. Then I would liko to know what right she has to a dollar of the proceeds. She is the agent of tho Blates, and Congiess through her buys, receives and disposes of the lands, 1 .1 anu oiner property. Who, then, is enti tled to tho money ! The individual states; Instead of the dactnno to distribute the proceeds of the Salocfthe public lands a mong the 3tates being a federal doctiine.it is democratic to the cure. It takes from tho general government, a weapon which could 1 1 ... ue exercised against tne states to place it beyond tbeir reach to control. Let any man deny this who can. If wo desire a consoli dated form of gdvernmentiall wo have to do to prepare ihe way is to placo the means of eit-existence in the hands of the general government, ans it will soon be accom plished. With the power to raise a fund of a million dollars at her disposal, what more could ba desired in times of hi"li party excitement by scheming and ambi : t'.: .in . . uuus puiiuciano i i nat mere aro men in our country who would not stop a moment to use this power for that purpose, and who may bo STttniK'U at some futuio 1 tnn in .In so, can there be any doubts. As our go vernment increases in ace, so will disan pointed, disaffected and ambitious men in crease. J hey have their partizans who will not hesitate to follow in the accom plishment of any object. Is it wise policy to hold out so strong a temptation as these public lands? fENNSYLVANIANS ! Moil who are willing to throw aside prejudice, and eo for tho good of the whole, LOOK AT THE POSITION IN WHICH WE NOW STAND. Arovou wiNim. for tlin fmilo and weak reason that the general govern' ment may want, or does want, theso lands to increase her rovenue to give up your interest to them to give up THIRTY OR FORTY MILLIONS of dollars to oblige politicians, scheming for the Presidential I chair and its loaves and fishes ? What is party prejudice good for, if it operates against the welfare of tho public. And what public is suffering at present more than that of Pennsylvania, from the want of money in hei treasury Last week the Great regulator, estab lished by Ritnor.Stevens, Penrose and their coadjutors, exploded, and our other banks generally, followed. Tho Great Regulator is no doubt insolvent, but the other banks claim that they are sound. Why did tli3y lail? 1 o force the legislature to grant the issuing of small notes They know that Pennsylvania has undeilaken the comple- tion ol her lines of improvement, and that the people interested, expect her to go on util they are finished. Thev also know that by suspending, they prevent tho state from getting money to go on With these im provements. Thus reasoning, thoy seem determined to bring her down to such terms as they desire. What is it to relievo us from BANK RULE J From heavv TAX ATION? The man of experience will at once say "THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE PUBLIC LANDS AMONG THE SEVERAL STATES. Three or four millions of dollars wnuld ' v cncvc our uscai aiiairs. This 1 sum would fall to our share by the end of jthc vcar if nQ S00ler( jf a Qf 8ale very much relieve our fiscal affairs. This distribution was enacted immediately by IjnilfTrne. Why should tic democaatio party or the federal party, or any other party in Penn syivania, hcsitald a moment in going for a certain income, from our own property, of several MILLIONS annually. Ave. whv should there be ahy hesitation abdut calling ior ana receiving our own? Is not our stato debt near FORTY MILLIONS? and wont the people ba compelled le pay taxes ,to pay these MILLONS, unless we demand and recoivc our own in the shape of the pro ceeds of theso lands ? Some cry out that if the public lands are sold and tho money divided, that a direct tax lor tho United States wih have to be levied. Suppose even that should be thB case, what share would fall to Pennsylvania to pay ? Would it in fifty years amount to our slats debt ? Ncj not in a hundred T . . 1 ... cut a direct tax ivill never be necessary for the support of the United States govern ment, as long as oui commetco exists. Let me cuty on loreign goods pay the expenses of government. Our mechanics and our farmers will be benefited by it, nnd the money now sent abroad for fcreisn manu factures will remain at home in circulation; If it is once understood that the manufac tures of the British and the French are no longer to be preferred to those of our own country, men will embark in the manufac- ture and raising of almost every necessary arucie ol nie. Our specie wilt remain at home. Our farmers will receive good pri ees lor their produce. Our labouters and mechanics will find employment at good wa ges, and in the event of a war wo will be in dependent of all foreign nations. Wo have the materials and the industry within our selves all that is wanting is encouragement in time ol peace. But again it will be said a tariff is indi rect taxation. Admitted, aid what then ? Is it not not optional with every man in a country like burs to Use an article corning irom a loreign country, such as would be necessary to tax? To be sure it is. Who would not rather pay this optional indirect tax than be compelled to pay a direct tax? 1 no necessaries of life would not be taxed. The luxuries should be. Pennsylvania has done much to increase the value of lands in the west by her im provements opening a communication with the Ohio and tho Mississippi, in doing which she has incurred the debt which now oppiesses her citizen. Who can say aught against her demanding her share of the lands ? Is it anti-democratic to call fur nut own? x-ennsyivanians aro too much alive to their own interests to let the buir-bear cry of national debt, direct taxation for tlin United States, and other humbuggcries, uetcr them from asking for their rights. A PENNSYLVANIA. ExlrftcUfrom the Canal Commissioners Report NORTH BRANCH DIVISION. Navigation commenced on this line on the first of April, 1840, and was continued until the first of July, when the water was drawn off for the purpose of ro-building the looks, and was not lot in again until the first of October. This division has received very heavy re pairs during the past season. Tho Board staled in their last annual reporl, that con tracts had been entered into " for re-build- ing all the wooden locks on the NorthBranch Division, Hit aqueducts over Mill Creek and Lodge's Run, all the defective bridges, and for constructing a slubstar.tisl towlnf path along the pool of thoNanticokeDam." uwing to the lateness of the season at which the contracts were made, the difficul ty of obtaining material in consequence of the lowness ot the water in the river, the uncertainty as to the time of procuring lunds, and tho abandonment of their iobs by several of the contractors, who had taJ ken them at inadequate prices, it was deter mined not to commenco tho most important repairs during the last winter.ifrora the con viction that they could not be oompleted in time for the spring business. They were t 1 accordingly deferred until that period of 'tho I . . yeai when but little inconvenience could bo experienced from tho suspension of naviga. tion. Agreeably to previous notice, the Wa tet was drawn off on the first of July, and the repairs commenced. By the most indefatigable exertions, the difficulties arising from a scarcity of hands. the shortness of the period allotted for the completions of the work, and the apprehen sions ot a deficiency in the appropriation, were overcome, and all the lift-locks from Northumberland to Nanticoke dam, and the acqueduct over Lodge's run, were so far completed as to permit a resumption of nav igation on the first of October. The ad miral manner in which this work has been constructed, and the short space of time in which it was accomplished, notwithstanding tho many serious obstacles which were en countered .entitle the officers wh6 superin tended il,and contractors who oxecuted it to ilia highest praise. These locks are built Upon the eonipoilto plan of stono lined with wood. Two of them are completed, the remainder have not received their coping, and liko wise require tho finishing of some of the masonry of thier wings. The guard lock at Nanticoks Dam is nearly completed. It has been lo cated on a new site, and will render the en trance to the canal of easier access than it has heretofore been in time of high water. Three bf the towing path sections along Ihe pool of the Nanticoke Dam have been completed, the others are in progress. Lodge's run aqueduct, which was brought into use on the first of October, at the same time with the looks, is nearly finished It having been found impossible to complete the aqueduct over Mill creel: in tine for the resumption of navigation in October, the Engineer reports that a " temporary wood en trunk was thrown across, to feed the ca nal from this point to the outlet into the Nanticoke pool. It was not intended tola-it longer than the close of navigation this fall. The next spring flood will piobably carry it away; and unlesss theio should bo an ear ly appropriation to oompletej the aqueduct, thero is every reason to believe there will be no navigation between Wilkesbarre and the head of tho Nanticoke pool in the spring." These repairs have necessarily involved a heavy expenditure beyond tho amount which it was found expedient to allot to this line, from the appropriation of last year. it was the only course, however. which could have been pursued consistently with a duo regard to the public Interests. Had the repairs been longer delayed, the naviga. tion must havo been entirely suspended, and tho rich minoral regions bordering on the valley of tho North Branch, from its mouth to the Lackawana, would thereby have been thrown upon the precarious navi gation of the river for an outlet for '.heir valuable products. The day is not far dis tant when the local trade of this division must yield a handsomo revenue to lolls. The more successfull expeiiments of mak ing non with anthracite coal, as fuel, have given n now impetus to that business, and we already find capitalists investinu lame sums on the North Branch in the purchas of coal and ore beds, and tho erection of furnaces, &c which cive fair promise that this district must eventually becomo one of the principal seats for tho tiianufaoture of iron in Ihe state. Although the navigation was suspended for threo mdnths Ihe past season, the tolls received for the fiscal year equal those of the lail. The estimate of the turn rcauirtd to bay the amount due contracts and for oidinary repairs, and to finish tho work under con tract, is as follows : Amount due contractors and for ordinary repairs, $79,809 11 To finish work under contract, 44,771 88 Total, 8124,580 94 Iii addition id this amount, the Encineer estimates that there will be required, To renew tho defective bridges on the line, $3,870 00 To renew wasle-weirsj 1,000 00 3,500 06 500 od 9,500 00 For a more 'detailed statement on this line', and of tho repairs required, reference is re spectfully mado to the accompanying report of the Engineer, A. B. Warford, Esq. Nothing has been don'6 to the Lackawan' na feeder dam. no definite action havinir been taken by the legislature at its last ses sion, on ine proposition 10 reuuua it tatther up the valley. The old dam was Bwept off by the flood in the spring of 1839, and tho navigation ha3 since bcett maintained by means ot a brush Uam. This from Us frail character, is liable to be swept away; It must therefore be built in a more permanent manner. By reference to the report of last year, it will bo been that the catlthafed a mount required to rebuild it about two miles higher up, on tho site of the old forge daml the point desired by the inhabitants of thii Lackawanna valley, and extending Ws ca nal down to the present head of the feeder) is ninety-six thousand dollars, whilst tho cost of rebuilding it at a location about oho third of a milo above the old dam, would amount to eleven thousand seven hundred dollars. As this is a question in which tho inhabitants of Lackawanna valley hve ex. pressed a deep interest, the Board havd thought It proper to submit il Uhce mote td the decision of the legislature. The import tance of keeping up the navigation on thai portion of the line above the head of the Nanticoke pool, tequires that early actiori. should be had on this subject. The "cost of rebuilding this dam muslba added to the fore going estimate for repairs. The amount drawn from the Treasury for repairs on this division, Tor the year end ing the 30th November; 184d is one hun dred and nine thousand four hundred and ninety-one dollar- and forty-seven cenls. A former Board, in their report of" the " 9th December, 1837, state that, that pari of the North Eranch Division, comprised ietween the Nanticoke dam and Northum berland, (51 miles) is supplied from the Nariticoko dam. When the imnrovementa open this braueh shall be completed to the New York state line, and the business be comes more active, doubt3 ate entertained whether this length of canal can bo supplied lully irom the Nanticoke dam. The prop er oiijrineer was therefore directed to make an examination in relation to the best means ol creating a supply of water when needed, which resulted i.i recommending the intro duction bf Fishing creek. In this the Board concur, and respectfully urge itpon the Le gislature the propriety of conferring tho proper authority to prevent any further im provements upon il By individuals, under the impression it will never lie required by the Slate. This course may prevent addU tional expense in the item of damages." The Bloomsburg Railroad Iron Cdmha: ny; who own a larjro portion of the vater power bf this creek, are about erecting ex pensive works upon itj which Would b8 ma terially affected by hereafter takincr in tho stream as a feeder td the canal, and conse quently, subject tho State to heavy dama ges. It is therefore of importanco both to tho owners of tho water power and tho Com monwealth, that immediate action should be had dii the subject. If the Legislature should determine that the feeder should ha constructed; the authority to locate is all that will be required at this time. Dog Population The doir bdoiiiailori of Ihe U. States is estimated at about two millions, and tho expense of keeping thtni at upwards of $10,000,000 ner annum Tbis fact accounts for the dogged character oi our people, as wen as lor the quantity of wggerei prouueau by our national poets. Tunnellirig the Sta. An Enelish En: ginecr, now in France, has a plan of a tuiW nel Irom Dover to Calais, or tcross the English Channel, which is to cost mom than a thousand million of francs. Egad i this is something like Munchausen's irori bridge from London to the centre of Africa! " water ways, To complete shute at the Nan ticoke dam', For ordinary repaire", V t
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers