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,
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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