Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-07-17
IN SENATE, 9th June, 1911

ty to the last moment of my political existence.
IN SENATE, 9th June, 1911
PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr.. SMITH, of Indiana, Chairm'n Of the Com
mittee on the public lands, reported back to the
Senate, the bill 10 distribute the proceeds of the
public lands amog the States, and TO grant lands
to certain States, with amendments. Mr. S. &C
companed the bill with NE following report,
which, with the bill as amended, was ordered to
be printed.
The Committee on the Pubic Lands to whons ,rcre
referred so much Of the Presidents Message
as relates to tho subject, "A bill to appropri-
ate for Lmitd time the proceeds of the sales
of the public .dnds of the United States, and
for erantin! land to certnin Shos'' -"An1..
tions e~se6erdl Of the States, and resolutions
of.ae Senate the subject, hare had the
same under consideration, and report:
The committee are fully aware of the difficult
ty, If not Of the impossibility, of satisfactorily pre-
sentng any subject diversified in its relations,
and so important in its different bearings, that
submitted TO them, in the compass of an ordinary
report. Still was the sub ject one, was 1t
essential for the Information of the country the
Senate, that detailed report should be made, the
committee would not shrink from attempt TO
discharge that duty. But when they reflect that
:h,s IS not n new subject, that 1T has once passed
throug all the stages Of action, that
reports emanating from Congress have been wide
ly circulated and read by the people in every
part OF the nation, that public opinion has been
brought directly to bear upon 1t, that legislative
action has been had in most of the States and the
legislative Will expressed in the form of resolves
which had been presented to Congress, that it has
undergone the most full and amre discussions in
Congress, in the State Legislatures, in the pub
l:c press and before the people in primary assem-
blies, and that the result has been an unity oil
sentiment and concurrence In opinion in favor
of the measure of distribution atogeth er satisfac
tory to its friends, and sufficiently conclusive oil
the question. 1t does seem to the committee tina
IT would DO task, unnecessary at least, If not al
together gratuitous on their part, to go into an
argument to meet IN anticipation objections tina
may be urged against II, or to show the grounds
upon which public opinion is founded in its favor
or TO present an argument on the policy of a mea
sure thus called for by the public voice. They
therefore, without the least disposition of avoid
ing the discharge of any duty that may be re
CURED OF them on the present occasion, conten
themselves by submitting opinions and conclu
sions upon the subjects referred, rather than de
tailed arguments III support of those opinions, OIL
IN Justification of those conclusions leaving those
| arguments TO be supplied by Senators in debate
should they suppose them called for BY the occa
sion.
The principal question upon which the commit
tee was called upon 10 express opinion was
whether the nett proceeds Of The sales Of the pub
lie lands, should be distributed among the States
10 just and equitable proportions. The answe
TO this question, in the opinion of the committee
must be IN the affirmative. This measure ia be
lIeved 10 be IN accordance with the rights of tn
States, and most fully sustained by public opin
ion. Under our form of government. Congress
may. IN the absence of cons titutional BARRIERS b.
considered the honored agents of the state
and people, to mould their will into the form G
I legal enactments. Concurring in sentime ut wit
public opinion, as regards the cons,tuiionality a
well as the expectancy of the proposed measure
i me committee cannot recommend IT too strongl
10 the favorable consideration of the Senate. Ha
wing arrived at the conclusion. that the measur
o. distribution should be adopted, the attention
Inc committee was directed 10 the form of the bi
referred 10 them on that subject; and after care
iul examination OF its provisions they are of III
1 opinion that It's main features are equitable an
proper, but, that IN some points, i, is susceptible
of improvements. They have therefore props
ed some amendments, among the PRINCIPAL
n which is one which strikes out those parts of th