The daily union., 1846-04-30
Mr. EVANS considered the work, Of which this

Maine, Mt EVANS, IN mis- estimate OF INC ~V'h'
The work Of which twas continuation was mere
index to the revenue laws There had been no au-
thority TO make the compilation. He proposed as
an amendment To the resolution a substitute, reier-
ring the work alluded 10 TO the Committee on FL
nance with instructions TO inquire into It's value, the
cost of printing, and its origin.
After desultory and undressing conversation,
which occupied nearly two hours the whole suoJec'
was finally, on motion Of Mr.. ATcHsON, laid on the
table.
IA message in writing was received from the Pres
ident of the United States
GRANT OF LAND TO THE sEATE OF MISSISSIPPI
Mr. SPEIQHT moved that the Senate should
take up for consideration the bill 10 aid the State
of Mississippi in the construction Of railroad from
Jackson, through Brandon, to the western boundary
of Alabama" which motion was agreed to.
The bill, which was read, ID as follows:
BILL the State Of Mississippi in the construction
Of railroad from Jackson through Brandon 10 the west
ern boundary ol Alabama
BE enacted bv the Senate and House Of RsyrsIsntarss
of he United Of Asricd in C0RgTs asssmbLsd That
whenever the Tor the railroad from Jackson through
brandon to the western boundary Of Alabama in the drec
Of Montgomery, in said state shall be surveyed and
established there shall he, and hereby granted to the
Of Mississippi alternate sections Of the pub land on
each side Of said road throughout the said route from
Jackson through Brandon TO the said western boundary o
the State OF Alabama said grant not to extend beyond hye
miles each side Of said road the sections which are odd
in number being hereby granted the said state Of Mss
and those which even In number being hereby
the United States: PTOUdSd HsUshslt That
SAID grant hereby made the condition thsthe proceeds
OF the sales OF said lands thus granted to the said state Of
Mississippi shall be faithfully applied b said sIals to the
find prOVidd That the selections Of lands to be
made by said State under this act shall not extend to
land to which the right OF preempon may attach and that
they shall be made by agent agents TO be appointed
by the governor Of said State under the direction Of the
SECRETARY Of the Treasury and that the said work shall be
commenced within two years, and finished within hYe
years from the passage Of this act.
src. 8ad BE- htrthsT enacted That the right Of way
the lands OF the United States hereby granted to the
said State for the construction Of said road: Psrdsd hOg
srs That said right Of way shall be construed
extend 10 a strip than hundred feet de
each side OF said road, from the commencement TO the
termination Of said road.
Mr.. SPElGHT, after few remarks descriptive
Of the contemplated railroad, moved verbal amend
ment; which was agreed to.
Mr.. BAGBY-(who had been absent on the pre-
vious day on account Of lndisposton Remarked,
that after the full discussion which had taken place
on the merits OF the Michigan bill he would not
trespass on the patience Of the Senate by any ex-
tesded remarks. He opposed to the bill on the
ground that its principle withheld from the treasury
Of the United States portion of the public revenue,
and which was applied to the purpose Of making
internal Improvements. He insisted that there was
no difference as to the principle whether the works
were undertaken by the general government or by
the States. Where (he asked was the difference
between granting $4,000 to the State of Missls-
sppi where there happened to be public lands, and
chusetts where there were no public andS II there
was any difference, it would be pointed out. The
assertion that the work has been already COM
menced did not at all affect the principle involved
and to which he was opposed The whole principle
of the bill was in his Judgment unsound and there
fore he was opposed to it. As the subject had been
so abundanuy discussed in his absence, he would
not detain the Senate, but would ask for the yeas
and nays.
Mr.. SPEIGHT replied. He congratulated the
senator from Alabama that hls health had been so
far restored as to permit his appearance in the Sen
ate, IN order to oppose bill in which the interests
Of his own State were as deeply involved almost as
those of Mississippi. He had hoped that, after a
small passage-at-arms on the Michigan bill some
six weeks since, the senator would not have urged
his objections the bill constitutional grounds
He MIR. s. contended that there was an essential
difference between the general government, as pro-
pretor, making grants Of alternate sections Of land
whereby the residue materially enhanced in val
ue, and undertaking works of internal improvement
by means of the public money. The power to dis
pose of the public lands, in the constitution, was
unlimitsde -.
Mr. BAGgY briefly 1sisiSait1 ,ds S;i1 and
"iMtir'C Mr CALHOUN remarked that he was willing
to vote for the bill, on the ground Of the benefit
which would accrue to the public domain alone. He
had yesterday expressed his views with regard
to the constitutional question. He would now
say word to the national importance of
this road. 1t would form a most essential DOR
ton of that extended line of communication from
Boston, or rather from Maine, to the Mississippi
river; leaving but two other lines to be completed
the one between the Mississippi and Montgomery
IN Alabama the seat of government and the other
from West Point to the Atlantic. This road once
completed, doubt the others would be speedily
completed also; 50 that in six or seven years--if
nothing unfortunate happened to the Countrywide
whole line might be expected to be finished. 1t
passed through the very centre Of the cotton coun-
try The real cotton region in the Judgment of the
most skllful planters, was very narrow belt not
more than two degrees wide, and it was one of the
most productive regions on the face of the globe
This road would traverse it. Indeed the benefit of
this great work would be gencra-it would be felt
by all the other States well as those Immediately
Interested 1t had been very to hear objections
against grants of alternate sections Such grants
did not at all come under the head Of appropriations
Even 10 pecuniary point of view the Union wes
greatly benefited by them.
Mr. SIMMONS offered the following amend
ment:
Insert in the lst section after the words 'and to
no other purpose whatever" the following: "And
that the land hereby granted shall not be sold for
less than 81 25 per acre; and that the alternate
tons reserved to the United Sates shall not be sold
for less than 50 so per acre"
The question was put, and the amendment was
rejected.
Mr.. NILES then offered the following amend
ment
Add to the lst section the following "And that
the mail of the United States be carried on said road
at the same rate as by four-horse post coaches"
conversational debate on this amendment, in
which Messrs. SPEIGHT, NILES, HUNTING
TON, WESrCOTT, and DAVIS took part, fol-
lowed, and finally, on the question being taken, the
amendment was rejected.
Mr. SIMMONS offered amendment, adding a
proViso that the military stores and troops of the
United States should be, when desired transported
on the road free ofcharge.
The amendment was at once agreed to by Mr.
SPElGHT, and was agreed to unanimously.
A few verbal amendments were then made, and
Mr. YULEE having briefly explained the rea-
sons Of his vote in favor of the bill, the bill was
reported to the Senate, and the amendments having
been concurred in, the question wns taken on order
ing the bill to be engrossed for third reading.
The yeas and nays having been ordered, were
taken, and resulted as follows: Yeas %, nays 8.
So the bill was ordered to be eugrossed for third
reading
GRANT OF LAND TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
The bill to apply certain alternate sections of
the public domain towards the compilation of works