The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-06

matter, how much, desire to ask, do you think
it cost you to regain that foothod in Michigan,
which was lost to you for the want OF this road
which was lost to you by this miserable IMPROVE
dence' Sir, more than twenty hve years ago, COM
putations were made by men high in Office, by
which the expense of your northwest campaigns
was estimated at from twenty 10 thirty millions OF
dollars! Now, sir, as Detroit in 1912 was TO the
interior Of Ohio, 30 in no small degree are the
towns and cities on the shore Of Lake Michigan TO
Detroit and to the eastern region Of the peninsula
Ioio! Sir, follow the parallel no further, but
desire to ask, is there nothing Of nationality in
guarding-while IL 10 yet time-and while Il may
be done so cheaply as with your unsold land
there against the possible repetition OF catastrophe
SO horrible Sir, dismiss this branch Of the sub
ject.
Bot the honorable gentleman from Connecticut
objects to this bill, II IL introductiye Of
novelty; or else as if it sought to revive some
exploded doctrine; and considering your public do
main as a source of revenue merely, and nothing
more, he questions your constitutional competency
10 carry out its provisions Now, whoever will
trace your course through the statute book-from
the foundation of the government to the present
time-wii find that the bill seeks neither to intro
duce my principle, nor TO revive an exploded
one. Ii was certainly an early as in 1893 that ths
policy was 6rst Adopted. IN le01-'3 when Ohio
became State, you stipulated that Ave per cent
Of all the proceeds Of the sales of your public lands
should be applied TO the purposes of making roads
similar provision has been made in regard 10 the
other new States, which have subsequently been adj
mitted. Such application of money will not be
deemed less obnoxious TO objection than that of the
land itself Soon after wagon roads were opened
in Ohio, under the auspices Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury, Mr.. Gallatin, through different parts Of
your domain. Thus early, in the times OF General
Washington and Mr.. Jefferson, was the principle
adopted and embedded among the foundations OF
your system II has not been departed from. You
have continued to apply your land and money too
TO the purposes Of opening and constructing roads
and canals TO and through your public domain, and
Of making grants TO the States, to be applied to
similar purposes The very provisions contained
in this bill were carefully copied from acts you had
passed in favor of OHIO and Indiana, in 1878 and
1890, by which you made large grants TO those
States. Nor have you at any time repudiated that
policy. But the gentleman from Connecticut, in
sists that all this is wrong-wrong in theory
wrong in practice The public domain, he insists,
is placed in the hands Of this government as a fund
of revenue merety-nothing more, nothing less.
Well, SIR viewed in that light only, is 1t not the
part of wisdom TO nurse that fund.- and to resort to
all such means shall make il most productive
or what avail would II be fund Of revenue, al
low me to ask, unless you make u conveniently accessi-
Die? Of what is the fenility Of its soil If its pro-
ducts be shut out from MARKET OF what conse-
quence is il that your domain possesses healthful-
ness of climate or beauty of landscape IL It's ap
proach be impractcable or difficult Does the mer-
chant think of disposing Of his without open
ing his bales? Can large landed proprietors like
you expect favorable sales Of his acres If they
neither be penetrated approached Certainly
not, sir. And if yeur immense public domain were
placed in your hands solely as fund of revenue,
your desire and your duty would be to administer
it as may most certainly increase ita value its con-
vertibty, and its productiveness Sir, there is no
novelty in this matter. You have always pursued
this policy, and all experience afirms its wisdom.
But the honorable gentleman says that this bill
contains principle by which you to come in
and pay State debts, and that that doctrine is
pioded No. sir; such is not nay reading of this
bill That clause in the bill to which The senator
probably alludes, and the only one which could be
tortured into the which he would give to it, is
the very first clause in it"That there be granted,
&C., for 'the purpose Of aiding, &C., and "for the
reimbursement of expenses incurred in extending
and completing" DC Now, sir, this cannot be con-
srued into an assumption Of the STATE debt II may
be the payment of debt due to the State, If debt it
be- but certainly it is not the payment of debt due
by the State. The State has undertaken work
which she cannot complete without aid, but which,
if completed, would greatly advance your interests ;
it would bring your acres into market It would
make them more sought aher-more saleable
What she has done as regards you is mere volun-
tary courtesy; it can give her no legal claim upon
you. But insomuch as what she undertook--es-
pecially if 1t be mpeted-would greatly advance
your interests, you say to her, that If she will 60 on
and complete the work, you will convey to her GER
tain of your lands which she may sell for the pur-
pose Of enabling her to complete the work and to
imburse her SO far as it may go. But you make
your whole grant dependent upon the finishing Of
the work. The grant is not only limited to this spe-
cic object, but it cannot be made to enure to the
5eneft of the State unless the work be completed
within the time you prescribe. Now, If this be pay
ing any debt it is debt 10 the STATE, Of the State
"a debt, too, for which you will have received am
pie consideration.
But the great ground of objection upon which the
honorable gentleman resistant which manifestly
has decisive influence with him-seenis to be the
notion that this billthe whole, indeed Of your past
egislaton-evinces most reprehensble Partially
in favor Of the ne,o States His instructive sense
of justice leads the senator to feeland the senti
ment is worthy Of grave consideration certainly
that as between the States, equality is equity The
basis of his argument-hs major proposton-is, that
by the spirit well the terms of your constitu-
ton all the States, as members of the Union, are
equal; and being equal in rank, equal in right, and
equal in political power, they are, in the eye of the
constitution, according to crcumstances,) in equal
proportion entitled to the aid the protection, and, if
you ,oi, sir to the tapor Of this paterna govern
ment. Sir, shall not contend against proposition
fair; but proceed to inquire, has the principle of it
been violated The honorable gentleman seems to
suppose that it has and he seeks to demonstrate
il and to establish his charge Of Partially, first,
by count Of your school sections Now,
very great error prevails on this subject, sir
1t is common opinion, believe, that the
school lands, amounting, the gentleman from
Connecticut says, in some instances to enormous
amount, are grat,tiiously conveyed to new States.
Sir, lido not 80 read my books al ALL There is no
gratuity about III This appropriation OF section 16
made in order 70 secure an accelerated sale of
your wild lands. do not say there were not other
and higher motives; but this was ons-an operative
an efficient one.
Land spectators, sir, adopt various expedients
to make sale of their acres. For example, they
sometimes lay out new city or town, in a central
part of some large tract; they make plan of it;
they designate on it the width and course of the
streets and the public grounds Proper sites de-
signaed for court-hourse for churches, for school
houses, or for other public uses. The whole looks
handsomely on paper; and they get their plan re-
corded-perhaps engraved. They make donations
Of a few lots. To tavern-keeper one, to black
smith, to other useful mechanics perhaps; but upon
condition always that they come and build and live
there. They then advertise-wth sufficient flourish,
perhapsther city lots for sale at $50 $50, or 800
per lot Of quarter Of an acre each. The place be-
comes nucleus about which busy population soon