The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-13
CONG REs SIGNAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. PAYNE,
OF ALABAMA,


lands.
The House being in Committee Of the Whole on
the state OF the Union
Mr.. PAYNE said;
Mr.. CHAIRMAN The time has passed when an
argument addressed TO this House TO the country,
should be made founded upon the natural right OF
man to his equitable part Of the soil upon which
Providence has cast his destiny.
Bot looking al the question abstractly, confess,
even at this day, find great difficulty In bringing
my own mind 10 the conclusion that governments
have a legitimate right to monopoize the domain,
and deny to a creature Of God-piaced upon the
earth by him, and doomed by him TO draw his sub
sistence from it-so much thereof as may be requi-
red to supply his necessities. My object, however,
is not to lecture upon what should be the case, but
10 meet the question as il actually exists; and To
show, il possible, that change Of public policy, in
reference TO the disposal Of refuse land, should
be adopted at this time.
Sir, this government has monopolzed the pubic
domain; she has nterposed her authority and her
legislative arm between God and his creature, and
now denies 20 the latter the enjoyment OF that IN
hertance derived from the former without price.
Whether this be right or wrong-meek or arrogant
--expedient inexpedient-jus Just or unJust-is not
necessary to consider. The fact exists; and IT
in reference TO that existing fact we are called up
on TO egisate Sir the title TO all OF the public land
is admitted to be in this government asd these lands
are now looked permanent source Of revenue.
AMY PNoAN P'NfN'Nyp GNS- ~
value. But that value Is varied by two great causes;
FIRST by the variety in the graaes and quality Of
SOIL and second by the locality OF the land.
The Intrinsic value OF land Is determined by me
REGARD 1t returns for the labor of cultivation, Ineu-
ding interest upon money invested in its purchase;
and this reward depends, in an eminent degree up
on the quality and fertility Of the soil cultivated. IL
cannot be pretended that land capable OF producing
i,peniu bushels Of wheat or twenty-five bushels OF
corn, rewards the labor of cultivation so amply, or
pays so large an interest upon capitalize price OF
The land and markets being equal-as does that land
which produces forty bushels Of ,ohea, or fly bushels
of corn II this be true the intrinsic value Of land is
varied by all the different qualities Of SOIL from the
rich and productive loam down to the arid and I'M
productive sand-beach.
The intrinsic value of land is varied also by local
ity all NAV be equally fertile and productive and
vet ibis inequality OF value exist. Land of equal
fertility in athe Nebrasco territory" is not intrin-
sicaIIv 40 valuable as similar land upon the banks
of the Mississippi Why not Because the me
brnsoo territory" il SO remote from market that the
products of the soil cannot be converted into money;
whereas the product of the soil on the banks of the
Mississippi can be converted into money without
diffcul,y In the case of the "Nebrasco" lands no
reward for want of a market, could be yielded for
the labor of cultivation. But in the case of the
land, the reward, owing to its proximity
to market, would be rich and abundant. Hence IT Is
evident thar the intrinsic value of land is varied not
opv bv the different Qualities of soil, but by local.
| ity slso
| III. then, there can be no uniform intrinsic value
in land regardless of quality or locality, it is i'm
possible to adopt arbitrary price justly aPplica-
bic to every grade Of SOIL and to all localities. 1t is
therefore. the duty of this government, in adopting
a system for the disposal Of the public lands, to
graduate the price with reference to the two great
causes which payp its intrinsic pai,te.
Has this government adopted her present system,
for disposng Of the public land with reference TO
| this principle of common honesty and justceS Far
| from IT, Congress has adopted an arbitrary price
of 81 IS per acre applicable to ALL regardless of the
quality of soil or locality Of the land. Can any
Legislation be more absurd or unjust than thisi II
the best unimproved land, favoraby located Is
worth only 81 25 per acre, inferior lands uniayor-
ably located cannot be worth so much But may
be told that inferior lana - worth 81 10 per acre ii
so, good land is worth more and the same principle
Of Justice requires a graduation OF price with ref
to intrinsic value, whether upon the ascending
or descending scale. View this subject In any as
pect, and it will be found impossible, upon princl'
Piles of justice to adopt an arbitrary liked price al
which all the public domain shall be sold IL am
correct in this view of the subject, some system Of
graduation must be adopted by the government IN
disposng of the public lands. Ii Is not just, IN the
nature OF things, to require one citizen to pay &c
the government 81 Is per acre for the best land, and
another citizen to pay the same price for the most in
feror land repeat therefore, that the price OF the
public land must be graduated with reference to It's
intrinsic value. Good land must go up, or inferior
land must come down. 1t is not worth the same
sum per acre, and therefore cannot be sold for the
same price.
For myself, land 1 speak from some experience
in settling new country) verify believe no lant
in a natural state, however productive 1t may ut
mately prove, is intrinscally worth more thar
Al IS per acre In proof upon this point, conf
IDENTIFY nppeal to every man who has-as have
done-entered the forest, removed the timber
plouphed the soil, and reduced it to cultivation. l
he will estimate the labor of reducing wild land tt
cultivation at very moderate prices, his loss ofcrop
during the process, and the necessary expense at
tending it, and then add the whole to the 81 q
per acre, the minimum price of the government
he will find that the actual cost of his panta
ton will be not less than Sll, perhaps S25 PEI
acre.
Sir. these are facts, which we who have expert
ence know. We are not. we cannot be mistaken
No one will contend. | apprehend, that farm 70
aoricrI,nraI nurnoaes can he worth more than thu
cost already indicated. Ifnot to increase the pric
If land Of first suaGtv would be grossly unjust t
The citizen. and this government ought to act Justly
e o,hors do not What then in to be done? Re