The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-01
NEW YORK HER AIN |

- s.~sa ss.sh Carolina (r. Cslhoun) II would seem
&c. abandoned his old ground Of opposition to
cont This and strange doctrine he had. perhaps,
derived from the Memphis Convention. Mr. Niles was
and regretted it. Mr. n some Of the obstacles
in this If the alternate sections proposed TO be
granted were already sold where would be the benefit
II was absurd--n was a mockery Itwa like a store
keeper marking his goods at when tney were
only worth 5000 It was all humbug, sir Why, sir,
upon this plan granting lands TO the new of Ave
miles upon each side OF new road you may grant away
all your lands, if the State should think ut to run
roads ten twenty miles apart, through the public
lands plan of extortion upon the government more
absurd and falacous could not well be conceived :
by capital by good honest credit and by stealing
called not called but call II You will il is plum
deag tbs %nsr the oTeS. Of ssss
to plumber the public; it calculation with them to
plumber in some way or other And now we are called
upon to support this pundering system He hoped the
system would be stopped for that ought never
70 have been commenced
Mr.. CALHOUN made few remarks upon what he mad
said before He persisted in his opinion that the govern
ment had the right, and it its policy TO grant alter
grants msy Sepsst peey he in the value
Of its lands along the loes OF such works But
the Senator from Connecticut tnr Nnesl naa denoun,
ask that Senator when he has known me 10 pursne DIT
ferent course to this upon this hoorf VIII wait until
H. sir il is due courtesy that gentlemen should
derstand position of Senators when they under
Mr. Calhoun said he had always been in favor of such
grants contemplated BY this bill When he first
favor of such grant to the Illinois Canal He had at
all times, been in favor Of grants. This not
but the right Of propretorssip Butf the Bill proposes
TO cede other lands than those along the line of the work.
in opinion, il goes beyond the prncpleby involving
lands not mm ediately benefited by the improvement
In any case where road canal passes through the
public lands. he was willing to for grants OF lands to
the extent OF the benefit received no more But he
would also embrace the principle that all public stores
should pass free.
Senator.
Mr. CALHoUS-Not at ell, sir. know the Senator did
not.
Mr. Niles asked if the Senator from South Carolina
had not always opposed the Cumberland Road q
tiona work
Dir. CALHOUN ertainly, sir.
Mr.. Niles thought that that involved principle Of
Internal improvements. which covered the whole
roads leading through the public lands may well
apply 70 roads leading to the public lands-that was
the settlement upon the public lands in the West tina.
this road leading TO them,swas opened by the govern
ment Mr. Niles argued against the principle author
zing unlimited grants for the purposes Of internal i'm
provenents
MIR, CALHOUN explained the difference between the
Cumberland road and the plan of this In the one
the general upon the rights
of sovereignty Of the States in the latter the State
as the difference betwe cen any two principles
Gen Cas- said he did not rise to defend Mr. Jefferson,
IL to the road the Senator from
-. able to defend himself. General Cas- red
aaaa inc constitution the clause that the general
Is empowered "to make ali needful rules and
regulations the very power which the bill proposed to
touched. Gen. Cass proceeded to exhibit the mighty
empire which had grown the West since the open
own day had increased from a population OF thirty
thousand, to forty -bW millions we suppose the
Ssnersi meant four millions but he certainly said
ptulaon Of the grand results of the industry enter
prise Of the West he thought that something due to
that section in common justice The lands Of govern
ment would be benefited by the contemplated works
not only upon the lines, but fifty hundred miles
eff to greater or less extent He did like the idea
Of the government screwing all the blood Of PEG
pie OF the West Would you act like shylcck taking
planned the exposed frontier situation Michigan and
the great advantages for the national deences those
lines of crossing the State would be in the
of As understood about miles of the rail
road were completed and there so miles yet
to be finished Books would be opened for the residue
of the stock but would not be taken unless the Orc
gon dispute settled in due tho line OF
the railroad great portion Of the lands sold; but
vernment There danger that these lands would
60 to the benefit of corporation They were appro.
Prated for specific object and it special grant
for that object.
MIR NILEs argued the uncoDstitutionality of the bill
contemplating concurrent jurisdiction between the
and the federal government; and contended for
strict and limited construction OF the powers of the
sttution.
consttutionality of this b but vigorously defended
the right and duty of the the
completion of the Cumberland road.
Mr.. wEsTcoIT denounced the niggardly spirit Of the
government in regard to the public lands When Spain
held OF Florida she granted lands only
hor own citizens, freely but to foreigners She
with an enterprsing population. England had always
done the same thing All governments consulting their
mont Of the United States The system Which il had
pursued miserable, picayune, peddling huckser
ed n
roduced to reduce and graduate the prices of the public
lands but on account Of this huckserng policy they
public lands to settlers substituted for this peog
ging practice OF just getting the dollar and twenty FIVE
per he would vote for any bill granting lands
TO the states within which they lie, for purposes of in
telnal At or for the public benefit The pre-
sent practice was nuisance unmitigated nuisance,
TO the States and TO the government 1t increased the
means OF corruption in government paronageit kept
ter deductng all the expenses OF the present system
there would be any balance at all left to the treasury
In regard to this BILL he should go for it not cent of
profit came to the government because Of the immense
advantages Of these works in the event Of war.
Mr.. ARcHEh-for he spoke in low tone-was under
stood to dsfue certain objections to the bill.
MIR. CLAYTON proposed an amendment, reserving two
thirds OF the lands proposed to be granted until the
pletion Of the works.
Mr.. wooDsaIDcE opposed the proposition
Mr.. DAVIS sustained the amendment :.
Mr.. WoopBsIpoE showed that it would defeat the OBJ.
Col. BErros inquired the amount of the lands pro.
posed to be granted.
Mr. BsEKsE gave the information desired 1t was pro-
pssed by the bill to give alternate sections to the
State for the petion of the anal and the railroad
total Of $1,000 The State had received
100000 acres by the law of ~, which would make an
aggregate OF 6a0 600 Indiana had lands
to the amount Of COS 404 acres OhIo l92 acres
Col BENTON said he was willing to 60 as high for
Michigan as Ohio and he would suggest amendme Mt
that the lands proposed to be granted with had al
ready been granted to Michigan should exceed the
amount granted to Indiana Ohio. He wanted guar
anty Of that. He wanted another guaranty that the
works should not DO sod be put up auction in
Wall street He moved amendment accordingly.
Messrs WooosRipae and CAss vigorously commended
Tor the honor Of The State and against the amendment of
Ar. Clayton
Col. BErroSs first amendment was agreed to.
= The second amendment next came up, to w.t. that il
the works sold before their completion the lands
should revert to the United States.
Mr.. HUNrISGroN defined certain diffcultiesn that
would attend such condition in the Of the