The daily union., 1846-04-30

most miserable. Let them look 10 their mineral
lands and see Whist 'hucksterlng policy had been
pursued. So, too, with their ye-oak lands. One
good American settler surely worth more than
a hundred ve-oak trees. He had no patience with
such narrow minded and mpoliiic system. He
not disposed to concur with the senator from
South Carolina Mr. CALHoUsl that the grant
shouli be prOporuoned to the equivalent which
might be expected TO arise from the increased value
Of the public lands. He (Mr. w J was of opinion
that the grant would be perfectly ustihable on the
ground Of giving strength TO the part Of the country
for whose benefit the grant was made He had
paid some attention TO the details of the bill, and
was quIle assured that the general government could
not an any case make more proper and Unsuitable
donation of the public lands than that contemplated
by the bill
Mr.. ARCHER thought the rig ht 10 make the APP
preparation proposed by the present BILL reposed on
the distinction made by the senator from South
Carnna, Mr.. CALHOUN II the bill
structed its proper principle, 1t ought not 10 be
construed touching the power in the federal gov
erument OF promoting internal improvements. IL
was uot an exercise Of the power over internal inn
proyements at all, but Of that other power spoken
of by the senator from South Carolina-the power
10 dispose of the public lands. There pow,
er less subject TO limitation, which ought TO be
less subect, than that one. His objection TO the bill
rs not being grounded on the power Of dlspOs-
ing of the public lands, but on the two powers mix.
ed up together. The bill, he understood, con-
also. There was power under certain contingent
cles m the government Of the United States, to APP
propraie land for Improvements, but that could not
warrant the appropriation proposed.
Mir WOODBRIDGE explained.
Alter Il w more remarks from Mr.. ARCHER,
the reading of a portion OF the bill was called for
which ordered.
MIR. CLAYTON arose, and after expressing his
concurrence with the senator from South Carolina,
lMr. CALHouS, that the expenditures for improve.
msnls by the government Of the United States would
be remunerued by the resslt, he was deslTous OF
seeing sufficient quantity Of land appropriated for
the PURPOSES orthe bill. He would therefore move
IL amend the bill by striking out in the Sd section
AFTER the words "to dispose Of" the word any"
and insert 'more than one-third." And again af-
Ter the word granted" he would move the Inser-
tIon Of The following words
,ne sad railroad and canal mentioned in said sections
shall lu completed aud certified 10 the President Of
nlrd states BY the goVernoroi Of the State OF Miohi
gan ant that.
Mr. WOODBRIDGE OBJ served that il the Senate
required Ia ne than the honor Of the State of Mich-
gan rs a sccurity, he sorry for IT, He
thought full confidence ought to be placed IN Mich
igan. The grant could not be altogether for her
bentft for at least twenty years; and alter that pc
Rod even should the works be completed she
would be compelled to give a dollar for every
acre. He knew the subject was one which had
!, Jme fauguing TO the Senate; and remembered
the old maxim that breyily is the soul of wit There
II was the soul of common sense. And yet the re-
laAon in which he stood to that bill compelled him
10 make few remarks further. The principal
ground Of objection to this bill by the senator from
Connecticut Mr.. NILES was what common sense
suggcstcd-the entire equality of the States. What
he said as to that no (Mr. W. would not contra
DICT; It Was at the foundation of the whole matter
lie would remind senator's that the rights of all
States were originally derived from the Common
wealth Of Virginia terms Of equality, and on
condition, too, that those coming alter should be
possessed Of the same privileges, aad be treated in
the same manner. The constitution Of the United
Staca controls each State, and says that new States
shall not take possession of the lands within their
limits. There no lower more indispensable
than that uf taxing all the lands with the
soveIoign power. Every nation claimed II. The
general comment, as had right TO
do said to Michigan. You may come into
the Union but shall not tax the lands; but in
taking away that sovereign power Of taxation, 1t
was understood some equivalent should be given
for it. Miehisa sp hsa sought repeatedly the means
;--.-~-a-...,,a and the result was total failure
the destruction of her resources The whole OF the
ex lenses of her past improvements was borne by
yue-rourth of the people That was neither night
nor in accordance with The constitutional principle,
nor that upon which the Commonwealth Of Virginia
acted towards the old States, and stipulated in behalf
of all that they should be admitted equal condi-
ions and terms. Why did they give Ohio FIVE per
cent on the sales of public andS To make her ia
cd The reason Michigan was embarrassed, was
becausa the public expenses were thrown upon one
fourth Of the people The appropriation asked for
would be but an act Of justice, and a compliance
with the broad and sound principle Of equality
among States, spoken of by the senator from Con-
nee cut. .sR&a.
Mr. BENTON wished TO know what would be
the total quantity of land granIed, Including former
"' NG BREEsE replied bssss-ing sta,emen, of
the amount, the substance ofSwhich appears else
where, ~NAs8 s&G.,e
Mr.. BENTON proposed theSfollowing amend
mcnt, 10 lie added to the end of section2 ID:
.P,or5.d f,rtlr THAT the whole quantity ofand grant
ei bv thls added grants heretofore made by
htd the quantity heretofore granted TO the
State Of ,no.ana Tor objects OF internal improvement"
Mr. B. continued to say that the next thing he
wished was a guarantee against the possibility
of these roads and canals being sold. He wished
the State to keep them, and was not willing it should
alternate them. He no;, while they were
purstmoniousIy dealing out forty acres Of land to
}armer, making him pay down the money for it, for
making grant of one two millions of acres,
which might 60 appendage TO some road or
canal sold at auctIon without competition, for what
It would bring To provide against that he would
propose another amendment. The reporter was
unable to get a copy of this amendment; but its OBJ
iect was to provide against the sale or alienation of
The roads canals contemplated
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE inquired if it was conem-
plated by the amendment that in of the OBJ
lecta of the bill were accomplished and not the 9TH
er the State should he excluded from all aid. They
were totally distinct undertakings. For one be be-
lieved contract had been made, and law passed;
but he could not speak as to the other. He wished
10 know whether the provlso applied to that one
which may not be sold or to both'
Mr.. BENTON was understood to say it applied
TO both.
Mr.. CASS observed that what they were called
upon to do to reimburse to Michigan portion
OF her expenditure If States we're not able to meet
their engagements, were they to say they should
not sell their public works after complction' The
object now to make the road for great public
pur, ose. What the State would ultimately do with
that property was not their concern.
Mr.. CLAYTON spoke briefly in favor of delib-
Grafton and caution before accedng to the request
of Michigan.
The question was then taken upon tho amend
monrs submitted by Mr, J. M. CLAYTON, which
were adOnted.