Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-02

10 Senator FLORIDA had alluded
jec that it would probably take time finish that re-
port, the subject complicated one and required
good deal Of delibeaton As far the Michigan bill was
concerned, he understood the principle simply giving al
sections of the public land for the purpose enanc
ing the value Of the remainder Upon this point he would
say that he had the slightest doubt the Government
only had the right proprietos Of the public domain
grant portions Of that domain for such purpose but that
was the duty Of the Government 10 do The Government
his opinion ought to be ashamed Of allowing their lands TO
be enhanced in value by the exeions and the Of
State, without contributing in degree produce this
suit Whether the particular works in this such
description induce the belief that the object Of the do
nation would be attained whether the extent offered
lection not too great matters for the consideration
Senator'S If he entirely satisfied these points, be
would be glad to the land appropriated. He thought
however, that there ought to be provision introduced
ing the Government the right Of upon the road in
tended to be constructed. nH
The bill taken up and the Senate proceeded 10 its
sidendon in Committee Of the Whole.
The first question being amendment heretofore Of
fered by Mr. YULEE--
Mr. YULEE withdrew the amendment
Mr. SEWER desired TO know the quantity Of land that
to be granted.
Mr. WOODBRIDGE said the entire length Of the railway
about hundred miles, Of which forty miles had already
been completed The length Of The canal about hum
dred and sixteen miles, of which twenty miles had
been completed
Mr. NILES said he believed the Legislature Of Michigan
had recently passed law authorizing these works to be so
in order TO enable them to be finished They in
the market and must become the property OF individuals of
corporation. He thought therefore, that very
ous question how far the proprctors OF the road or canal
would be entitled to the benefits accuing from grant OF the
public domain. He not much Of lawyer, but he
thought there believe that the grant would
| to the benefit of the purchasers. =
He was sorry to find his friend from South Carolina
abandoning OF the veneaed doctrines Of the Democratic
creed and talking about the power Of the General Govern
to make roads throughout the States this were adj
mtted they might well abandon all attempts to conne the
powers of the Government within their proper limits He
sorry broad and mitabe doctrine sustained
by such high authority If the possession Of property
the part Of this Government sufficient to give to it
this unlimited power, there knowing TO what extent
they might CO. It would comprehend the construction Of
roads every where, wherever the public domain was to be
found
The bill was not small matter in itself II had reference
public works of great extent and Congress mod
esy asked aid in their construction by grant of half the
public lands lying the vicinity of those works and
nducement to do this they told that the value Of the
Of the land would be much increased that the Govern
ment would be gamer. He heard Of who boast
ed that he had made $4,000 Upon being questioned
how he had made that sum- he said he had just been mark
ing his goods and had increased their valuation to the extent
of OO0 Gentlemen here proposed IN like manner to In
demny the Government by making the price OF the public
lands But it was all humbug. He understood that this
Of pioneer BILL put forward to break the way for
in which his friend from Mississippi (Mr. SPRIsHT)
interested and he believed there be from almost
all Of the States The public domain would eventually
in this way be entirely absorbed system unjust and
destitute of the principles Of sound legislation could not
be conceived. 1t the remark of distinguished in
the history of this country that there three of v
ing live upon the interest Of capital another upon
the wages Of industry and third by steang either SO cali
ed called. As applied to individuals this would be
rather strong remark but applied corporations it
just that when the two former Of living
failed then they seldom scrupled to avail themselves of the
latter Works undertaken without the requisite
for their competon and it became that the public
should be plundered either collectively individually And
this the sort Of plumber that they called 10
favor. He hoped the bill would he laid upon the table,
A.. h. hal aIrulo ho h.
fore that he thought the Government had right when any
improvement in the shape of road canal proposed,
to contribute proprietor of property TO be benefited by such
improvement by giving alternate sections Of the public domain
The Senator from Connecticut had denounced this opinion
being departure from his former He asked the SEN
aor (and he would yield him the floor for repy) wherein it
was in the smallest degree departure The Senator was
SILENT and well he might be for he entirely unable to
maintain the assertion And he certainly thought mat
ter Of courtesy before making charge of that kind the Sem
ao should least have looked into his past votes and
actions in similar There had been time when
he had acted precisely He had voted for grants
Of alternate sections of land to the Illinois canal and all
other occasions his had been the yet the Senator
from Connecticut without regard his feelings to the JUS
ce that due to him. got and announced to the Senate
that he had abandoned his former opinions He deemed il
due to any Senator when charge of this kind made
that should be made upon thorough examination Of the
facts He acted upon the principle upon which he had
acted from the beginning-a principle which appeared him
to be perfectly clear it did not involve the question of inter-
nal improvement at all involved simply the question of
tho OF and 10 De grained ne
opinion that matter entirely discretionary with
Congress.
Mr. NILES. The Senator, believe, has always voted
against appropriations for the Cumberland road
Mr. CALHOUN. Certainly.
Mr. NILES. believe he has always denied, as have,
any general power the part of the Government to
works Of internal improvement in any FORM Now he tells
that certain improvements may be made by the Govern
ment in consequence Of its character proprietor Of the pub
lie domain and inferred that this principle broad enough
to lead to almost any result, and still think
Mr.. CALHOUN. If the gentleman cannot the differ
ence between work undertaken by the General Government
and work conducted by State, must say have the mis-
fortune TO differ with him.
The bill advocated by Messrs. CASS, BREESE,
WESTCOTT, and WOODBRIDGE.
Mr. ARCHER expressed the hope that the bill would be
put in such form would enable him to give it his support
He did think ought be considered touching at all up
the muchconested principle of internal improvement by
the General Government There feature Of the b
however, which he desired should be amended and that was
where the land within the range of the works should
not be found unoccuped the power given make selec
ton Of other portions Of the public domain This he consd
cred to be approach at least to the principle OF taking
out of the Treasury.
Mr.. J. NJ CLAYTON moved an amendment to the effect
that onehird only Of the lands thus appropriated should be
disposed Of until the works completed The amendment
was agreed to.
Mr.. BENTON proposed two amendments the FIRST being,
in substance that the whole quantity Of land granted by this
act when added to the grants heretofore made by the United
States the State Of Michigan for the Of roads
and canals shall not exceed the grants heretofore made to the
State of Indiana for objects of internal improvement The
other amendment the form Of additional section,
hereafter aenate any of the works referred TO in the BILL the
MT ale fheraip hnptJ he on1y