The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-23
CITY OF WASHINGTON SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 3d. 8i8

made TO effect the work on n certain plan which, be-
fore It IS half done, 1t may be ascertaned should be
abandoned and then, after four fve perhaps
ten years. the work may be reported finished Much,
however, may depend the partially of officers for the
ASSOCIATION with the mosquitoes agaors frogs &c in the
Everglades as TO the extent OF the work There is the raft
in the Red river will be obliged the senator from Ar
kansas before TO inform me how long the government
have been at that raft Mr.. SEBASTIAN Upwards
OF eight years Yes SIR, and the work is finish ID
yet. [Ar DAVIS of Mississippi Ii was finished once
and filled up againl know that, and it shows that the
works undertaken by the federal government are not al
ways done IN the best style dare say if the planters
above the raft had been paid half that the United States
have expended on it, to clear 1t out 1t would have been
well done know OF one appropriation in my own
State-obtained, believe, in lsi--for the Improvement
in the St Marks river | do not recolec the amount ;
believe 1t was 81 500 My colleague can, perhaps,
inform of the amount [Mr. YULEE / cannot state
nowl Well, $500 or 81 900 expended on the contem-
plated work might as well have been thrown in the
rlver good part OF the appropriation spent in
penses OF an army othcer sent down TO Florida who
made contract with citizen, and the residue is unex
pended The law and its execution was a farce
Sir do not to disparaye the corps Of opograph-
zeal engineers. In that corps have valued friends
men equal IN every respect to any officers in this or
any other country But thew should be kent 10 tbeir
appropriate military duties Oar public WORKS sbonlj
be projected and carried by those personally inter
esed IN them or, at any rate, all except those wholly
OF scientific character Army officers do monopoze
all the sense and intelligence IN the country They fought
well in Mexico but it does not follow that they know
more law, politics, civil engineering, or about ditching
than citizens would trust this work to the State
and the practical men she will get who will be interested
in the work than have the whole of both corps of en-
gineers sent there. do not expect any very scientific
and elegant work the peninsu!a-do not want any
coonnades-do not want any carved marble work. as
to be found great of money, and little cost of sense
IN Fort Independence Boston, aud elsewhere, to crafty
the tastes OF engineers We want plain, substantial
passage way made, and made forthwith. The super
tuous embellishments and fancy work, if the improve
ment is made By the United States will probably cost
tenth of the whole expense and will not be done for
thirty years and then, il might be- would not be half
done Let the State sell to settlers who will do the work
Mr. BALDWIN | am not prepared, Mr.. President, to
vote for this bill reported by The committee. am in
cllned, the other hand 10 favor the amendment pro-
posed by my friend from Kentucky well for the
assigned by him for others which apparent
the face of the bill reported The object which the
government OF the United States have in view, if they
make this grant to the State of Florida is to secure the
completion OF the work for which the lands granted
the State Now sir il seems 10 me that this bill affords
deed, upon the face of IT. grant of all the everglad of
Florida upon certain conditions to be accepted BY the
State; and one OF these conditions is that the State shall
proceed within specified time the execution of this
work, and shall complete it within the period of ten
years. But sir, what are the powers of the State
in the mean tme' They authorized to sell every
OF this land which already surveyed or capable
of being sold. They authorized to SELL at all events
large portion of this land and it, after having made
sale OF this land, the State should fail completing the
work within the period assigned, what remedy, what
dress, has the government OF the United States What
means of enforcing the future execution of this work has
the government Of the United Sates The public lands
soldsetters have bought them and paid for them in
good aith--hey cannot be disturbed in consequence OF
any condition in the grant to the State with regard the
subsequent performance of this work This bill recog
nses the right of the State, notwithstanding that cond-
ton TO proceed to the sale Of these lands limiting them
only IN regard to the price at which they shall be sold
But, furthermore, the State would not be bound to com
pete this work within the period of ten years nor with
in any definite period, unless the President of the United
States should, within that period, deem expedent
issue order in writing, authorizing an intrusion by the
State authorizes into that portion of this territory re-
served for the Seminole Indians who now occupy it,
81 Until the President fhe United States shall authorize
made or allowed by said SAFE into or Upon the district
reserved for the Seminole Indians yet remaining Florida
part of which is within said boundaries and for any de-
lay accustomed the commencement completion OF said
work by the withholding OF such authority, The period
stipulated for such and mpl,ion in said
first condition shall be extended corresponding term"
Thus, Mr., President reads the fourth section of the
Until, them the President of the United States shall is
sue an order IN writing authorizing the authorities of the
State of Florida to this territory this Indian reser
vatlon the period for the commencement of the work
prolonged, and of the period for its completion is
prolonged indefinitely. not satisfied with these
provisions of the bill think they are entirely wrong
and, sir, however guarded the bill may be respect to
these provisions altogether prefer adopt the course
| suggested by the honorable senator from Kentucky
| MIR. WESTCOTT. The third condition, objected TO on
yesterday by my colleague, restricting the sale by the
State of any Of the lands for less than 81 25 till the
work is completed is better than security or justified
bail from the State. Not OF any of the land can
be ever sold Tor 50 cents 25 cents All the reports so
state. 1t sell Tor 81 %, anticipation of the work
and the buyers will take that the money paid
expended by the State This the object of that re-
srcilon.
Mr. DOWNS The chief object of the amendment,
balleve Is to have examination of the country made
TO learn whether the work will be paid for in the in
creased value of the land have examined the subject
thoroughly Mr. President and have found facts enough
to satisfy my mind and think TO satisfy the Senate, that
the bill ought to pass True, we do not know precisely
the lands proposed be ceied the everglades them
selves, totally worthless 10 the United States The