Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-23

gether PREFER upon the Information which have
regard to these lands adopting the suggested by the
Senator from Kentucky.
Mr.. WESTCOTT. I will make one remark, which
think will be sufficient to correct the Misrepresentation Of the
honorable Senator from Connecticut He to think that
the State ought TO give security that will appropriate
the funds derived from the disposal of these lands according
the intention Of Congress in making the grant Sir, il the
State Tail in the performance of the conditions accompanying
the grant, 1t will be anomaly But it happens that
there Is security provided by this bill which better than
any BAIL if it be justified bail. That security is this.
There is not of land comprised within the grant that
is worth twenty-five cents there is not in the whole
grant that can he sold at price until the everglades
claimed And that is proved by these facts IL is stated
in all the reports that have been made the subecn the
report of The Surveyor General the report Of the Commits
soner OF the Land Office that of the Secretary Of the
Treasury and in all the official reports 1t is proved also by the
fact that large portion of these lands has been surveyed for
many years. and they have been able sell than
three hundred and sixty Now, sir the law expressly
provides that until the work completed, single foot of land
shall not be sold for less than rs per Sir they
yer can find purchaser for foot of it, unless the purchased
with view to the prospective completion of the work Thus,
my honorable friend will that he is under mistake in
gard to tho interest Of the purchaser and in regard to the sup
posed want or security.
Mr.. DOWNS The chief object Of the amendment as
understand it, is have examination made in order TO as
certain the value of the land happens that in this case
though is rare thing, there is report the subject and
during tedious passage in low water upon the Mississippi
read il from beginning end It contains sufficient to salts
my mind, though perhaps not sufficient TO satisfy every
Senator, that the bill ought to pass. X is true we do
not know what may be the value of these lands hereafter
but we know Mis- that the lands proposed be cede the
glades, now totally worthless TO the United States The
fact mentioned by the gentleman from Florida, that large
portion Of the land has been surveyed and that
than million of not than hundred and thirty
six have been sod sufficient to prove that they totally
worthless Now, when this fact is ascertained think that
in regard the lands in Florida regard those every
other State the Government Of the United States ought
hesitate moment is feeling which is very prevalent in
thp FIR of
time OF the public domain in those States is diminuon
of the power and resources of those States.
The question has sometimes been raised whether the Gov
Of the United States could hold the public land un-
sold in this WY all OF power do SO have no doubt
but all admit that is interference with the authority and
Of State hold large bodies of public land within
which not available either for the purposes Of the Gen
eral Government for the of the State Now, here is
very large PORTION of territory, less than one-eghh of the
State OF Florida that is totally worthless both that State
and the General Government The State thinks that she
make these lands available that she cam instead Of permitting
them TO remain desert where human being scarcely
penetrate her by land by waer make them available
think, en, it is Of those in which, the fact which
have ed being satisfactorily ascetained there ought
be hesitation in cedng the land to the State without
conditions But the gentleman from kentucky thinks that
better system might be adopted and that believe his amend
men embraces this proposon) the improvement should be
made y the United States Government and that is mpor-
an part of the system that the that be made
from tie lands should be made by the Government The Uni
ted Ses and that the proceeds should be distributed among
the several States. These are his ideas, if rightly under
stood the gentlemans remarks. Now cannot concur in
opinion with him. Apart from the general principle that the
United States Government has right to make improve
such these, would be unequal and unjust make
such improvements at the common expense.
In Louisiana onethrd Of the lands have been re-
claimed her expense. II is certainly neither fair
just equal towards the State Of Louisiana where the
ue Of her lands have been immensely increased by her own
resources that that increased value should be made
fund to be distributed among the States large por
I Il H. ,ln
reclaimed by individuals Are take those improve
ments their value and make fund be str-
bued think not do not think ii would be just or
sonabe and trust it will be attempted he carried
into effect When such attempt is made, should have the
honor Of having here shall certainly insist that Lou
ana and the other States where those improvements have
been made shall first be reimbursed. But equitable,
reasonable, and pepper course is in accordance with the pro-
position contained in this BILL and submitted by Senator
rom Arkansas the last session, (Which hope will come
up again. is make something Of these lands you can
and provide that they shall remain longer than is abso
uey necessary in condition in which they utterly
profitable to the State the General Government If the
Senator from Kentucky continues 10 press his motion shall
feel II my duty to vote against the amendment.
i Mr. UNDERWOOD. will only remark that did not
aud my policy in reference the distribution of the pro-
ceeds the sales Of the public lands having immediate
bearing upon this bill upon the adoption rejection Of my
ameniment stated the policy to be sure, which
TO show that wanted get rid Of the system Of the
administration Of the public lands which prevails. But
proceeds OF the public lands II my amendment be adopted
dos touch that question All that proposes to &C
comish is to get certain information which think do
not possess All that my amendment seeks to do is TO
empty the officers Of the typographical corps in obtaining for
Tie information that desire that is oil and the simple
queon upon the amendment whether the Senate prefers
by little delay to get information, give away
once million eight hundred thousand Of land
Mr.. WESTCOIT. Seven million eight hundred thou
sand acres Of land and -Four million three hundred
thousand acres Of il Is altogether valueless.
Mr. UNDERWOOD The Commissioner Of the General
LAM Office, in his report to the Secretary of the Treasury,
stats follows:
That the greater part the peninsula below this line
tween townships hrtysix and thirty seven, and which is
proposed by the bill before the Committee the Public
Lands OF the Senate (which bill has been submitted BY
Mers Westcott and Cabe Of said Satc TO be ceded the
STATE OF Florida being unsaryeyed and there being
nautical surveys OF the western coast below Tampa in this Of
ice approximate estimate only be made OF the OF
the peninsula and keys including the lands and interior
south Of said line and excluding the islands aud keys aud
OF Cape Sable II supposed however that such area
be stated at about millions eight hundred thousand
Of land and OF this aggregate il estimated
tina there is always covered with about four millions
three hundred thousand This estimate includes
agoons sounds and Okeechobee and other lakes south
line that il is proposed drain and drained
elude also, the svamps and all those portions OF country
comprising parts the region called the everglades the greater
par Of which IL is not supposed can be reclaimed"
Mr.. WESTC0TT. Il has never been contemplated 10 at
tempt retaining the lagoons is supposed, however that
The everglades may be drained.
\ Mr.. UNDERWOOD. When speak Of seven millions
eight hundred thousand being the quantity land to
be gwen to The State, do not convey the idea that