The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-23

make the necessary appropriations for the purpose OF re-
claiming these lands, or to cede them 10 the State Our
propositions 10 Congress TO adopt one or the other oil
these two modes have been repeatedly rejected They
have heretofore received no supports and am perfectly
confident IRON the proceedings heretofore had thal II
utterly out OF the question to nope ihal me government
OF the United States should ever tnk oil adopting the
system OF internal improvements in the respective States
| concur particularly IN the suggestion OF the sen,
ator from Florida, that they cannot be done as well
by the general government by the respective
States II we were TO undertake such works under
The authority OF the general government, should al
WAYS have 10 pay twenty times the expense incurred
by The State Now, sir, for forty five years. year after
wear, have pettoned here resolutions have been
adopted and memorials sent from several OF the States
praying Congress TO act upon this matter; and certain
portions OF the State OF Louisiana have borne the
pense OF Improvement; IN consequence of which the gov
eminent has already derived considerable benefit But
yet there is large and extensive portion of the State
which is overlooked every year. and rendered unhealthy
and uninhababe that the inhabitants compelled
10 leave every summer IN consequence of the unhealth
ness produced by the swamps.
Why, sir the subject was brought up four years
ago, II put off Tor year The department was
called upon for information They madea report and dis
cussion took place here for several days select commit
appointed 10 consider the matter and The honorable
gentleman from South Carolina placed al the head
OF that committee very lengthy report was made
containing all the Information obtained from the de-
parmen's and from he officers and engineers In Lou
isana. Yet, when came 10 act upon IT, gentlemen sng-
gesed II ought 10 be put off Now sir the tune has ar
rived in which, think, action should be had upon the
subject think there is g TO the time IN which the
lands should be disposed Of and If the government is
now prepared TO adopt some action, should be very
glad. Blu, have no faith that Congress will act upon
the matter.
As il regards this particular bill, under the i'm
preston thai the report made is sufficient TO enable
Congress 10 judge OF the expedency OF granting these
lands They appear 10 be covered 10 considerable ex
tent by standing water; which is somewhat different from
the case with our swamp lands
| cannot conceive OF any objections to adopting the
BILL for Congress will certainly take any steps
wards doing the work themselves merely throw out
Tho I'm
Mr. BENTON. We have proper officers sir. whose
duty IS under high obligation, 10 report the character
ot all public lands These officers, who belong 10 the
General Land Office, exclusively employed 10 exam
inc and survey those lands and they those who
qualified To give all the information want upon this
subject The typographical corps is not the proper corps
10 do business OF this kind has never been employed
Tor that purpose; and If IT should be so employed,
it would be taken from lis appropriate duties, and
set 10 perform the duties of other officers. Ii we
need any information, then, sir, the place TO look for
1t through the land oice and the reports OF the sur
made by tie surveyor general, and by him trans
mted to the Commissioner OF the General Land Office.
This is The from whence to derive every niouna
uon which concerns the improvement OF the public
lands.
Now sir we have already the report from the proper
oicer have the report of the Commissioner OF the
General Land Office founded upon the reports of the sur
veyor general. The whole OF the surveys have been
made by persons whose duty il is TO report correctly
That report addressed 10 the Secretary OF the Treasury de-
cares that these lands are utterly worthless for any pur
pose whatever and that they be surveyed without
first being drained 1t also recommends that they be so
drained.
SO here we have all the information which it ia neces-
sary TO possess in order TO act definitely upon this bill
The bill refers to the ever ades-a kind of ground par
TALLY covered with water too deep TO allow the land to
be used until the drained off The district OF
referred perfectly well known from the time that
Florida first settled 1t has been traversed by
army officers during the Seminole war. Besides having
been examined and reported upon by our land officers
ourselves know, well desire TO know that these
everglades lands covered with waer-species OF
marshes Astounding in vegetable productions We know
perfectly WELL too that they never be used until the
drained Oft have understood that there por
tons of these everglades that very rich and fertile,
which, drained and exposed 10 the action of the
will become very valuable and hed 10 yield all the pro-
ducons of tina, region OF country but while they remain
as they are they cannot be OF use 10 any one
Now, Mr. President, IL is an axiom, that whenever
property passes from hands that H.no hands
that there is public gain. In that point of view,
It will be great public beneht to pass these evergade
lands, which. they now lie, entirely useless and
injurious 10 the country around them, out OF the pos
session OF the government which makes no use OF
them, into other hands that will drain and cultivate
them. For that purpose, [ infinitely prefer that the
local State government where these lands lie should
perform the work required than TO leave it for the
federal government to do have no idea that this
federal government will make money in anything
OF this kind that II undertakes. Ii remains for in
dlydua enterprise TO develop the resources of the
try and make money out of their own operations while
the government receives its advantages in the general
ameloation of the condition OF the country ut large.
The State government of Florida has interest in clear
ing OUT Whd' - n0Aious anu Ieouieutd ana III Dtiii4
into whatever was before useless, and makir :?
whole supertcies of the land available and bsrg e
the spot where the work is required, is abb ed
intend it, and direct what ought to be done an uleI
should be done The State government ia % no" II
most proper TO do it. am, therefore all sir, the
ployng officers TO make any further opposed 10 en-
lcularly TO employing Topographic .aniHauons-par-
sons have already gwen. Ii II ehgheefs-ot fea-
the land office and the necessary we must go 70
water Is drained off a cannot be surveyed until the
from ia an,Ironr We have the official information
general knc ate chaiheis anu we nave Des'ues' lhe
| think. 'ieuSe ootaihea uuiinS ue rioliua wa va
requlres-that il the interest of the federal
we should make these lands available as soon as pos
sbe. 1t would very much strengthen that peninsula OF
Flonta-a very exposed arm OF this country, extending
down beyond the general boundary OF the United States
and which needs protecton--which needs the means OF
communication through it; and | apprehend would
be making most beneficial disposition OF that country
could pass of the hands of the federal govern
ment and cause IT to be brought under the dominion OF
who will make it available for the purposes of the
countryand If necessary, 10 be used by the United States
for military purposes For the reasons have mention
ed Mr. President, think IT proper that should pass
upon this bill as as possible.
Mr. BREESE commenced addressing the Senate upon
the bill, but yielded 10
Mr.. BUTLER, who moved that the Senate proceed to
agreed to and after some time spent in Executive
session, the doors were reopened and
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The journal having been read
PRIVATE BILLS.
Mr. ROCKWELL OF Connecticut moved TO 90 into