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

value as enhanced BY the improvements will be the best
security for the speedy and faithful execution OF the
contract The country is such that il will allow in many
instances contracts Tor the execution OF detached por
tons of the work by nelghborhood associations of labor
Large sales can be made 10 capitalists terms TO pre-
vent monopoly and speculation, and to insure the
improvements being made by making It the IN.
terest of the yendees 10 to IT, repeat, there
fore, If you don't bind the State TO commence the
work within the time specified and to finish 1t in ten
years don't give the State the land al all Besides, If my
colleague had examined the bill attentivey, he would
have that by the condition. unless the Presi-
dent OF the United States gives the permission ia writing
10 enter on the lands which the Seminole Indians reside
the time stipulated in the first condition is 10 be extended
for time corresponding TO the delay,
! If the State in good faith intends TO commence the
work, II can commence II as well in ticO years as IN
lfty. hope The amendment proposed by my colleague
will be rejected.
Mr. NILES 1.-THE most of this gentlemans remarks
were entirely inaudbe TO the reporters, and the remain
der heard so ndstnclly that we may not give his
! views in every respect correctyl
/ Now what will be the probable nature OF this grant
appIehend that if the bill passes whether with these
conditions without them, such OF these lands OF
any value will be sold by the Stale at such times they
may into the market for sale and the value lost 10 the
government, while the remainder will probably be left as
they The difficulty in all measures OF this kind -,
that to act in the dark. That was the difficulty
with the bill of the Senator from Arkansas last year.
The descr ptlon too loose Tor us TO give sweeping
grant, which, once made, we cannot take away That
the difficulty IN the former case and Will be IN all
cases of this kind unless there is definite report from
some of the officers of the government describing the
precise limits and accurate boundaries which shall be
considered coming under case of this kind.
Perhaps will be said that it would be no more than a
liberal policy grant portion of the lands that val
liable perhaps not But this bill does not stand upon
that ground at all: 1t a new principle; # the bill IS
passed upon the principle that these lands with
out value 10 the United States; but that by transferring
the title TO the States, they may be made, by State au-
horiiy valuable the State, and thus valuable TO the
country generally In order to accomplish this object; we
should have security from the State think this
result will follow. There is nothing IN the bill o5lIga-
tory at all and there probably lands OF value
which will be sold-lands which do not neel reclama-
| ton
Mr. WESTCOTT The express conditions in the bill
require that every dollar raised by the sale OF these lands
shall be sacredly appropriated to the work and the
fits will go to the common schools No lands can be
sold for less than 81 % an acre until the lands are re-
claimed. IT,.
Mr.. NILES | know that the profits are 10 be given
to educatton and that Is very proper object TO Whch to
apply the sales of The lands. STILL it is for the State
only and is not national object at all. Now sir, !
think ii would be gong far enough IN hs case to grant,
if any lands Of this character actually rec aimed the
privilege OF being reimbursed the amount of the eypendi
ure from the sales OF the lands with perhaps a pre-
emption right 10 lake such portion of the lands rs they
might wish, certain reduced price Give the State
this privilege, and if it is really object they will
upon the work with the security OF beng nnemnel BY
the lands themselves If the cesson is made, the right
of the United States to these lands will be gone forever.
will be perfectly easy for the State to comply with the
bill sufficiently 10 bring the grant into their hands. do
not feel, sir that can vote for the bill
The question being then taken upon the amendment
submitted by Mr. YULEE, it was rejected
IT.
he proposes to make this grant absolute, without any
condition!
Mr. WESTCOTT | refer the honorable senator to
the various conditions prescribed in the bill which the
State accept by act OF her Legislature before the
grant takes effect The grant not absolute and there
is guaranty for its iulfnent in thsthat is perfectly
worthless until fulfilled, for the lands worth
dollar until reclaimed
Mr.. HALE. | understood the motion TO be TO strike
out the conditions
Mr.. WESrCOTT. That motion made by my col
league, and rejected
MIR. UNDERWOOD | shall move to strike out the
whole of this bill after the enactng clause and 10 insert
proposition appropratng certain sum OF money 10
authorize the Secretary of War 10 have the everglades
explored and 10 have report made to Congress- to say
what ought to be done with them. do this for the pur-
pose of ascertalnng how far we may adopt the principle
of the bill. Members will recoeet that we have
had propositions from the State of Arkansas request
, and | have no doubt we shall have propositions
from every State in tho Union 10 the effect.
My object is TO test the sense OF the Senate and
ascertain whether this policy shall be commenced or
not am perfectly willing, as member OF the Land
Committee to have all these lands explored at the ex-
pense of the United States, and 10 have reports made by
them, recommending the nature OF the principles which
ought TO be adopted with reference TO them; and 10
plan the quantity of land which, r the improve
mens are made, will be saved; the value OF the land
thus saved, and the expense that will be sustained upon
the improvements which they recommend.
Now, sir, understand that we have competent officers
in employ to do all these things; and before we avail
ourselves of their knowledge and their experience, and
send them upon the ground TO ascertain all the facts for
u.s. we cannot accord TO the propositions before ap
propriae millions upon millions OF of public lands
ask senators if ii prudent and rig II 10 do these things
this hot haste Ii does seem TO me that we ought 10
have these things eyamsed by experienced before
we act upon them Now sir the Secretary of the Treas
ury in regard TO these eveg ladies', gave commission
part TO a gentleman by the name of Smith, perform
this aud good many other duties, according to the ap
ponment conferred upon him. in relation to the land Of
fees in that quarter of the country. In addition to his
other duties, he requested to make some eyamina-
ton TO the practicabty of draining these everglades
Mr. Smith has made to very long report that subject
and say, sir that without very accurate
tainhen of the facts he has taken agood many things
for granted and has written good many things, sup
posing the facts 10 be as stated will read to the Sen
ate very briefly, OF these statements that they
may consider what he has presented Mr.. Smith says
ITO reclaim the everglades and the Atseenahoof and
Talpatiokee swamps and the low lands the margin
Kssine and tributaries and the other rivers
etnpyina lake Okechobee this lake must be tapped
by canals running into the Caloosa achee the
side and the Loca atchee san Lucia, both
the other. and also be made from the
o. both sides OF the peninsula into the gades Besides
after height of the the gides should be de-
creased much five feet, there viii probably be
necessity several drains through the ganes, and those
swamps 10y which the accu,aulang from the rains
may be conducted to the ocean or Cult"
That is Mr. Smiths plan for draining the everglades
Now sir TO the depth of these canals which to be
thus carried into the Okechobee lake. Here is the most
definite and accurate information have been able pro-
cure by reading these papers This s the statement made
by MIR Mcclellan captain of Typographical engineers
who does not make II from experience, but bases upon
what Captain Ninton Told him. Here Is what Captain
Vinton told Captain Mcclellan in the OF 1910 OF
1871:
n the course orthe year JsiO or 1871 informed by
II Ia. 4 fia1 a hnlrf n