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

move therefore, that those conditions be stricken rom the bill
Mr.. WESTCOTI. Mr.. President, am opposed to the
striking out OF those words and, sir, would for
this bill at all there such conditions asserted
My object have before stated, is TO have these lands
reclaimed not that they should be given the State Of Yo
da, but h they may add to the wealth and strength and
terest Of the whole country know very we sir that be-
ing young State, and impoverished by the Seminole war;
FLORIDA has funds Of her and complete
this work. know, still further, that she will not hare funds
of her sufficient to defay the expenses OF this gntc
scheme in ten years, in twenty years And, sir donot
hesitate say God forbid that she should have money
enough in her treasury to complete this work, any more
than enough deay the ordinary expenses of her govern
ment for whenever she does have surplus in her treasury
every man, woman, and child in the State will be struggling
to obtain it, am opposed to either State Governments the
Federal Government accommodating large SURPRISES in their
treasures for believe their purity, in great measure de-
ponds upon their having just money enough TO get along with
and think the people Of poor State more likely to be
honest than the inhabitants OF rich one
But sir Notwithstanding the inability Of Florida to defay
the expenses Of this work out Of her treasury believe
that if she should undertake in good faith to reclaim these
lands plentiful opportunities would be offered Of which she
could avail herself raise funds sufficient to carry and
complete the work. do not suppose that the State will per-
form this labor herself do not believe that there is man
in the State, in the whole country, that suppoes she will
do So The State will make arrangements with proper per-
sons possessing the requisite skill energy, and capital and
they will carry the work. That is the only way in which
can be DONE either in twenty years. 1t is only pro-
posed that if they do not undertake the work in two years,
not to give them the land at all. They commence the
work within years, and if they cannot complete it within
the specified tmeen yearsthey ask for extension
of the time, and Congress give ii TO them. But have
no doubt however, that such arrangements could be made
would the completion Of the work within the specified
time.
Besides there is another condition which may TO the
aid of whom the task of executing this shall be
fded The Seminole Indians reside tract OF and which
included in the proposed grant, and is stipulated that they
shall be encroached upon until authority shall be given
do by the President in writing If this authority be not
oiyp the uarkc he and
till the authority shall be received But have no fear that
the work cannot be completed in ten well as in fifty years
Mr. NILES Mr. President, see no great use OF limit
ing the time in which this work shall be commenced
no force at all in that limitation. go there and
open trench in one day, and the work is commenced
In regard to the bill, sir wish to say that the principles
involved in very important II stated IN the bill that
these lands now and will be- vauees to the United
States But that the cession of them to the State of
Florida is way other, to render them very valuable
do not understand this. They may he Of little
value the United States for all that know, but
that they worth much to the nation large
single State We have very little data which to base
estimate of the worth Of these lands but from the description
which have had, appears that considerable portions Of
them covered with water These dry ands it
to me- may be of some service hereafter
Well now sir what will be the effect of this grant
apprehend it will be this apprehend that the State will
sell all such lands available at such times they
may into Market and that all the others will remain
they The great difficulty attending all measures of this
kind is that compelled to act in the dark That
the difficulty attending action upon the bill introduced
last session giving the State Of Arkansas certain lands y
ing within her boundaries.
We have reliable information at all concerning these
Florida lands We have Conformation by which be
governed. The description of the lands given in the BILL is
less full and probably less than that which might be
cleaned from the newspapers of the country II cannot be
relied to extent which would waranu IN making the
basis of liquidation and such general sweeping grant
made, may deprive the country of very large and valuable
portion of the public domain No such grant should be made
till after careful survey Of the lands has been made by
officer Of the Government and his report thereon giving
accurate description Of the lands stating their situation,
don and extent and assigning their boundaries has been
published for the and information Of the Government and
people.
may, perhaps be good policy to grant away these land
that Of little vaue but at the time should be
taken grant away lands that are may be- valuable
hereafter This bill, it seems TO would introduce
principle in legislation II is the principle that these lands
without value the United States, and that by ceson to
State authority they will be made valuable But is said
that the State will render them valuable by retaining them
at great outlay. We have guaranty that this will be
DONE In order accomplish this object, think should
have security the part OF the State that will render
the reclamation Of these lands certain. As the matter
stands there nothing thst renders all obligatory the
State to fulfil the accomplishment of the work. And they
will probable avail themselves Of that portion Of the lands
which is of some value and leave the they
MIR. WESTCOTT. II is stated in the bill that every
dollar raised from the sale Of these lands shall be sacredy a
propated TO the completion Of the work. and that Of
the lands be sold for less than dollar and quarter per
until the entire work is completed.
Mr.. NILES. know that the proceeds Of the lands
be applied educational and other useful purposes The
bill evinces very proper and sudabe object but take the
Of the paper stands, and il does propose
tional object all. should have objection, sir grant
States in which such lands lie the privilege Of retaining
Them and allow the State for doing the privilege Of dis
posing Of certain portions of the lands reclaimed together
with presumption rights something of that kind. II the
privilege Of retaining these lands be indeed great think
the State should be satisfied with indemnify, and have
objection practice Of that kind But If these lands be
ceded to the State take the rights Of the United States
will be gone forever do think, therefore, that
vote for this bill
The question was taken on the amendment Of Mr.. YuLEE
and il not agreed to.
Mr.. HALE would ask the Senator from Florida (Mr.
WEsrcorT) If he proposes make this grant absolute, with
out any condition that the lands be drained by the
State
Mr.. WESTCOTT. would respectfully refer the honor
able Senator (Mr HALE) the BILL which contains nine
dons, Of which is that the State shall expressly by law,
accept these conditions The State Furthermore pledges itself
to accept the conditions which render obligatory upon her
10 the work in years and complete in ten years.
and If practicable with the completion Of the work. TO build
canal for vessels the peninsula out proceeds Of the
lands reclaimed and that the canal shall be free TO all United
States vessels and for the transportation Of nails troops
United States property Of kind forever And the residue
Of the avas Of the lands go into the State
sury, but to be invested a permanent and perpetual
fund.- the interest Of which to be expended o purposes Of
education in the territory granted.
Mr.. HALE. thought the amendment offered by the
Senator's colleague (Mr YULEr) to strike out these
dtions.