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

Il
entertained. hope Senators will now express them desr
to furnish any explanations that may be asked for
MI NILES. Iwoud inquire of the honorable Senator q,
70 lie extent Of the area conveyed by this grantwheher
Mr. WEsTCOTT. It is fully set forth in the commits
sloners report, page 8, which will advert Within the
ant there always covered with water and which
mae includes rivers agoons sounds the large lake Oke-
chob ee from thryve 10 forty miles in diameter and other
lakes south OF the northern line of the grant, and which
not proposed TO drain reclaim, and which be
claimed and including also the everglades and Aseenahooa
and Hap atiokee swamps 49,. acres A. 800 600
There i casionaly covered with water low lands
that il is not expected will ever be of great
There has been surveyed 59O,6s2 into sections
and 400, 81 iHto townships mostly worthless
pine barrens. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. l. OOO 900
There is yet UNI surveyed worthless sand barrens,
reported as not worth surveying, about 1900 900
Whole Of land and water in grant . 1900 600
OF the first item Of 300 oOO which include the ever
glades and Atse,nahooa and Hapatokee syamps all the
lands that estimated be reclaimed do not exceed one
million OF acres The residue will yet remain inundated and
whether those reclaimed will turn out TO be as valuable
as is anticipated by soma, is quite doubtful.
Mr. KING observed that he would call the attention of the
Senator from Florida to the phraseooey Of the fifth conditions
which, If not corrected might bear the that the
hiysx sections there described in lieu all the six
teen sections i'm the State.
Mr.WESTCOTT. thank the Senator for directing NV
attention TO the he pointed out, and which presume
Mr.. YULEE. l understand from my colleague (Mr
WEsTcoTr) that it's his nleaton defer final action on this
bill, and that she desires to hsar stated all objections
passage which Senators entertain Not having been
consulted in relation TO this b mad given il any atte
ton till few days sinc, when, for he first time was re-
queed to examine il, On examination found the bill very
Objectionable my mind 50 much that have some doubt
whether shall give it my vote.
My colleague has given considerable time and labor 10 the
subject and for thank him for having devoted his talents
and abors to its investigation. think it would be very de-
that they may be settled and brought under cultivation
it would add very greatly the elements of wealth and
TO the resources of the whole couna It wonM give
era millions OF Of available and fertile lands in strictly
tropical climate, such have not in any portion of
the Union would be in favor sir and would support with
great readiness any which shall propose to ren
qush to the State of Florida either this land Congress
should prefer to confne its action this lanor oh lands
which overown and which cannot be reduced to
agricultural purposes without the expense Of canang and
draining. think all lands which require draining should
be coded to the Sates within the limits of which they hap
pen to be located of this has been long
urged upon the attention of Congress, and, Think has
been brought forward heretofore and,
# not Mistaken has passed the Senate similar
proposed in relation the wet lands in the State of
Arkansas, and believe received the general Of Con-
gress.
my colleague would reduce his bill to single section
The irst-makng unconditional eession the State of
Florida of these unrsclamed lands would very readily
for it, But my objection his bill in its present shape is
hat it is cogged with conditions which would be mpoc
the OF congress TO prescrlDe and winch
nexpedent the part Of the State to accept In fact the
conditions would make the grant utterly vaueess. think
he simple would be, by single section to cede to
The State of Florida these ands leaving her to adopt such
rules and regulations in regard to their reclamation she
may deem the most consistent with her interests, trusting
her activity and energy, necessarily stimulated by the
advantages and profits which she will derive from them.
1t is probable, sir, that the conditions contained in this bill
have been imposed by the committee which reported il
but they seem to me to be altogether mpolic
have hesitation in saying that the unconditional grant
these lands the State OF Florida would be altogether pro-
table the part Of the Federal Government and every
respect polite These lands now and continue
be- utterly unavailable and vaaeless Not only yalueess
Of profit the United States, and for purposes of
and agriculture but they leave the military dsfences
Of the country in very unsatisfactory and pecarous cond
ton These lands comprise very essential and important
part OF the possessions of the country Perhaps there not
important point hs whole continent than the PENN
sua OF Florida but its for military purposes is entirely
INSTRUCTED by the circumstance that neaEy all the lands
tervenng between the lire Of either side Of the Gulf
of Mexico and the Atlantic always covered with water,
and aversabe by boats not hng covered with
sufficient depth enable boats pass with much
facility any degree OF certainty from side Of the pen
sua to the other Consequently these lands perfectly
useless They may possibly be reduced to and if they
can be reclaimed tbs military aeences Of the country will be
greatly strengthened and its wealth greatly increased by the
population, which will by this means, in all probability, be
added to the peninsula. This will add not only to
the strength and dignity and wealth Of the State within the
boundaries Of which these lands e hut the strength, and
dignity and wealth Of the general Unon Of which that State
is a member.
trust sir that when this bill Is brought forward again, il
will be reduced single clause OF cesson, unrestricted by
conditions especially those which clog the grant for
these conditions think will ebge TO withhold my sup
port from the BILL because il is my opinion that il would be
altogether nexpedent the part Of the State to accept the
grant clogged by these conditions.
will not now specify the several points Of objection which
make the clauses Of this BILL They all Objectionable,
and especially that which restricts the price which these
lands may be sold to the minimum price Of 81 IS per
and attempts direct the and limit the time of sale.
think all these restrictions unwse, and that they will
render tie grant utterly vaueless.
Mr.. WESTCOTT. confess I somewhat surprised
the Of my colleague this bill and especially at
the extraordinary objections he urges to it, do not hesitate
say that prefer spuaons and conditions presented
in this bill to an unconditional grfnt to the State have
before declared this floor that anxious as am for
the United Sates to get rid Of the public lands and disposed
10 grant in all settlers without price, do not
gard il as wise with reference either the United States
to STATE to make in any unconditional grant 10
State. Such grant generally creates in State fund for
Spectators and jobber pecunary and POLITICAL TO plumber
from They will seek divert and perve to selfish pur
poses and very likely succeed and the State citizens
orally DO derive much benefit from it. The only preve-
tive restrictions conditions in the grant, and these often
fail. hope every grant to my State hereafter made will
specify the objects and contain s,puaons securing their be-
ing effected and prevent the funds being perverted.
Sir my object by this bill is not TO ask favor, boon Tor
my State begging for aims in her behalf from Con-
gress am not seeking I'll the Golfers Of her treasury by
should aoAr1