The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-04

sisted on. Our interest ID the gran. is small The
Alabama On the other IL goes through Mississippi as
through Tennessee and Kentucky reach its destination
which understand is 10 be followed does not reach
country which i now OF is likely soon 70 be. denssy
peopled-ac country which does not yield such productions
as have any immediate pfoSpeCtsey great interest in
IT, When il reaches settled and fertile country, the
whole OF the land IS private popery there nothing will
be found to which the grant attach. II will be some
advantage but is NOT matter OF vital very great i'm
por!ance On the line OF this road is projected,
viii be found that in section OF II there will be
VACANT land in another, that il will be generally vacant
la the State Of Illinois, member from which first IN
iroduced the BILL the initial point is 10 be where there
not. suppose, an acre Of public land Then il will
reach district where public lands extend for fifteen q
more miles each side OF the road and there you will
make up the deficiency and obtain the aid necessary Tor
the construction Of the road beyond that limit II the
amendmen. have offered prevail there w &c no pny y
not.
| am sorry that after the explanation which made
he aTraensd me as extending this provision Of the bill
into wider grant o. Land than originally proposed
as departing from The principle which had avowed,
people, he misconceiyed the effect Of my amendment;
when interrupted him Tor the purpose OF putting him
right a least as 70 my meaning and INTENT IN order that
4 he might do me the Justice d.
/ Mr.. DAWSON had not the least idea OF doing the
senator injustice knew his principle was to restrict,
when he assumed the grant Of fifteen miles each side
OF the road know his is 10 support this general
principle Of limitation. The extent is what object TO-
Mr.. DAVIS The extent 10 q question TO be decided
BY sound discretion and honest purpose these under the
principle for which have contended would dfect differ
ent minds results which could not materially vary.
was preserve that principle. to save the only landmark
il on which can rely, thai my amendment was offered
But it is said, If The argument OF augmented value 70 the
land be good for Fifteen 1t is good Tor hlty miles by
q might % sa y 0 s Gas
proposition would be true; but the connexion Of which
spoke was direct fnd likely 70 be permanent papable
team would ordinarily travel Ia day, and suppose with
in distance the railroad would far all the pu
poses Of transportation for very many years. in such
situation, prevent the construction OF rival road with
Ii has already been proposed to extend the limit further
believe the aendent reduces it as low as majority
OF the Senate will consent to, and that u comes within
the limit to which may reasonably expect the revenue
be increased by augmented production, and the receipts
into the treasury enlarged from the more prompt sale
the public lands, and their appreciation 10 value causet
by the construction of the road II the Senate will no
adopt the amendment have submitted, IN conformity
with my sense Of justice, expectancy and OF avowee
principle, will vote against the bill, and leave to those
who defeat the amendment and those who pass the bill
with its provision of unrestricted location the RESPONSE
bty OF = policy which will leave us without cheek O
landmark for future grants Of this character
A Mr.. KING My friend from Mississippi. having, re.
piled to the senator from Georgia. has partly relieved me
q The necessity q = me was
which be charges those who contendng in favor
the passage Of this bill. that we Were endeavorng Z
deceive the country by holding out tue luea at Was
TENDED fot one thing when truth il embraced another
ii Now sir nothing could be more unjust than such
charge and did not suppose until heard the remarks
the senator from Georgia. that in the course OF the discus
sion here where the matter has been under consde
for days. ythng said by any individual who hat
advocated the prorety Of the measure could be tortured
so to put It upon any Other ground than the uus
grounds upon which the measure resis.
4 Mr. DAWSON. Will the senator permit me to explain
am certainly very unfortunate in the construction WHICH
gentlemen put upon my remarks say that me principle
by which you appropriate these lands, being that
increasing the price Of the remainder Of the public prop
ey was deceptive in ts characsr-not that gentlemen
SON. that you have constit tona power TO Civ
away portion Of the public land, in order TO beef TN
a he spss 70
the people will be deceived by the belief that there is
power TO do it to limited extent, and not 10 its full ex
4 Mr. KING II is not my intention to enter into an!
proaced discussion OF the power OF the general govern
nent dispose OF the public lands That question ha
have the power appropriate any portion OF the public
{ domain for purposes which we may consider ad
vantageous TO the general interests Of the country
calculated improve the value OF the remaining portion
OF the lands held by the United States II the honorable
senator from Georgia will look at the course adopted b.
from the very foundation o. the rn ~
principle and that now acting strictly within the pro
visions OF previous laws and in consideration Of the i'm
proyement of lands lying adjacent TO these works OF inter
nal Improvement, have fixed additional value OF
them, which is given by the improvement ITSELF IN orde
that the treasury might fact, sustain loss hethe
that absolutely necessary or not is not the ques
1 ton.
But the honorable senator says selection OF land con
tguous this road will give value 10 the Other True
the selection OF the land will not give il additional value
but the Improvement of making the road will do It,
there a senator here who does not know that the land
contiguous will be increased TO very considerable ex
icntto third one-ha and to double the pres
ent value
Sir, is useless 10 90 into any argument touching tina
subject When lands, whether productive otherwise
are situated that II is difficult to transport the produc
tons Of them 10 easy market, they are OF little value
and why Owing to the great expense OF transportation
the value OF the products consumed
b My friend MIR. CAssl suggests that perhap
il will be well TO advert TO provision OF the consti
tulsn in regard TO the disposition of the public domain
which do suppose be absolutely necessary at Thu
time is, make all neeul rules aud regulations To-
the disposal OF the territory, or public domain; for ter
rtory nothing less than the public do
main Mr. President, did not expect that the honorable
senator from Georgia would have departed frem what
supposed to be settled principle with him, not 10 dis
listened with degree Of surprise, when be strongly
intimated, If this bill passes-gving small portion
land for the purpose OF making improvements for thu
benefit OF the whole, and ultimately giving increased
value TO the public domain contiguous to those improve
ments-that the principle would be abandoned by him
and he would feel bound 10 90 for provision dstrlb
ung the public land TO all the States That might proba
bly, be true principle for him act upon, but would
not do for for believe il TO be improper and incxpe
dent make that distribution entertained that opin
ion many years ago, and subsequent action OF ehe
house OF Congress has in the least changed my opinoI
nor lessened my opposition 10 that measure lastes