The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-03

may be replied 10 in this wise You are oppose
10 appropriation OF the proceeds o the pubic lands 10
internal improvements by Stale. am, sT But wheI
this Congress decides principle and says tnal shal
be the policy OF this government 10 give the public
lands for internal improvements, ] yield my constiu
onal objections and 20 with the coulty upon the prin
cples which have been established, though against my
own view will not stand still, as representative from
Georgia, because my opinion is that this Is uncons
tuona and say thai Georgia shall not take her share
That would be unwise. u twoud be asnnwise as vir.
on, and would not touch them for years but al last
she thought was very simple and took the money and
used IL Now, II there Is TO be general distribution OF
the proceeds OF The public lands among the various States
for The purpose Of internal Improvement win yield
but | prefer general distribution TO a partial one
These, SIR, are my views
friend from Georgia yield his objection 10 the distributing
policy upon as slight foundation thar on which he
seems 10 yield IL Why, sir, he says, because Congress
disposed 70 appropriate the public lands Tor the purpose
OF internal improvement therefore he proposes take all
the public lands and divide them among the States Ii
there is Congress in favor Of internal improvements.
and you take these lands away and give them to
The States, the matter must be made up BY charge
upon the customs, and we should always have TO
charge upon them what the majority should choose
to appropriate for the purposes OF internal improve
ment. Now, sir, IT seems 10 me that II would be
far preferable TO check and restrain this principle far
we can. know il is beyond power 10 put end
to It; but STILL by an opposition upoa principle, we can,
extent. restrain it. There feature in the bill
10 which the from Mississippi alluded to-day,
and to which alluded yesterday in the remark which
made in relation TO that part which. departs from
the old principle, which we might fight, and fight
efficiently There is differences between appropri-
atoms made upon that principle and those made upon the
subject OF internal improvement believe, SIR, that, al
best, il is doubtful even in the to which have re.
eTrei, whether the government has the power to appro
pirate alternate sections 10 that purpose, and, therefore,
have never voted for bill of that sort But still can
tween the claim Of power be used by the
proprietor and the claim OF The power to appropr
ate money for internal improvements generally, But
believe that the pill as now stands Is vexatlous and
money for internal improvements do
not think, however, that Il would be much more satis-
factory this part had been stricken out should have
voted against il in either case for am not willing. for
the purpose of defeating this any other BILL to give, d.
recty or indirectly, my sanction 10 principle, 10 sys
tenn, mschievous believe this 10 be- which is i'm
bodied in the bill for the distribution of the proceeds of
the public lands throughout the States.
And here let me refer to what the honorable senator
from Georgia said in regard TO Virginia When Virginia
refused 10 receive her share OF the proceeds OF the public
lands, she stuck 10 il and that which she said she
would receive, she did receive But what has
to do with the subject whether she wise unwise
whether she adhered TO her original determination not
We know that measures changed in each OF the
States of this Union We know that there is difference
Df opinion between the two parties in this country, the
democrats being opposed 10, and the wings in favor OF
The policy. Sir. will unite with The honorable
in all legitimate and fair efforts 10 defeat this bill,
because think II is improper II is worse Than that in
he right OF the general government 10 appropriate money
or the purposes OF internal improvements Believing so,
will do what legitmatey 10 defeat this bill but
anno give nay sanction e me ptoptsty Of distributing
MIR DAYTON. MIR President heli4yaI was nnder-,
,tood by the then in the chair, in Offering my
to offer il as an amendment to the p ana
was accordingly ruled out of order intended 10 oner
/ as an amendment 10 the instructions, which believe
IS in order. ] move TO add the following
Propided fgtLer That after the appropriation q the
ands heIsnbef1re referred To- q he states I
public lands. om and after ne Sis day oi December next
shall be divided between the several states o. me union
provisions of ened An act 10 approPrae The
proceeds Of the sales Of he public lands and % grant pre-
OF which act the be properly applied In
the esbuc q the proceeds Of said saes are hereby re-
Mr. DAYTON called for the yeas and nays; which
Mr. WHITCoMB. Before the question is taken. ! de-
sire 10 my views in relation TO the subject, and TO
make an explanation. have thought from the rst that
discovered the bill under consideration an extension
OF the principle which has heretofore governed govern
neni grants OF this kind II has been said here day that
the first grant OF this kind made IN Indiana That
is very irue but there is very considerable addition 10
the principle which that grant was made IN the bill
now under consideration believe the present bill s
the rst within my recollection, in which strip oil land
twelve miles WIDE or rather the alternate sections in
strip OF land twelve miles wde has been given by Con-
gress for the construction OF any work. The greatest
heretofore
last grant 10 Indiana only il restricted 10 ten
miles WIDE but, for The purpose OF making mp the guam
ity in case portions OF the land had been already sold
within those limits the State restricted 10 single
land disircthe district in which the greatest part o the
road OF considerable portion OF IL, lay The State was
not allowed 10 20 any land district but the district OF
yi1csnnes, The unsod lands IN which had been 70 The
market for some forty years. aier all the besi land had
been bought up, and the land Offices were almost IN
condition 10 be closed for want OF purchasers now SIR
apart from that paramount affection which feel ior my
own State, and which trust every senator has ior bus
or q. an individual. would make second ~ my regard
10 Illinois, But did fear that, going beyond the
original principle the proposed grant, we sumua ed
The eupid.y oi States whee the principle did mol apply
and hazarded the introduction oi new system IL IS
sad thai Indiana has been favored 10 great extent BY
and we are grateful And think we should not trans
cend the pnncipe on which such grants have generally
been basedtha OF enhancing the value Of the conugu
ous public lands To make dreet aTgess TO any Slate
without corresponding advantage 10 he general govern
men involves Tue distribution princlPe, ana leaI ns
Jrad Ia lie conseq uences 10 the distribution system
admit the poprey and, far as The pFecedens o. 1oa-
gress for ong time concerned the power o. gtan.
ing public lands for the making Of roads ana improve.
mens in the States the principle Thai Inc Onea sass
the great land proprietor the new States, laying 20
taxes upon them, and that the burdens afe ~
early enigranis TO the new Slses were comparatively
poor macy o them out their lives 10 ine pehuy
and hardshps incident 10 frontier lite, anu obeIs arc
but ns emerging. through toll and pnyanon, lno 'sa
state of comfort and sfhaence enjoyed TO gIeaieg q
less extent in the older States Under al these el.
eum-lances. there is marked difference between ,ht
claim OF the young States the mgnihcence ana a..
ssanee o The general government and that o tner ooei
sisters The czens OF the States are called upon y
make and work the roads snd y ou' Jus, ana ~