Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-07

ESQ 600 Of the public land and construct work OF
internal nent--wheher canal or railway. There
is the State Of Florida II appropriation Of the publc
lands made to her, canal might be constructed TO
avoid thar dangerous capeone of the most dangerous on
coast repeat this partial Legislation upon the sub
ject of internal improvements And constrained TO
vote against it, unless adopt general plan and make
general appropriation Of the proceeds OF the public lands for
the purpose throughout the United States
have been satisfied since the commencement OF this ses
sion that the public lands of the country all to be taken
away BY appropriations Of this kind and the old States
be deprived Of any advantage whatever arising out Of the
sales Of the public lands Hence is that have announced
before that the better plan would be to divide the proceeds OF
the public lands among the States. Then all Of US can
come forward and get proper share But if suffer
ourselves to 60 from year year. appropriang to the
new Sies these large number Of the consequence
will be that there will scarcely be enough lands left to pay
the expenses of our land system.
Mr. CASS. Mr.. President wish to say but few
words and do not to trouble the Senate again
this subject will merely remind the honorable Senator
from Georgia that the general subject Of internal improve
ent the first question, with respect to the action Of the
General Government is the question of jurisdiction When
the General Government undertakes to make road running
through State by its authority that brings very
serious question: respecting which there many doubes and
disbeevers But the General Government provides
Of its lands improve the residue and proposes
to State do the work. the subject assumes very different
aspect there is question Of conflicting jurisdictions.
From the days Of General Washington, from 1896, when
the road first from Wheelng Limestonethe his
tory Of which knows better than the distinguished
Senator from Kentucky (Mr CLAY)-when that road
run by the United States, and paid for by three tracts
of land granted Ebenezer Zanes where Zanes-
vile now il, another where Lancaster is and another
opposite Chllicoherom that day to this, the United
States under the principle of its duty great land owner
have considered that they have right to dispose of these
lands for the purpose OF increasing the value of other
tons of them II is not only constitutional, but II is just
right it is liberal just is just for the Government should
not sit still and hold to their lands and yet perform none
Of the great functions Of landowner They should not
bv
duy and by the capital Of their citizens and remain nacve
expecting their property to be improved without their
ration Should the forest be cleared and roads establishes
built all the great Improvements take place that give
value country-shoud all this be done by indivi
dua, by the purchasers of the land and the great land
holder sit still and reap the benefit in the appreciation OF I'M
mense domain, whose administration committed to US
But the honorable Senator this canal to one across
the peninsula Of Florida and says that we can as well make
the the other Now sir appreciate the immense
importance of communication which would avoid the danger
navigation around the point Of Foda but that subject
before us and it involves considerations not applicable TO
this proposition We do the land for hundreds OF
miles along the coast stretching from each extremity Of the
proposed communication, and which, did, might render
corporation proper with view to the enhanced value
would give property, and esp cialy if there
other Of reaching domain but through mpedmens
which added greatly the other expenses The afford
no parallel in the mere discharge Of our duty land
holder.
Mr. BUTLER. Mr.. President, wish to understand the
import of this bill and Of the amendment before give any
way the other. If understand this BILL it pro-
poses give five hundred thousand acres of land to Michigan,
with obligation upon her that she will the money arising
from the sale Of that land construct canal about mile IN
length suppose around the falls of Lake Superior into the
river. That is the bill, as underestimate Them the amend
men understand it. Of this import That Michigan shall
have the power until she enburses herself for all the
of the canal impose such tolls she may think
proper but when she shall have been reimbursed for the
penses Of canal then there condition that she shall resort
than such moderate tolls will keep up the canal
suppose that is the proposition. Michigan is to have
limited power in imposing all who pass through the
canal until she is reimbursed for all its expenses
Now am not acute enough to recognise the distinction
laid down confidently by the gentleman from Michigan
He that he consuonay consent that the United
States shall undertakes of internal improve
ments for all the States for number Of States for
State. He is opposed the United States having s
dcion Of the works which may be built up improved by
their money But he reconcied to the policy BILL by
saying that the United States may appropriate much money
they please, Gland being regarded substitute for mo
ney may appropriate say fifty millions Of dollars to Mch
gan, and let Michigan cut the canal But if the United
States to appoint commissioners the canal for their
USE for the of their citizens generally, it would
be repugnant to his notions of the constitution Well
may be permitted say, that of these systems of improve
ment would prefer that which should be carried by the
United States provided the system to be effected by their
money.
IT, sir, we appropriate money for internal improvements
especially when they through lands, cannot
why should preserve jurisdiction them
the benefit Of the United States impose such tolls
may think proper, without deegang State the power
impose tolls ad Gbtu for time, and then restrict
discretion afterwards. It has been said that there is very
large class Of politicians opposed to appropriation of the
public funds for system of internal improvements.
Mr. CASS. Will the honorable gentleman allow say
word have said that the General Government
might appropriate money for these objects have put this
question exclusively upon that power in the constitution
which gives authority dispose of the public domain.
Mr.. BUTLER. The Senator willing TO give away the
public lands of which money realized for internal i'm
provements. But if it proposed TO take money out Of
the Treasury for that purpose suppose be would object
/ Mr.. CASS, Gin his seat) will think Of that when it
comes.
| Mr.. BUTLER. The position Of the Senator them is
this So long there is land of which money can be
realized he is reconced to give it away Michigan
or any other State.
Mr.. President have no doubt that the work which is con-
templaed BY the provisions Of this BILL from the representa-
tons have heard, may be Of very general utility But
suppose that the value of the land proposed be
will amount to two millions Of dollars
/ Mr.. Glass; Gin his seat) OBJ, no; not the half of it.
! MI. BUTLER Why this bill sppropraes 500, 900 acres
Of land and take good land for have doubt that the
best land will be selected The best land in Michigan would
certainly be worth dollars per That would amount
to million dollars. Now, sir such proposition so far as
know, has been contained in single bill that has
| passed this body. @
know it is useless for raise up objections Of this
kind We departed from the strict principle of the consu
ton the allowed State take money for
the improvements which it had undertaken We have
limitation. We give the jurisdiction Of this work up Mich
gan the finished and we furnish the money to
finish it. We abandon oil jurisdiction, and give up
single State. But the gentleman says this approprat
inc tis Qnlx of land ondv