The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-30

ind ii runs through several 6ne towns as Bloomington
Five six miles around that all the lands are taken up
3d. in some other places Immediately around the towi
il all taken up But again you get into the large pra
ies, where the lands wholly vacant My impression
is that large majority Of this land is still vacant Inn
Nj. DAWSON. That is his belief. Now. wish 70
bring the question. not upon the principle merely, 1u'
upon the case before If all the lana We're nnuis
posed OF by the government there would De SIX miles q
land throughout the whole length OF the State OF ili
nois transferred 10 that State. whether y passes nfougi
the fertile or the most poor secoh OF the state
Now sir when il strikes The good lands Of llnoisand
going throughout the State must strike three ourhs Of
Their best sectionswhen you come INTO county where
the lands are all settled still you are entitled under this
bill am speaking not OF the principle now but OF It's
90 either to the right or the left fifteen
twenty miles. where you can get contiguous sections
Perhaps they will so for miles in some instances, before
thew will strike the public lands What is the result OF
This bili You may go ten miles off and take your
lion or il you cannot find il there, you may go twenty
or fifty miles for i They are not lands contiguous
10 The road merely that granted Ii they be there,
hey are appropriated II they be not there, you to
ave 10 the right 10 the left unll you find ihem and
thus take your six miles in width throughout The whole
klength OF the State II you pass through county where
mere are no lands you may 90 into The adjacent county
Won are to have million and half OF not upon
he line OF The railroad, but lying within the State Of IL
nois Now the principle established by Congress, ac-
ordng to senator's is 10 appropriate the contiguous lands
10 The line upon which the railroad runs upon the sug
eeson that the lands being unoccuped by our citizens
invite population there ana increase NE yaIne, eaa
cp does moi apply here II may apply ten miles, and
perhaps fifty miles together. Beyond that will not ap
ply al all Still you make the approximation, not upon
his principle but donation, and let the lands be found
anywhere the State OF Illinois That is one objection
Now, sir, when you come 10 the State of Mississippi
Alabama the country is different There you 90 lmme
daply upon the pine barrens There the public lands
are not settled There the public lands are OF no value
There the appropriation will amount to little or noihng
If Il is made But sir, that is not the ground upon which
| dasira IN Ill
upon the ground OF constitutional right Inc ds,n-
guished senator from Michigan Mr. CAss] tells us that
senator from Alabama mr. KlNG] tells us that the late
President OF the United States msook the constitutional
questions which he decided in his veo and the senator
sad Ms ss esa s 'f how s 90
this principle? Mark you, am an internal im-
poyenent man 10 the extent Of the powers which are
constitutions and will go to the extent Of those powers,
Md shall only be limited by my construction OF the
siituion and my conscientious convictions upon that
point They allegs that the government Q, O. me United
my view Of this subject is this, and will reduce il 10 a
distinct principle III moment, and show its application
The government OF the United States Is mere trustee
Of public property, either for the beneo Of the States,
the old republican party would state it, or for the benefit
Of the people large the old federal party would say
so that the government take it in any view s trustee.
either for the people at large for the States. Now, sir
desire to know in this case upon which we are now
acting and take The first time that am called upon to
give vote upon the principle 10 examine it'll de-
SIRE to know how the trustee, the general gov
eminent, has right to make a donation of any part
the estate to any part OF the people States
whom it is held in trust In other words il yon sir,
your individual person, represented the people Of these
United States, and about to make disposition Of
he property belonging TO that peoples ycu would ask
ourself the question when about 10 make the donation,
Upon what principle or BY what authority am doing
this! Now, where is it Iwauld thank any gentleman
Bin the course OF the argument to convince me; for de-
e to improve the country and il there is such power
under the constitution, | desire to know IT. How has
Congress- the trustee, the right make donation TO the
State of Illinois, of the fducares of the trust and
tell the other twenty mine States that do It in
er benefit the whole, considered duciaries OF the
rust The power not, in my judgment, in the hands
vof Congress The public property belongs 10 the entire
reope, and when dispose OF it, must dispose OF il
upon principle
lis said that the argument is good because we there
Nby enhance the value OF the public property But the
question comes back to us again. Can trustee dispose OF
part oil the property OF trust estate in order to make
hat OF the other hducaries OF the valuable
That is not principle OF justice OF equity, and does
not to me to be grant Of the constitution Let
oa little uher and suppose that the citizens Of lli-
os should petition here Tor large tracts OF country be.
ongng TO the general government in the State of Illinois
which cannot be disposed OF until they occupied and
eued-shoald petition that you should appropriate mil.
ION and half Of OF land, order to erect manu-
lciupg establishments. in order to increase the public
property which is all around. What is the difference
Wherein does il consist Give every alternate section
the public lands Tor miles around, and will erect
nanufacory, which will increase the value OF the othe
sections Where is the authority for il and what cons
ues the difference between railroad 10 be established
Ind erected by State, and manufacturing establish
nen 10 be established and built by the State None Yor
pay carry the principles MIR. President, into every powe
hal belongs 10 this goyernment-every question That IN
Wolves prosperity and our happiness There is mos
auabe fall OF water Of your streams where there
very poor land. No man will purchase that land
Fanser that TO me make donation OF IL TO me
nd will erect gris-mill or a Touring mill upon thai
all il you will give all the alternate sections you
Ill thereby promote the sale of the public properly and
naa1ce its value Now, sir. do you not at perceive
pat The principle will not bear investigation and that
pan that has some conscientious scrupes that be canno
oe Tor II under the constitution and doubling ough
ol TO be looked upon not belonging to the age oil
ogress' Here is limitation upon the power, there
no,Power at all How | exercise ~ cannot do
You say you advance the prosperity OF the country
ou increase the value OF the public lands. Why sir, il
bad adopted the principle that Congress can do any
ing IN the way OF internal Improvements. which would
vance the prosperity oil the country in our judgment
the controversy aboutthe Cumberland road would have
asedi because you make the discretion and the judg
ent OF ne representatives of the people the limitation
me powers under which they act, not the consti.
ton The great West now are united on this point
=, strange 70 tell, you may transfer citizen, or
Itcldn II you please, from my region, or any
ner region oil The country, 10 the West and all the
nuences OF education seem 10 be forgotten, and he
mes back again an nternal-improvement man. beIiev-
IN tne powers OF the government Ii is not the
ming which Affects the mind, but il is the result Of that
lefcs which surrounds and controls the whole West
ence IS that we find very little division upon the sub
oil internal improvements. do MOI blame them.
oe' and undoubtedly am, influenced myself But
y when am disnteresied, and can think independent
hnnences and circumstances which might surround
u al The West have time 10 reflect, and con-
AIMED, although against my inclinaons--for wish to
lhe country improving rapidly--to act accordingly