The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-03

on either side Of the canal and The other public land
will not thereby be advantaged go against the appro
right TO appropriate TO any individual State the publ
lands belonging all the States for the benefit OF the ndi
vdua State alone and the only ground upon which w
have ever justified was by taking the alternate sections
and thereby increasing the value OF the remaining land
equal to the value OF the whole before the grant
made That reasoning does not exist here. And ther
the principle upon which you appropriate the public and
necessarily varies But left without any principle
upon which we have heretofore acted TO vindcate th
Union that would not take 100000 Of land. ant
construct internal Improvement, railway or canal
There is the State Of Florida. Going arouud the cape
one of the most dangerous passages we have on oul
coast on account Of ihe shoals reefs and rocks with
an appropriation Of the public lands canal might be
through TO the Gull of Mexico, thus making the passage
more safe But would we ask il for the State OF For
da alone
repeat it, sir this is very partial legislation upon the
subject OF internal improvements; and am constrained
make general appropriations Of the proceeds Of the pub
Il an ssaa s:ss ss..s .ae. s' ,s Bsssss sS%
nencemen OF this sessontha the public lands Of this
country are all to be taken away by appropriations OF
this kind and the old States to be deprived of any ad
vantage whatever arising out of the sales OF these lands
and hence it that have announced before that the bet
ter plan would be to divide the proceeds of the public
lands among all the States Then will get proper
share But if we suffer ourselves to 90 year after
year appropnang to the States this large number OF
acres the consequence will be that there viii be scarcely
enough left TO pay the expenses of surveying.
Mr. CASS. Mr. President, wish to say but few
Words and do not mean to trouble the Senate again
this subject will merely remind the honorable senator
from Georgia that on the general subject OF internal Inn
poyements the first question with respect to the action
Of the general government the question of jurisdiction
When the general government undertakes to make a
road running through State by its own authority that
brings up very question, respecting which there
are many doubers and disbeeyers But when The gen
eral government provides funds out OF it's land 10 i'm
prove the residue, and proposes to State 10 do the work,
the subject very different aspect. there is
From the days OF General Washngton-from 1896,
when the road first from Wheeling to Limestone,
the history of which knows better than The dis
tinguished senator from Kentucky, [Mr CLAY,l when
the road by the United States and paid for by
three tracts OF land granted 10 old Ehenezer Zanes one
where GAINESVILLE now is, another where Lancaster is,
and another opposite Chillcothefrom that day to this
the United States. under the principle Of their duty
landowner, have considered that they have right TO
dispose" of their land for the purpose Of increasing
other portions OF IT. II s not only constitutional, but
it is just, il is right, is liberal. 1t is just for the gov
eminent should not SIT SUI, and hold on to their lands.
and yet perform OF the great functions OF land
owner. They should not their land improved by the
progress OF settlement by the industry and by the capital
of their citizens, and remain inactive, expecting their
property 10 be improved without their cooperation
Should the forest be cleared up roads established towns
built all tine great improvements take place that give
value TO counryshould all this be done by ind
vduas by the purchasers OF the land and the great land
holder sit still and reap the benefit the appreciation OF
the immense domain whose administration committed
10 usl
But the honorable senator compares this canal to one
the peninsula OF Florida and says that
well make as the other. Now, sir, appreciate the
avoid the dangerous navigation round the point Of
Florida But that subject is not before us; and il in
wolves considerations not applicable TO this proposition.
We do not the land for hundreds OF miles along the
coast stretching from each extremity OF the proposed
communication, and which, il did, might render
operation proper, with view 10 the enhanced value II
would give to our property and especially there were
other means OF access TO domain but through I'M
pedments which added greatly the other expenses The
cases afford no parallel IN the mere discharge of our duty
landholder
Mr. BUTLER | wish TO understand the import OF
this bill and the amendment before give vote way
Or The other The bill proposes to give 500 900 acres Of
land Ia Michigan, with an obligation upon part that
she will use the money arising IRON the sal OF that land
for the purpose OF cutting canal ffomL axe Superior 10
the 1iye,1aooui Yer, " m me s IN Length Suppose under,
| understand ii, is OF this import-hat Michigan shall
have the power, until she reimburse herself for all OF he
expenses impose such toll she may think proper Az
ter she has reimbursed all the expense which she may
subject herself, then there is condition that she shall
resort to no more than such moderate tolls will keel
up the canal She has unlimited power in imposing
upon all that pass through the canal, until she is REIN
bursed all her expenses
cannot very well recognise the distinction which ha:
been laid down confidently by the senator from Mch
gan, MIR CAssl He says thai he will not consent, on
any terms, that the United States shall undertake any
general system OF internal mprov ement for all the States
or portion of the States fer any OF the States
He opposed the United ST. ties having The jurisdiction
Of the works which may be built up improved by he
money. But he reconcies ie constitution By saying tha
ihe United States may appropriate as much money--lan'
being regarded but substitution for moneythe Uniiet
States may appropriate $50ooO,000 to Michigan, and lie
Michigan cut the canal, when, II the were to appon
commissioners to cut the canal Tor u.s. Tor our own us
and our citizens generally IL would be repugnant to hi
opinions oil the constitution. Yet may be permitted Y
say, with all due Difference 10 him, that would prefe
that all internal improvements should be carried on by tn
general government provided those improvements are
be effected by her money. II appropriate money 10
internal Improvements, do not why should not
particularly when they through our vacant lands
preserve jurisdiction them for the beneht oi IN
United States, and impose such tolls as we may thnl
proper We give TO Michigan the power TO impose thea
ad lbsnm for time, and then restrict to her necessl
ties understand that there class o politicians op
posed to appropriation OF public lands for internal i'm
n MIR CASs,. VIII the honorable senator allow 4
say wordi have not said that the general govern
ment may appropriate money put tins exclusively upo
that power OF the constitution to dispose OF The public do
main, and there leave ihe question.
MIR. BUTLER We'll. SIR, the honorable senator say
,ha, we dispose OF the public lands, and mone
to make these internal improvements. That about tn
proposition II you propose to take money out OF ir
treasury to make internal Improvements, suppose IN
honorable senator would not agree to IT,
MIR. President, this work which seems 10 be contem
plated by the provisions OF this bill, have no doubt
from the representations here, may be o very genera
utility But my dirhculiy and my real difficulty is tha
we ought not to appropriate money suppose TINS VII
amount TO about 81 100000.
Mr.. CASS Gin his seai.) not half million
Mr.. BUTLER take it, MIR. President, That I'M
land--500,000 acres-I suppose that II VIII be the oes
hat can be selectedcoud certainly be sold fo TWO uo
lars Now this land is left to Michigan, so tba
mas never been, that know OF, contained IN sngl
bill thai has been passed 5y this body know that II