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

speculate upon its own lands al the expense OF those who
are 70 settle upon them and cultivate them.
For my own part, am 10 favor OF granting the whole
OF the public lands 10 the States to be granted by them at
the cost OF survey 10 actual settlers have introduced
bill Tor that purpose The honorable from Massa
ehuseits Mr. WEBSTER has 4 resolution pending look
Ing 10 the same end and The senator from Illinois himself
lMr DoUGLAsl has likewise bill to cede those lands TO
actual settlers IN limited qsanes and this reform seems
10 TO be peremptorily demanded by the public sent
menf throughout the whole country.
Well, now, sir, here is body OF land four hundred
miles in length and six miles broad, throughout which il
proposed not only not 10 cede the lands freely but not
to reduce the price, but the contrary, 10 raise
the price TO twice what il now is ! am therefore OPP
posed TO it. | am willing TO vote for the bill with thai
provision stricken out My honorable colleague has in
troduced bill OF similar kind, TO grant to Wisconsin
portion OF the public lands and also TO increase the price
OF those which are retained When that bill comes up
shall make the proposition to amend shall do IL
with certain feeling OF being sustained by my consiitu
enls; for am fully confident that after the experience
.nsy have had n regard 70 lands granted 70 AID n me
increase the price OF lands ia that State hundred
cent will be reprobated We all know that the lands
through which this road passes have been IN the market
long time some OF them as much as twenty five years;
and we all know, likewise that when lands have been
long time IN the market, and not taken up they
are usually OF an inferior quality, such as cannot De
made 10 sell at the regular price OF dollar and quarter
acre Now, by running road through such lands, II
is possible that you may add such value the alternate
sections reserved to the government bring them up
to that rate and they may be rapidly Sold and the money
be received into the public treasury OF the United States
But when you increase the price, on the ground that
you have added 10 the value, you liable and likely to
keep the price still above what the lands can be sold for
10 the injury OF the road the settlers, the State, and the
treasury Of the United States. believe i is the policy
OF the United States Il know is The policy OF the State
OF Iinois and believe il is the feeling Of the people Of
the United States that the price of the public lands shall
be reduced instead Of neased. shall move to strike
out the provision 10 which have alluded as soon as the
present amendment is disposed Of
Mr. BUTLER Does the senator from Illinois blr
to Press vote On N. this Oil na ioda
for years. and the principle has been. think, sufficiently
discussed be understood by the Senate and BY the
country. hope to get final vote on the subject to-
Mr. BUTLER. do not propose now to go extensive
ly into the discussion. not prepared u do 50.
presume the bill has not been thoroughly examined BY
any except by the honorable senator himself
Mr. DoUoLAs,l whose duty is, the advocate OF the
measure to present all the considerations in favor OF it,
II he believes i to be right But the senator from Wis
consn Mr. WALKERl goes openly upon the ground that
the lands in question should be given away 10 the States
for the purpose OF aiding them the work Of internal
improvements; and that this clear donation of
these lands should be made to the State of Illinois think,
sir, that in either il the thing. Ii
is donation Of million and half or two millions Of
ment. The public lands are, in my opinion, the
thing as the public treasury do not intend to 90 into
the argument now: | am not fully prepared 10 do so
Six miles in width, and four hundred miles in length,
the whole multiplied by six hundred and forty, give
about million and half acres OF land, amounting
about two millions of dollars in value; which We are
public lands. under the preext OF adding the amount
OF value TO the lands that retained But the senator
from Wisconsin ut MaLKssl rises. and nd, frankly pro-
the purpose OF helping her TO execute work OF internal
improvement Now, sir, gentlemen are opposed 10 any
general system OF internal Improvement BY the federal gov
eminent, account of the Baltimore platform, some
other platform, when they entirely willing and
anxious 10 do the thing in different preparations OF
local and limited character. Now, for one, prefer
if the thing is 10 be DONE that it should be done upon
uniform and equitable SYSTEM looking 10 the inter
ests OF the whole United States and not by this method
of providing by special bills for particular sections of the
country. am not In favor OF either system, because
have constitutional difficulties upon the subject But II
either system must prevail would very much prefer the
But sir did not intend to say so much upon the sub
lect now. Ii my friend from Illinois presses vote now,
feel bound TO state those objections with which am pre-.
pared at the moment have doubt the bill will pass.
The States having interest in it combining their
forces and have not the ghei idea that the old thirteen
States. who have interest directly in these improve
menis, will be able 10 offer any successful resistance, or
to secure themselves any benefit from the public domain
which Is thus literally 10 be given away. have no
believe my friend from Wisconsin has bull looking
the same way. have stated the objections which occur
to me, without The opportunity for examination
Mr. CASS. MIR. President should greatly prefer that
this amendment should not be pressed shall vote for
the bill and for the amendment ii Il is inserted but
have serious objections to Its insertion think that each
measure should stand upon Its merits The original
bill here relates TO the railroad in the State OF Illinois
You attach 10 II amendment carrying il throagh
the States OF Kentucky, Tennessee, mississippi and Ala
bama prefer very much that each separate PROPOSE.
ton should be judged by itself But, sir do feel
the difficulties, upon the general subject, which present
themselves TO some OF the senators upon this side OF the
house, and especially to the honorable senator from
South Carolina. have been this subject with him
many times before. There is assumption OF iursdic.
ton by the general government whatsoever. There is
fnndamen al difference between this and the case
OF the government OF the United States undertaking
work OF internal Improvement It's account. in
voving the exercise Of jurisdiction such works
a nf kiz hare IA ms
OF jusdcton here. SIR That difficulty does not arse al
all The jurisdiction Is left where II belongs, with the
States themselves II leaves them TO do precisely they
pease-io make the road or leave il unmade
Then, sir, what is the reason why we should make
such appropriation The reason very manifest In
all the portions OF the United States this government
owns large part OF the property; they offer i for SALE
- surveyed, and emigration IL invited. Tract after
tract Is sod roads made built up, and i'm
poyements OF very great value 10 the country go
which increase the value OF the land, while the govern
men sits still and does nothing desire TO know II this
government being the great landholder, TO do nothing
ior the settlements, while these improvements made
BY the people, but TO sit still and demand it's pound OF
hesh Tor the bondl There other government in the
world thai would do thus You ask pioneers 20 and
convert the country from wilderness TO high state OF
Why should not you pay your reasonable proportion as
the great land owner of the country for that which
abes you TO sell your land at increased value, BY
bringing property into Market which, but for these
improvements, would have been useless This practice
has prevailed almost from the foundation OF this govern
ment When was young man, three tracts OF land
granted 80 citizens OF Wheeling 10 enable them TO
vle 10 Kentucky, and TO establish the necessary fees
and thus enable 10 and