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

The object Of the amendment was 10 exclude the Stat
from going beyond the strip OF twelve miles wide int
other parts OF the Stale for the residue OF the lands
feared the bill granted the power TO Gull the best land
IN the State am glad to find, however lhat my ap
prehenslons ON that score were not well founded ns
that the selection. when you 90 out OF the STRIP is re
stncted 70 LANDS contiguous but contiguous in wha
/ Mr., DAVIS. Of Mississippi win the senator yield
| me the floor for moment
/ MIR. WHlTCOMB With pleasure.
i Mr.. DAVIS The language is ''most contiguous
II therefore, nothing touches or comes in contact they
Mr. WHiTCoMB Now, / feel strong desire to
vote Tor this bill, but do not wish 10 20 further than we
have heretofore gone There was this additional
ior making the grant IN the case OF Indiana The gene
raj government had made grant for the continuation OF
the Wabash and Erie canal. commencing at the mouth
of the Maumee ver in the Stale of Ohio, and extending
TO near Lafayette in Indiana After the canal was fin.
ished, II was abundanty ascerlaned that il useless
as connecting link Of navigation between the Ohio riv
er and The Lakes except Tor short period during the
year. in consequence OF the unflness Tor navigation Of
the Wabash river, with which II was connected. II was
deemed important TO continue the canal down TO the Ohio
ryer where i Is naygabe To- greater or less extent al
all seasons Of the year One OF the original advantages
proposed to the general government in making this grant
was the transportation OF the property oil The Unlted
States. and especially OF troops and munitions Of
free OF charge The canal would be nearly vaueless
for this object without further grant Aud il was i'm
porah % make the latter grans IN order TO make the first
one available
Now Mr. President will not say that shall not vote
for the bill, il is for find that my principal
objection il has been removed but still not to the ex
tent which had hoped If the language OF the bill
be construed 10 allow unrestricted selection oil lands
throughout the State then doubt if SO magnificent
donation for such object has been made since the gov
| ernnlent was formed
Mr., DODGE, OF Iowa. Will my friend from Indiana
allow me TO ask him single questions
/ Mr.. WHlTCOMB. Certainly.
Mr., DODGE. wish. then, 10 ask him il, upon this
line OF canal through his State 10 which he has referred
the remaining alternate sections Of The government OF
the United Safes were not sold at 81 25 Pin other
words, any such rigorous provision imposed upon
Indiana IN that magnificent grant which now imposed
Mr.. WHlTCOMB Yes. Mr.. President; such is my
impression. There is another feature in this bill which
distinguishes from the grants TO Indiana, concerning
which should like some explanation understand that
the bill, as II now stands, grants every alternate section
OF unsold land within the strip Of twelve miles wide to
the State for the construction of the road and that,
make up The difference occaSioned by much OF such
lands have been heretofore sod the State may select
from the sections reserved to the United States within
that strip before she compelled 10 take contiguous lands
beyond those limits
Mr.. DOUGLAS. The bill provides that the alternate
secuons unsod within the SIX miles, granted for the
purpose OF this road and, to make up the grant, the
due is TO be selected in alternate sections contiguous 10
the line OF the road. where the lands remain vacant.
There right TO choose We are bound to take the
good and bad lands as we lind them. The bill itself de-
termines what shall take hope, therefore, that this
explanation will remove all apprehensons that are to
select all The good lands and reject the bad throughout
the Stale. One word about the grant TO Indiana The
senator argues The question there had been one
grant TO his State By reference 10 the records, he
will hnd that there have been at least four large
grants besides several smaller ones-one in 1897 Tor
10000 acres. and another the year for $4,000
S fsrss Su Noh u sasase % e wa sa leaana again aPesa
her canal for $4,000 acres and again, in 1s45 she
received an additional grant Of 100000 acres-making
about million and half in all liwas my fortune 10
be in the House OF Representatives when the $40 900
acre grant was made and |, together with the entire lii
nos delegation IN both houses supported thai b warm
posing the iirst time that we should make similar
application sub nit 10 the senator under these circum
stances, whether his opposition does not come with bad
grace But the objects that bill does not
line 10 the six miles viii remind him that the grant
TO his State not restricted 10 SIX miles, nor 10 ten, nor
twenty miles; but that Indiana was allowed TO select the
good lands and reject the poor, anywhere within the
land districts. There was not such limit as Is I'm.
posed grant; di their bill raise the price OF
The remaining alternate sections Ss does our S 70 two
from that State lighting us 10 the death under the probes
sons OF friendship they give us the mos, deadly stabs
bill did contain one-ienh Of the resircSons already
Mr. WfiTTCoMB one.tenthi
Mr. DOUGLAS. Yes; there was no restriction upon
the Indiana grant as to distance except The limits Of the
land district and the price OF the alternate sections was
no; doubled, as is The case in our bill.
Mr.. WHlrC0MB Well, SIR, we could not 90 through
Out The State we were restricted TO single districts and
il the Senator from Illinois will 20 into that slct and
look among the hills for lands that have lain for foriy
years. begging vain for purchasers, think he will end
condilon OF paying the taxes.
Mr. DOUGLAS. The same is true of some land with
Us.
Mr.. WHTTC0M3. II il is the sane with Illinois. |
have yet TO traye4 over the worst parts OF that Stale
Now, Mr. Presdent, make professions that do not
feel but not 10 be deferred from the line oi duty by
the ascrPhon Of any motives whatever. shall be gov
erned strictly BY what conceive is demanded by the
public interest II my declarations OF the truth are 10 be
regarded deadly stabs shall eDdeavor that they shall
be deadly sabs eor and shall be prompted BY tue
yctons of an honest heart Before this discussion Is
through think the senator from illinois viii see that,
by taking in larger scope in his bill than has ever yet
been sanctioned BY this government be has LAID himself
open 10 the charge oi yergng toward principle which
hope he will repudisieihai OF the distribution OF the
public lands mong he States
1 MIR. DOUGLAS. l wish 10 inquire what The honora-
BILE senator BY wider scope. Did not you select
land for twenty miles either side OF the canal you
made
several SENATORS Not in order
/ Mr. DOUGLAS Then ask the Chair. II Indiana was
not allowed 70 60 thirty, forty, or hy miles, While we do
/ not 90 but ten
Mf. WHiTCoNB. The senator seems to understand
The phrase "wide scope in very literal sensein the
Of geographical distance. imagine that the object
of pursuit much enhanced in value 10 by the re-
Election that greater distance has been travelled and more
time lost 10 search for IT, especially il should turn out
comparatively vaueless when found. Whal meant BY
The phrase thai better and more aads and that less iTou
bic travelling iof them, be obtained under this grant
than under the last grant Indiana proportion The
length Of the two works.
Now SIR wish TO aFn the attention OF senators to the
second section OF the amendment reported by the
mitee may have mlsconceiyed it, but my object j. 10
get al the truth not rise tor the purpose of cavi
Ing of engaging In controversy for the parpose OF
victory. ! very i'll qualified Tor a contest Of that