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


sold lands at least the derived from the lands
within their limits The consequence has been that al!
the old States, having themselves very considerable
sources, have constructed directly indirectly very i'm
portan public ihoroughfares useful and beneficial to
commercs and particularly to travel, and 10 the wealth,
prosperity, and advancement Of the whole country But
enterprise uaess they have been attended BY very great
delay and Embarrassment great and extensive country
like this has need OF roads and canals earlier than there
is an accumulation Of private capital within i, TIE STATE
the old States would show that the government OF the
States has lent or given its aid directly or indirectly 70
assist individuals or corporations in the construction OF
these great public works which now so productive
either to the State to the individuals by whom IN asso-
cated companies, they are owned
There are many curious facts connected with the his.
tory OF the internal improvement system ~ the older
States. Whoever will look into the satute.book 81 the
colony of New York will be struck with the beginning Of
the great system OF canals and roads, which Is now par
tally constructed and when completed Will connect me
port OF New York with the Pacific ocean; He will hnd
that in the time of Queen Anne the assembly OF the col
ony OF New York appropriated $500 TO John smith, o.
construct public roai, leading from New York to the
West and the appropriation was coupled with the condl-
ton that within two years from the time OF the passage
Of the act The benefcaries should have constructed
road wide enough for two carriages to pass from Nyack
on the Hudson river, TO Sterling Iron Works, distance
OF about twenty miles, and should have cut away the
limbs Of The trees so high up as TO allow carriage, with
caash top, to pass That was the commencement Of the
internal Improvement system in the State OF New York
which, after the lapse OF more than hundred and twenty
Years, has proceeded no further yet than 70 complete the
Erie cnaa and 70 open two railroads, one Of which i
completed and the other nearly so, from New York
to the mouth OF Lake Erie. ] regard this work
which is now under consideration here an ex-
tension Of that system anu the whole as constituting q
great national enerprisea great national horonghiare
With me, then, the question 49, whether II IS wise and
expecent TO devote the public lands for the accomplish
men Of this purpose and. il whether i is necessary
for the public interest that this road should be made ear
er than il would otherwise be BY private capital Now
- L.. tnll Nj
ing lands within their borders, and having unlimited pow
er have still found il difficult and embarrassing q
prosecute these improvements then i seems % me the
case of new States is essentially harder and difficult
and more entitled to the consideration OF the govern.
ment for happens that these new States are founded
upon territory belonging to the United Sates the United
States the lands and the government Of the States
cannot appropriate them. The government OF the United
States the lands and they cannot be taxed except
so far they sold; and these new members OF the
conederacy tributaries to the federal government
deprived OF the resources which the older States have
oyed for the purpose OF completing their public works
think, therefore, that the government owes i to itself
and 10 the States 10 make liberal, and at the same time
ulicious appropriations to extend lis net work OF rail-
roads and canals these new regions where the people
and the government unable TO construct the work
themselves. And if there were any apparent iaiacy y
this argument think should nevertheless be convinced
Of its soundness BY the fact that all the new States which
have undertaken to construct these necessary thorough
fares-necessary not only for themselves but Tor To-
whole countrynecessay the welfare and prosperity
and even the existence OF the Union-have all fount
themselves embarrassed and crppled and many OF then
rendered bankrupt by the attempt to accomplish op]ec
which they were unable to accomplish, and which I'M
federal government had ample power to carry into effect
is thus that the character Of the States has been Affect
ed II is thus that the morality OF the governments
the States has been impeached and has been done
the manner have indicated. from the circumstance ina
was devoved upon the governments OF the States
make works OF internal Improvement, while the re
which applicable to that object belonged al
! together to the federal government.
Now, do not know, but trust that the day Is ia
~, frru In
the purpose OF military deence but we can all see thai
the lime may come, and we know not how soon It may
be, when this and all our public roads may be required
for military purposes And if II be right in time oil peace
prepare for war, then il is right to make these appro
preparations which are, after all, most effective secur
ties for peace BY preventing war and are most ndspen
sable works OF defence in case OF actual war.
hear said that the government OF the United States
is trustee. do not find that the United States are
called by that title described trustee in re
gard TO this property II is indeed true that in one sense
general sense, the government is trustee over these
public ands but in no other sense than that they are
trustees Of the exercise OF their responsibilities q gov
ernng TO be supposed that they are hduciary
trustees that they have pecuniay trusts and that the
trusts consist holding these lands until they can sell
them al certain price, and then selling at this price
and then by process TO make nearly as possible
equal distribution OF the avails among all the people
OF the United States thus securing an equal individual
benefit in the land TO each individual citizen Now, SIR
find such limitation OF the general powers OF govern
ment the broad powers Of the over this do
main. II is power TO hold it, power TO use H. powert
dispose OF it, and to dispose OF il without any Limitations
prescribed upon discretion And then ID, like every
other power Of the government, to be exercised witt
Judgment wisdom, and due regard to the best inter
ests OF the country What then, Is the best and hgnes
interests OF the people Of the United States in regard q
this domains Ii is not to derive from II the hughes
amount OF current revenue II is not to accumulate 10 ou
Golfers the highest and greatest amount OF ayas IN hs
sales OF the public lands which is attainabe But u I
TO bring them into cultivation and settlement ~ the snort
est space OF time and under the most favorable auspices
And why is this the best interest OF the government
IL H.. nf IA ~
just in proportion population Is extended over VIVA
now constitutes the public domain and that the wealth
oil the increases IN the same ratio as Inc IN
crease oil popu aton and that the taxable ability OF the
people fol- purposes OF and war Is increased by hs
extension OF the population and BY the increase OF wealth
can conceive possible that IL is more profitable, NOR.
conducive 10 The interests OF the people OF the United
States even in fiscal or purely financial point OF view
To make large appropriations from this domain Tor thu
purpose OF enhancing their more speedy settlement thar
il would be retain them In misery grasp for the mer
purpose Of revenue II is therefore upon the ground tina
the most expedient and beneficial disposition oil this poi
ton Of the public lands devote il to the construction
OF public roads beneficial all the people OF the Unlles
States as we'll as to the States which Immediately
i bill and OF all similar bills which properly guarde'
in their provisions and shall give them my most corda
and effective support hope that the bill will be passed
i Mr CASS hold in my hand, Mr. President, an &C
almost like the one have before passed in thu
year l7gl authorizing location OF two sections IA Ohio
upon the condition that road should be opened an
communication established, this road and ferries we
Il necessary TO emigration This act was passed dufini
\ Washngton's administration
| The question being then stated upon the amendmen
i offered By the senator from Alabama,
il Mr. CHASE called for the reading OF the amendment