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

es in any such claim Upon the principle that this
land Is given Illinois, other States similarly situated
viii come in for similar grants; and i the lands IN Hi
nos remaining unsod OF small value, those OF Iowa.
Wisconsin, &c, are extremely valuable.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. with 70 state 10 my fnend---
Mr. BUTLER. Will the senator give way to a motion
: Nj. DOUGLAS, Oh. no; hope that we may get
through with this bill in few minutes more.
In the hrst place. am sorry TO hear the sentiments
pressed by the honorable senator from Indiana, lm1
amend came from the State Of Maine. and not from Indi-
Hs thinks the nes q nn Ss b i WRONG when
aided them in obtaining appropriation OF 100000
acres q land for the purposes OF Internal improvements
Mr. BRIGHT was not then in Congress
Mr. DOUGLAS. know that but il was At the unan-
imous request Of the delegation OF that State that we re-
eaiousy between the two States 50 that when the one
has been served herself with what she requires, she
shoud turn round and her influence to prevent the
other from being aided in the same way. know that
my friend can have no such feeling And now with re-.
gard to another point: My friend from INDIANA is,
think laborng under mistake He seems to think that
this grant il going to the benefit Of a company
MI. BRIGHT. The State has. believe. chartered a
MI DOUGLAS There !. no such company now.
title and interest in the charter, ami the State now alone
Interested hope that this amendment will not prevail
this amendment and that il will be decided one way or
the other. have merely to say 70 my honorable friend
from Indiana. Mr. BRIGHT] that il we get anything, II
Congress is willing deal literally by ought to be
something which will enable accomplish the object
in view Now, we have no right 10 any portion OF the
public domain. We set up no claim o-it We do not
10 get what We can as gift aid specific work.
and said, II Congress consents 70 and US ought 70
20 far enough to secure the accomplishment OF the OBJ
Mr. BRIGHT II the senators from Illinois can satisfy
me that the Stale of Illinois would be and remain the
proprietor OF this work. would Withdraw my objection
Mr. SHIELDS One word 1 win relieve the senator
upon that point The State OF Illinois,
MI. DOUGLAS Mr.. President. will my colleague al
The VICE PRESIDENT. Does the senator from I'LL
nois, upon the left Of The chair, yield the fsorl
M. DOUGLAS. II the senator from Indiana TMr.
BRIoHTl will gowilh me to my residence, will show
HIM duplicate release from the company to the State Of
Illinois OF all their rights every kind unconditional and
complete The road belongs entirely 10 the State. and
not to any company whatsoever. made speech last
year against the charter Of that company in my Sate be-
cause was no. willing to make any application to Con-
gress for aid so long as the interest remained out Of the
State. would not advocate it until the release was
made. The release has now been made. and received
have received from the governor Of the State duplicate
copy of the release, with certificate of its record in the
proper ONCE would not advocate this appropriation
until that release made.
Mi. DAYTON have been little struck with some
Of the bearings Of this matter they have been presented
The senator the other side Of the chamber Mr. BRAD
IURY1 proposes strike out what would be equivalent
to about one-hird of the whole grant understand
from the senator from Illinois Mr. DoUGLAsl that there
about the proportion Of onethird Of the lands on the
MI DOUGLAS think. probably. about that--some-
where from one.quarteT TO 0ne-half.
Mr. DAYTON. The matter then, comes just to this
points that when the about to present to this
State stretch Of the public domain equal TO four hundred
miles in length and four miles in wldthor the bill as
il originally stood for stretch of four hundred miles
in length BY SIR miles in width and the reduction of
third viii be four miles in widht is serious ques-
ton whether she will accept at all or not inasmuch as
the whole amount asked for is not granted.
Mr. DOUGLAS. | will suggest reason why il il SO.
II 10 granted condition that we make and complete
railroad the whole length Of the route. and put il in
Grafton within period of ten years; and on the further
condition that we transport over It the government troops
and government property Of every kind free; and fur,
Congress shall prescribe and lreally doubt whether there
enough allowed to enable them to comply with the con-
M. DAYTON Most assuredly there is nothing oblig
aory in this act II the act passes il does not compel
them TO take the land They in worse position
than they were before certainly II, upon looking into
the matter they find that they cannot comply with this
condition, all they have to do Is not to take The land Il
imposes obligation upon the State Of Illinois But
sna munons %Sat Vii s q
Compulsory to carry the United States mail for sum
which the government Of the United States shall pre-
Every man knows that the government viii not
y and nggardy and the only good contained in the pro-
vision prevent any act OF exortion from the govern
merely question whether the State OF Illinois will hold
worth lie while TO take tract four hundred miles in
length and f0ur miles IN WON.
A SEEAToR Twelve miles,
Mr.. DAYTON do not know how the State OF I'LL.
nois would feel, but il il proposition made to New
Jersey, any OF the old thirteen, think they would
not stand hggng about few acres this side that
Now, sir II strikes that this is exceedingly liberal
proposition. am willing to act with degree OF lib
crafty. have constitutional scruples about IT, Nor
am capable Of approaching, in constitutional point OF
view, any very nice distinction between giving this land
to the State and giving II any company that the State
may choose 10 constitute its agent do not any very
nice distinction between making donation TO State 10
do this work and 10 company that may be chartered By
the State TO do the work. provided the State the
obligation Of saying that the work shall be done. do
not any marked distinction, in constitutional point
OF view between the act OF this government by the one
BY the other and far any beneficial results in
regard TO the government property from il, their
property equally benefited in The one in the other
case.
Bot sir, II seems to me that this proposition made by
the senator from Maine lMr, BRADBuRY1 IL fair and
reasonable proposition lakes away IRON the bill one Of
those aspects or provisions which, strikes me- is liable
TO- be improperly dealt with. There fruits likely to
snse under this bill authorizing the company, OF the
Senle or its agents, TO 20 outside the line OF The road
and make . selection elsewhere. II seems 10 me IL il
abIsso many objections interfering with other interests
Why. II you have prescribed line OF route laid down.
you exactly then what you to give, and the State
sees what h 10 take, and then the thing ended
Mr.. BRIGHT. wish 10 say word in reply 10
remark OF the senator from Illinois, Mr.. DoueLAs
The senator remarked that similar grant bad been
made the State which have the honor par repre-
sent Leaf should be understood resisting PROPOSE.
ton that had been extended 10 that State and unwilling
return i 10 the State Of Illinois, beg leave to correct
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