Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-04

BILL and believe that tho Senator from Arkansas lMr Dor
LAsp) has bill also in way connected with it and
therefore have the least idea that any opposition made
by representative of Of the old thirteen States will
be successful but certainly feel my duty stand up
make what objections can to bills of tbs kind.
Mr., CASS earnestly hope that the Senator from Ala
bama will not press It's amendment to the present bill Fo
one sir desire vote for the principal bill, and then fol
the amendment proposed in separate bill have serious
and difficult objections 10 the association OF these two mea
sures think that each had better stand by ITSELF You
by attaching this amendment the BILL provide for carrying
this railroad through the States Of Tennessee Kentucky
Alabama, and Mississippi; and SIR, with equal proPney
might attach amendment providing Tor the extension
of the railroad into every State In the Union Sir let
take the measures ON their own peculiar mers-let each
stand upon its foundation. do not perceive any diff
Guilty with respect to the OF Congress which some gen.
temen feel this subject The Senator from South Caro-
lima and myself have contested The principle involved in this
bill several times Sir there fundamental difference between
the principle of this bill and the Government carrying
improvement There no proposition in this bill
that the Government should build the road there is
sumption of authority within the jurisdiction OF the States for
that purpose whatever That point therefore, is wholly
of view The jurisdiction left entirely to the States do
they please make the road or leave the road unmade
What then, is the why should make such ap
propaon To my mind, sir, the is manifest In all
the new portions of the United States this Government
large proportion of the property. They sell it. They
offer for SALE 1t is surveyed thrown into Market and en
grafton is invited. Tract after tract is sold, roads made
villages and built up, and all the improvements hat
of value country 60 and increase the value OF
the lands, and you sit and do nothing want to know IT
this Government being great land owner, to do nothing
Civil government is there maintained by the people, roads
are maintained by the people, all that constitutes civil society
maintained by the people and yet when they here
and ask for appropriation Of land you fall back and ask the
cash value Sir there not Government on the face Of the
globe that would do that You ask the pioneers of the set
emen go there and spend lives raising the country
om Wilderness wilderness bowling before the industry Of
man. without which would be worhless-and you sit and
do nothing.
Why should you pay your reasonable proportion,
Of this land towards its and settlement
leaving the question of jurisdiction to the States respectively
From the foundation of the Government rom General Wash
ingons day, this has been done. Whsn but lad
road made from Wheeling to Limestone under General
Washingtons administration. This the first that
crossed the Ohio No seriously doubted that the
Government in the character of land owner, has right to
aid building roads through its lands to render those
lands valuable. But there is another difficulty in this
matter. This amendment, if understand it, gives the right
for railroad through two Ststes where the Govern
ment does not own foot of public land.
Mr.. KING. To what States does the Senator refer
Mr.. CASS. To Tennessee and Kentucky. .<
Mr.. KING. With those States The amendment has no.
thing 10 do. refers merely to tie States of Alabama and
Mississippi.
Mr.. CASS. 1t is restricted then, than thought
was and have therefore kind of objection to it. except
that would prefer separate measure and not as
part of this bill. @".
1, will be recolected that most of the older of the
tates-Oho Indiana, and oaers-have received much
larger grants Of the public lands upon this principle than any
of the other States Each State forward for its fair
proportion of the public domain. believe there has al
ready been published and laid upon tables document
showing the which each State has received and
lice well equity requires that the new States should re-
ceive their proportion.
Mr.. President, am not going into this subject
merely to state my difficulties with respect to the
amendment fit Is brought in separate bill, shall vote
for it. ......-
Mr. KING. Mr.. President, while concur with much
that has been said by the honorable Senator from Michigan
with regard to the duty of this Government towards the
States; while concur with him that there is cons,i,u
onal difficulty in the way OF making grants Of this Sort
must confess that the honorable Senator has taken ground
opposition to my amendment that not at all tenabe The
road, to which my amendment proposes grant lands in
Mississippi and Alabama, is all ntents and purposes the
road except that passes through two other States
The road contemplated to be constructed through Illinois
touches the Ohio river at Cairo The road chartered by
the States of Alabama and Mississippi touches that river on
The eastern bank Immediately opposite 1t u.s. therefore,
of the road and hence it is that have
offered this amendment If had been different road, not
connected with this Illinois road should have proposed
he amendment repeat again. that the reasoning that
will apply to the propey of granting lands for the
ton OF road in Illinois, applies with equal and may say
with greater force to the construction of road Mississippi
and Alabama. ..G RI .'.....
ST. the lands in Illinois have been in the market length
Of time They have value because of their productveness
Not with the lands through which the road pass
Mississippi and Alabama. Those lands known be
worthless far cultivation concerned They have good
timber upon them, TO be but that is also vaueess
ess there be mode by which it be transported to
market The opening of this road will increase the
m facilities of the country increase the value of the lands
trough which passes and them be brought into
market at something like fair price.
Sir, do not agree with the Senator from Wisconsin, that
not right TO add additional price the lands
erved because their value will be increased by the road
which is made part by the hberaty of the Government
The purchaser has right 10 compain therefore, that he
ives $3.50 for lands which, without these improvements
would not be worth Las, but for which, if they in the
ads Of private individuals, he would have TO pay four
i've dollars per -."-
ect tbs has been discussed here time and again. As regards
ur constitutional power this subject have always
rawn distinction between appropriations out OF the tea-
uy direct and the right Of the Government to dispose OF
be Pablo domain for the internal improvements OF the
States that the part disposed of will be increased
lands for the benefit of the remainder We have made
appropriations for the removal of the raft the Red river
Who opposed that Not my friend from South Caroiaa,
Mr.. BUTLER. No Southern opposed it upon const
uonal grounds know that the late lamene c,le ague
If my friend from South Carolina did entertain the
tu onal difficulty that the honorable Senator has expressed
his morning. Far from it. He, with me- drew the dis
inc ion between appropriation of portion of the pub
domain for works of this Sort and appropriation of
m ,ney out Of the treasury have mentioned this fact
merely for the purpose of showing that appropriations of this
sort, for North, South, East and West have passed with
great unanimty being entertained account
of any constitutional difficulty know si,, that the late
President Of the Uned States in his celebrated message
took the ground that il unconstitutional to grant the
public domain For time that doctrine With support in
the House OF Representatives, but not in the Senate because
here during the last two sessions gentlemen well know
we have passed bills Of similar character They failed in
the oher house, because many gentlemen felt unwilling to
place themselves in opposition to that veto message myself