The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-03

States had fixed the price at w ns Ths ,.r rSl
would have been paid very wil1s ,rices shova ths
that lands selling al those high lIlinoia ana
the price owing to the construction Of the I'D h.vs
Michigan canal. The finishing OF that work wo@ ~bls
made the other alternate sections equally as vaiu.
as those we have already sold think Il Is clear that
me government might have got double price II u only
had asked IT, Ia view Of these facts, inserted in all
s two saSss Soa1s ans % ss per -:
But think the government has been the gamer by sail
ng the lands even at the price Of dollar and quarter
are situated along the line would not have sold for even
dollar and quarter per There land at The dis
ance OF fifty miles from that canal that is vacant now
and will be vacant for the next quarter OF . cen-
ury. at dollar and quarter per acre, unless canal
or railroad or some other Improvement comes near
them. II is therefore the canal that has enabled YOU
to get dollar and quarter for those lands that have
been sold. You would not have had this money in
your treasury if this grant of land had not been made
hope therefore, that examination of these isGss will
convince the Senate that the opinions drawn from them
are well founded. The senator from Massachusetts has
had some personal experience in connexion with this
work. and therefore understands the true state Of the
facts as have related them. t{as.
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts. make the motion.
Mr. President, which the senator from Illinois LMr.
SHIELDs] wished me 70 make, to postpone the further
consideration OF this subject until Tomorrow. forgot to
make the motion when sat down. ~
| Mr.. BRIGHT. wish to speak to the question mo-
ment. ~
Mr.. SHIELDS We cannot finish this bill to day. II
the Senate will allow me, wish to take up the House
bill No. 2l4 and make il the special order for tomorrow
The PRESIDENT. That is the special order for to-
MIR SHIELDS. But we shall go into executive ses-
sion at one O'Clock, and there will be no time to finish
The PRESIDENT The Chair cannot lake ], up until
Mr. BRIGHT Mr.. President. the reply Of the san
aor from Illinois Mr. DouaLAsl 70 the inquiry Of the
senator from Massachusetts Mr. DAvD1 has left
/ The PRESIDENT. The senator from Massachusetts
moved to postpone the consideration OF the bill until TO-
MIR. DAVIS. / withdraw that motion, unless the ssn.
atOr from Illinois desires to persist aa53t8
| Mr.; BRIGHT. was about to remark. when insef-
me p O as Sy ss
sachuses Mr. DAyIsl supersedes the necessity Of my
saying anything; cannot allow him. however. to r.
main under the deuson he to be in reference to
the influence which the very muni6cent grants Of pub
lie lands made by the general government. from time to
time to several States has had upon the growth xs:h
honorable senator from Massachusetts was fully con-
with the benefits which the western States gen
orally, and particularly the State which have the honor
in part to represent. had derived from this source Az
he appears be-indeed admits he is not BY the in
quIy he makes-lmus claim the indulgence OF the SEN
ate long enough to briefly much OF his inquiry
relates the advantages Indiana has derived from the
liberal csssions of the public lands within her
| borders. 44b
She has line OF canal stretching from her northern to
her extreme southern borderirom Evansville. Of the
most ourishng business points the banks of tia Ohio
river, TO the northeastern oil that State thus
meeting the of the Ohio river with those Of
the Maumee and Lake Erie, distance OF -- milea,
or more of which is completed, and the greater part
operation for some years. This canal, located the
greater part of this distance in the Wabash valley.
through soil fertile and productive b found
west Of the mountains has been built mainly BY aid
of lands, and funds created by lands, granted BY the
general government-granted upon the same terms.
and about the same conditions, Limitations, and restric
tons, TO be found in several bills have already
passed through this body this session refer TO the bills
granting lands TO Alabama, Mississpp Iowa. and llN
nos, for the construction Of railroad commencing at
Mobile and having at present It's eastern terminus at Chi
cago, but which hope on or after Thursday next will
have far this body concerned) Indianapolis
terminus; for il will be recoected that but
the Senate took up and made the special order
OF the day for Thursday next bill granting the right of
way and donation OF lands for railroad from Chicago
being continuation OF the great southern route have
just mentioned to Indianapolis, with branch road from
suitable point the main line where the south
Michigan railroad enters the State OF Indiana do
notl will not permit myself to doubt the success OF these
measures and in view of the extreme hberaity Of the
federal 10 the western States generally and TO
none than the one represent here-and permit
me to say there is whose population is more grate
full and whal more dessrving-l shall not withhold my
support TO the very important and truly national project
contained in the bill offered by my disng uished friend
from Michigan, tMr CAss ! am willing TO donate
literally for all leg nae public objects within the States
where the land lies, confnng the grant within such
limitations and placing II upon such conditions will
the faithful application of the same This believe
is fully done by the bill now before us.
But, Mr. President my chief object in rising TO
bear testimony to the practical advantages resulting from
the operation OF these grants; and need not travel be-
yond The limits OF my State to find evidence demon
srating most concusvey the soundness of this policy
The great line Of canal OF which speaking affords
most unanswerable argument TO the objections urged
ag aims, this bill by the honorable senator from Masea-
chuset,s II is said, and adopt the sentiment that the
health OF a country depends upon its productions and
might 90 further and add, and its facilities for reaching
a market where its surplus will at all times command
fair price The OF this has for years past rendered
vauelss, il were, the surplus OF much of the finest
lands in the western valley. But the industry energy,
and enterprise of western character, aided occasionally
by liberal donations OF the peoples land" 10 rapidly
moving these difficulties, and judging the future BY the
past few years will place all the States formed
Of the great Northwestern Territory in acondition that
will attempt TO describe, lest the comparison might
be considered interested and invidous.
One other remark and will yield the floor The dona.
ton of eight hundred thousand OF land to the State
of Indiana in ls45, for the purpose of completing the
Wabash and Erie canal has in good faith been applied to
both canal and lands liquidation Of her ndebtedness II
has been done upon such and with such reservations
insure carrying out OF the grant according 70 ''s
original letter and spirit
j Mr. DAVIS, OF Mississippi think the grant which ~
proposed be made Michigan for the construction of
this canal is clearly within the principle which has gov
srned me in making such grants for will be the nnns
OF enhancing the value of all the lands upon the boFsSs
OF Lake Superior and bringing them more rapidly into
market have never adopted the policy, which was this
morning urged forcby by the honorable senator from
Illinois [Mr DOUGLAS, !, OF doubling the price Of the al
ternate sections believe IT TO be unwss. believe
that one dollar and quarter acre ia enoughio charge,
for hold that h6kovernment the most by the speedy
sale OF the land and when it will not sell at that price
the terms should be reduced believe, upon exami-
nation OF the land districts, shall thai they cost the
government than the net proceeds therefore have
always been in favor OF grants to hasten the sale Of me