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

Mr.. DAWSON Mr President (Air Clay ienporari-
y occupying the char) hiak il very probable that you
will i've long enough-and may you 1--we thousand an
body think can he sndeacy OF things now IN rea.
ton to the policy Of the general distribution o the proceeds
OF the public lands. know that this attack upon the
public lands comes from those gentlemen who are con
siuonay opposed 70 the distribution OF lhe proceeds OF
The public lands; but, 70 dsavow that sentneat. aud
wholly come TO new one, they must commence BY giv-
ing disrbutiye share 10 each State time. They
know that all family, and that child is
likely to remain content while another il drawing
larger proportion Of The ratinony belonging to The
whole family
Now. sir Il will be ecoileclea very wen that in the
year 1885 the public funds weie deposited with the
era States, and, like the servants TO whom given
the talents-one five, one two, and another onesome
improved and others made OF this iberahty. The
State which have the honor in part 70 represent has
to-day in actual operation nearly 500 miles OF railroads.
equal to that OF any OF the southern States not to any
State in the Union, arising from proper administration
OF her poportonaie share OF that dpose by this govern
ment among the States, and her and Individual
All the other States received their shares, but
unfortunately some OF them managed it badly and their
credit and public works wen. to decay But is this any
reason, Mr. President, why those who have uiiclousy
managed and economically controlled what they had
should be deprived OF their equal participation! Now,
sir look over the State OF Georgia From Augusta TO
Atlanta, and from Augusta, the dividing line between
South Carolina and Georgia. 10 e Tennessee river, run
ming eight ten miles into the State OF Tennessee
Georgia thereby unes The Atlantic with the valley Of the
Miss ssipp And, SIR tnday yoa may start from Charles
ton and 60 by steam 10 Cairo the point which is designated
the southern termination of the railroad now cOntem
plated by the State OF Illinois And how was this done
By individual enterprise aud by funds OF that State.
and judicous appropriation oil the proceeds which were
divided between ali the States Then turn your eye TO
Savannah, in the State OF Georgia you have 500 and odd
miles, nearly 600, OF continuous railroad from the
Atlantic to the valley OF the Mississippi tapping the Ten
nessee al Chattanooga
This was all done BY our own enterprise. We ask
nothing OF the government tor it bu when you 60
ing divide out the pafmony, although we have been
exceedingly industrious and economical al home having
u. .lz ID nfxrr auHua apfan hff
for the comfort OF all viii not object TO take our
share My friend from Kentucky has rode rail
roads, and smlngy said These are The fruits OF The dis
ubution OF the proceeds OF the public lands, according
to my wisdom. loud laughter, IN WHICH Mr.. CLAY
oined The honorable Senator from Kentucky was
understood 10 disayow the wisdom though ne admit
ted the smile.rl Ny friend from Kentucky dssavows
The wisdom but admits the smile; and now he wants TO
20 further But what comes next2 he says that this
great country should be improved by asysiem OF internal
improvements The States are supporting the general
government by indirect taxaiion and the public lands
were ceded the United States for the beneht OF all the
States After the payment o. the debts OF ihe reyoin
ton the States are entitled TO the money Tor the purposes
of internal improvement and education. admit II. But
now lei be Just, and, IN the language OF Trend o
in Georgia, Divide fairly; DO things honestly; DO
them Justly" But sou do II BY the mode tnaf has
been proposed in the bill nog under consderahons
submit now to the Judgment of this body do You be-
Ieye that can stand by as senator % liom GeorEla m
and see three millions oil tae public lands gwen 10 I'M
nos. There another bill your table fof an aPpro
piaon oil the character, but 10 what extent 90
not know How lar are they 10 carry tins road roar
hundred miles. Who pays for II. The general govern
ment Why, the Stale OF Georgia has constructed hei
part of this great enterprise upwards oil SIX hundred
miles. already compleed and now gong ny steam en- = ION .
own expense. .
have another view Of this subject which intend TO
present and DO not do il with any view OF embarrassing
ibIs Question al all voted against the distribution OF
OF the proceeds of the public lands when n tne othef
branch OF Congress. and would vote against II to-day
bu would say, with my friend from Tennessee, that
If YOU are 10 divide them 10 avoid this injustice to avoid
this inequality LET divide them fairly and equally we
are conederacy Of States, all entitled 10 equal nights
and 10 equal dividends, according 10 the extent oil the
population These internal Improvements are for The
benefit Of only the clizens oi the Souih bui OF the
citizens OF the North. They league us together, make
better acquainted with each other, and cultivate our
BY inlecommunications between the States We may be
asked, What do you want now IN Georgia have you
not got eight hundred miles oil railroad Now, what
more do you want But, SIR, we see this that every
year the losses sustained 10 property BY gong round me
cape OF FLORIDA would be sufficient TO build railroad
from Mobile TO some point within he limits o. tne Sae
Of Georgia by which that dangerous passage round the
cape OF Florida would be avoided. My Trend rom
Florida will concede that this Is have proposition
10 make, which / intend 20 present When yon run
through Illinois, you touch at Lake Michigan, and take
the senator from Michigan, and umie MN, hos " ns
Nicholson letter, but By railroad win tae cout9 lou
get him into by railroad from Lake Michigan down 70
CARO- al the mouth OF The Ohio river then through Ken
lucky, and then through portion oi Tennessee ana 'nen
down 10 Mobile That IS the whole Of the rosa. ana
when We gel 10 h0oie, Whcfe are Nct w o'N
Gull OF Mexico and all communication between MooIt
and the northern cities has 10 be round lhaa dahgeoe
cape OF Florida Now, AVOID that. my psoposiuon -
10 give 10 the State oi Geotga, Jus pFecisey upoo se
terms, upon the conditions ACCORDING 70 we
extent OF the line which she intends 70 make IRON MO-
Bile number of acres of land in proportion TO the ois
not for the benefit OF Georgia, because she y com
pee her system, far relates 70 her own internal
faees, but for the purpose OF connecting every secson
OF This country. -
II YOU make this road from Mobile, by way of Colam
hpa N nnt he huf
Macon 10 the Central road 10 the Georgia rafoan
point ABOVE the city OF Augusta, you nave con-
then By railroad 10 the Atlantic Al ~
the Atlantic al Charleston and have adrect ROAD 70 So
through Alabama through Mississippi, through len.
nessee, and through Kentucky NhAi wonia ine Iodi
be worth throue Illinois. through Tennessee ana 'n'ogn
Kentucky, unless you could 80 down 70 hop,e M AUG
alter ygi ast 10 Mouise of what value will u be i you
have not this road the Atlantic through Ceogat tos
wall be ia precisely the same coDdlhon ~ you "a a."
cone down the Mississippi ihefe y lne I's. 's ~,
sssppi with nothing in but here ana nefe shsts ss
sawyers and now and then boiler bursting =
but Il is always an open highway down 70 New ofleans
IL is never dry When you get 10 Moble Yee as no ~
step. four object ~ TO 90 on towards the huana 49,
stnke the internal improvements CT 5eofgai ihese ~.
becling with South Carolina, and coming over ,o tns
old North Smie, through the Old Dominion, norm 70
Washington. Now. sir, there the great INK Whcl
waniag from Mobile 10 the Georgia railroad; ana Al
ask that you are 10 appropriate pubic lanes 70 he
States OF Alabama MISSISSIPPI and Illinois, 10 construct
their railroad, You shall appropriate 100000 acres
that Georgia may 20 and compleie this lax which
wanting We will pledge ourselves 10 construct the
railroad MOI wIihin years, bai within hye years
Nov why do Won moi DO il The reply is II YOU tack loo
many amendments 10 this bill. Illinois gone Now, j.
ss ,s 81 aeh t,roriey in illinois losnl this adran-