The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-01

Mr. DAVIS. Of Mississippi % not agree at all with
policy Of this road II has all the characteristics OF
public useful highway because il is constantly exchang
ing the products Of different climates, running from The
The Mississippi river and then depressing from the Mis-.
sssippi again will say 10 the senator from New
Jersey that agree with him entirely that araroad could
with il Sill very slight deviation from the Mississippi
pared to say how profitable bat that is question u
which those who invest their money in such improve
ments generally examine closely and decide more accu
raiely than we can in Congress think the proposition
Of the from Tennessee Mr. BELLl Is the iegit-
tureone at least which incorporated into any
bill upon which have voted and which cannot consent
10 now. II we were grant lands other than those
through which the road passes reason why we
might not grant lands fora road built in another State
nor do see the distinction between granting lands in such
cases. and taking money from the treasury 10 build hem
Here is great Distinction however between this propo.
sition and one which confines the grant 70 that land
through which the road passes Il Is first distinction Of
principles for while deny that the federal government
has any power TO appropriate money any other means
within it's hands for internal improvements, II must be
conceded that the federal government has full power over
the disposition q ,hs public lands merely wn 'n e. Pro
people IT, then, through lands unsettled. or not Likely
10 be taken up wecan, by granting portion Of them,
which will bring that which is left into the Market
gain first in the treasury, in the sale OF the lands other
wise unsaeable and gain also ultimately. far beyond
what will ever be received into the treasury from that
source by the revenue which will constantly flow into it
from The settlers upon those lands, who will be consumers
of our imports, thus contributing to the revenue. This
is one reason for granting lands contiguous to the road
There is another great advantage. This disposition
Of the lands carries two limitations init: first, we are
limited in such grants to the land that is unsettled IN the
incpient or forest state of the country II carries lin
tation in time; and by restricting 70 the land through
which the road passes il carries Limitation IN space
These two limitations remove from the grant or land
xvnl.. "a.
ury and conceive that the grant Of land elsewhere
would have the essential dangers which would result
from power to grant money from the treasury There
maely and concusvey drawn his proposition from this
feature of.the BILL Both Of these consider TO be mex
pedient and not only 80 but ancoSsii.a9na an, and
amended bill as is found in lines sixteen to twentys
includes the feature Of floating grant giving Illinois the
right g. than along IN the line q ne oa y cs
the idea that thcky settled country may call Tor grants
Of lands in hinly settled country for roads II restricts
the federal rom aehbsns any ~ ,bess
grants il has been by placing the federal government IN
the relation Of proprietor II aproprieor owns large
amount OF unbroken lands. he might give away certain
tracts to any one who would cut road to them, and
thus bring into the market By parity Of reasoning
the federal government may grant lands TO build road IN
an unsettled portion OF its domain, with view to bring
it into the market This is, stated before the limit
to which have gone and with these two limitations
il cannot be expected seriously to nure the treasury
govern my vote in ths and i be in order, will now
move TO amend the amended bill by striking out all this
portion OF the bill so as TO leave il simple grant oil
The PRESIDING OFFICER Ii is not now in order
The question is upon the motion to recommit.
Mr. DAVIS I did not understand. thought that the
Mr. BELL. | said that would let il pass, with vote
upMSh Mr. i DAYTON think this is good opportunity to
test the friends Of the BILL in manner somewhat more
lattudinarian than that proposed by the senator
from Tennessee, (Mr. BELL / have been in the habit
for public and useful purposes having no conscientious
scrupes upon that subject believing myself that those
public lands the property Of the country and the coun-
ty have the right dispose OF them In such manner as
will best subserve those public interests have, there
lore, without scruple in my own conscience voted for
the appropriations Of public lands to different States Tor
useful public purposes, and willing TO do so again.
But sir really, the application which now made to us
comes 10 point little beyond my hberaliiy unless find
that the Senate are willing 10 go little further yet
Here, sir you have resolved, by vote OF yesterday to
TO give the State OF Illinois stretch OF public land.
four hundred miles long, and six miles wide and
where these public lands are not % be found on the line
of route YOU make your selection. Well, sir, do
not know how we'll that State may be settled. or
how the lands may be located but am strongly inclined
gooa pabIie lands in that Stale there will not be great
deal more OF good public lands to be located
MIR. DOUGLAS, (nterposing) The report shows that
there will be $4,000 900 left There about
l6 100000 acres in the State, and about 100000 will
Mr.. DAYTON | not ignorant oil the large
amount OF public lands still vacant, but acted in some
degree upon the statement made here that vast amount
of the lands upon this very route would not be snscepu
Bile of cultivation. There some 1900 900 already To-
Gated Weae suppose they constitute the best part OF
the cultivated lands, or, IL may coin term. im-
proyeabe, cutyateabep the expressionlands oil
the State You now about to take about 100000
OF the best remaining lands OF the States and then
ask how much valuable land there will remain in
the State
Mr.. DOUGLAS win the senator allow me to say
that in point he is under misapprehension Tor the
bill has check. IL is alternate sections II not worth
farhng; and therefore you cannot select good land
Mr.. DAYTON. II the senator would larry moment.
he would End that had not overlooked SO obvious a
point in the bill | know that where the lands do lie
you take them alternately; but where they do not lie,
vacant, you take contiguous sections.
| Mr.. DOUGLAS. Good or bad, as you ind them.
MIR. DAYTON. You have the privilege OF selecting
among the contiguous sections 10 the road but take II
that you 90 outside OF the line oil the route
you will make selections At all events the subject is
embarrassed by good deal Of obscurity.
Well now, sir, this much with regard to the State oil I'LL.
nois Then the amendment OF my friend from Ala
bama, adding four five hundred miles more, ma
ring, in ALL say 700 miles by six miles broad; and then
the honorable from Tennessee comes on with his
amendment, adding some three or four hundred miles
more.
Mr. DOUGLAS No, not two hundred tits only one
hundred and odd miles in those two States
Mr.. DAYTON. Well, Mr. President, in all this grand
figuring, may have made some mistakes. II So they
can be easily corrected You will see, cir, at any rate,
what vast domain called 10 cede by this bill
WE'LL Mr. President, / really think that when we are
maniestng this exceeding berality to OF the west
States, il would be well II we to exhibit the