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

eastern bank OF the rivs directly opposite Il is there
fore the continuation 81 the road and hence il
thai propose the amendment Ii had been different
road should not have proposed to incumber The bill with
any amendment; but II is not al all repeat that the
same reason which win apply TO the propriety Of
Illinois applies equally, and may add with greater
force, 10 the construction OF a road in Mssis-
slppi and Alabama. Sir, the lands in Illinois, al
though they have been in the market for length Of
time, have know degree OF value because OF their
productiveness Not in regard to the lands in Mis-
sssippi and Alabama. They known to be barren and
worthless so far cultivation is concerned. They have
good timber, il is true, bur that is also valueess unless
there some Improvement made by which Il can be easily
transported to market The opening of this road not
only gives comm Peal facilities 10 those western regions,
but gives value to the lands through which passes
II brings them into market al something like fair price
And do not agree with the senator from Wisconsin that
is not right 10 have additional price put upon the
public lands, when you give value to them by the
srucon OF avenues oil outlet which Is done IN part BY
the iberality Of the general government; for by this
means land which before not worth dollar and a
quarter an acre becomes worth twice that sum-.
Bnt do not wish 10 delain the Senate by discussion
Of this subject which has been so fully discussed time
and again
As regards the constitutional power so far as the pub
lie domain is concerned we have always made broad
distinction between appropriations Of money out Of e
treasury and disposition OF the public domain in order
TO give value to the ands in other words, TO dispose
OF them great landhoder dsposes oil his own lands,
to benefit himself al the same time that he benefits
the actual settlers We have made appropriations for
the removal oil the raft OF the Red and who opposed
that measured No southern man. as far as ! know,
upon any constitutional grounds. ] know that the
lamented colleague oil the senator from South Carolina
did not entertain constitutional difficulty the
expressed himself this morning he, with himseif, drew
distinction between the grant OF public money aud the
apportonment OF the public domain for works OF this
kind The honorable gentleman differs, and he certainly
has right TO differ. only mentioned II 10 show that
when we made an appropriation oil this kind-NoIih,
South, East, Westgenilemen, with great unanlnity
gave up the objection that many of them might entertain
with respect constitutional difficulties standing IN the
way. | know, in consequence OF the message OF the
late President OF the United States, the ground was taken
that il unconstitutional to grant tue public domain,
and Tor time that view met with support IN the House
OF Representatives but not in the Senate Tor here last
session, we passed bill OF similar character, and IT
failed in the House, because, suppose, gentlemen
felt unwilling TO place themselves IN position
adverse to that message thought that the opinion
expressed in that message was wrong, and so stated
to the President at the time. still think | am de-
srous TO give--what / think is justly due TO new
Slaessome little advantage in the construction OF works
OF this kind because they have given much to the gem
er government Sir this very State OF Illinois sur
rendered tue right OF taxing the public domain for ye
years and all that has been sold has been subject to that
restrictions that the State has never drawn one dollar
from the sale of the public lands after they into
the possession OF private individuals, until the five years
elapsed Thus the resources oil the Stale were emoaT-
rassed, preventing the prosecution OF works OF improve
ment and now, when we ask that portion oil the lands
shall be appropriated for the purpose OF aordng iaci.
ties tor transportation and thereby bringing some degree
OF value TO the lands, met with the objection that
this immense granthat the distance IS great and
covers great quantity OF land Well sir, there Is
great quantity put ! would lie there nye hanoea Years
ment OF that kind made The land ID not suscepii-
BILE of being cultivated with any advantage. because no
man will expend labor upon BARREN soil while he can
get good land at the same price.
trust the amendment have offered will be adopted.
II the general principles of the bill incorrect 1t Is 40
the power OF my honorable friend to discuss the principle
OF ii bit when amendments are proposed. trust they
will be allowed TO 60 and when the bill comes to It's
third reading the constitutional Question can be decided
Mr. WALKER. There is one remark OF The honora-
Bile senator IRON Alabama Mr. KIsG which desire 10
notice. He says that he differs with in regard TO the
increase OF the price Of the reserved lands because as he
says proper that the price should be increased when
The value increased by road being made through the
land by the lbealiiy of the government Pray SIR what
liberaly is there exercised by the government IN making
grant OF this kind! Does the government grant any
thing Not penny just many acres as she gives
away does she double the price for and, consequently
when she finally gets the money for the land, she has as
much money she would have got tor the whole oil the
land at the original price,
Let me call the attention of the senator from Alabama
to another iact II the principle contained 10 the bill IS
TO be adopted there is another which must be adopted
and that is this: that the price of lands which are
granted TO you must be increased also II this govern
ment is going to hold land at two dollars and halt an
acre, while you permitted 10 sell yours al dollar
and quarter acre, the reserved lands would never
sell You must then increase the price OF The granted
land, you increase any portion TO obvaie the compe-
titIon. II is plain 10 be that you have another
1886 900 coming into market al 81 SO per acre or
else the reserve will remain OF course unsod. while the
State selling at 81 20 an acre. you increase BOTH
land the principle requires you TO increase bob the
amount which you will tax the settlers for will be
S3s40,00O Now that is liberality with vengeance.
That Is aiding the construction OF the road with bera.
~ oil government in queer kind OF way; Tor the IN
crease oil the whole oil this land TO double IFS present
price will amount 10 the came have mentioned. Now.
SIR, who is 70 pay this II is the who goes and set
ties al the West, who desires 10 acquire portion OF that
land IS he that i TO pay H. is an embarrassment
upon the State. It's embarrassment upon The settle
ment OF the country. II is which ought TO obv
ate shall Consequently persist in one oil the two prop
osltons III fail IN thatto strike out the increase OF
pce shall then move no other one does II, that The
land granted 10 the States shall not be sold al less price
than that which the government receives
Mr.. BRADBURY. observe a feature in the bill
which regard in direct conflict with the principle up
on which Il is advocated understand the senators from
Illinois and Michigan TO advocate The bill upon the prn
cipe that the government is great proprietor OF lands
through which this road passes, and that, prudent
proprietor, il should make grant Of portion OF land
and thereby increase the value OF the residue think the
principle has been distinctly stated by both the gentlemen
provided that where lands have been sold along the line
other adjacent lands sail be granted supply the def
cency ~ Tor instance, on any portion OF this route, one
half of the land has been sold by the government, the
bill will authorize the selection oil the other half and
would like TO know what lands then the government has
which, as prudent proprietor, they will have increased
in value
Mr. KING stated, in explanation that portion OF the
land directly on the line Of the road had been disposed Of
and the bill provided that they should take the quantity
they would be entitled to- not disposed OF else where still
they had the right 10 select by alternate sections
the road where i was not disposed OF. The object in
view was that they should not take all the land upon
the road but that they should only take alternate sections
they were confined 10 lands adjacent TO that which had
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