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

cent domain of the Northwest csded originally as
pledge for the payment Of the national debt and then the
common benefit of all the States.
well remarked by the distinguished Senator from
Kentucky yesterday, that in the administration Of trusts like
these must be limited to the ideas belonging
of iudicaure there be analogy, the
trus. be literally administered and he used the argu
ment that all these improvements contribute the general
advantage Of the whole country There must Of course be
limitation the phraseolosy that these lands should be
used for the benefit of a the States II meant Of course
that should be general possible and that there should
be partial local appropriation OF the benefits it. We
cannot by the application directly sl the States of the
Union make strictly compliance with the letter of the
donation, but advance toward and approximate
it. Here two small States lying between Mississippi and
Alabama the side and Illinois the other, which
were entirely doweress, as they had public lands
than would pay the expenses of litigation about the titles
These two doweress sisters lie between tiers OF sisters
the north and south, which have been richly supplied
and which received their admission into the Union the
plan IN which this Government has been in the habit of giving
to the young States in the West only partial appropra-
ton OF this descriptions but three per cent and others
five per cent appropriated to educational purposes and the
construction of roads from the Atlantic these States The
decision upon this proposition will test the principle whether
the appropriation is intended to be made for local for gene
raj purposes and benefits. ',.
will say nothing Mr.. President except present
my proposition to the Chair expect support the
whatever may be the decision the Senate upon my
amendment. do think, however, that a strong has
been made out and cannot how my gallant friend from
II, ether on score OF
justice Of the benefits and advantages which the
road, il completed, would confer AS said BEFORE pro.
babe that the work will not be constructed through Tennes
see and kentucky unless appropriation of this kind made
The amendment was read as follows
Wh instructions so to amend the bill that propor
OF the nett proceeds of the lands given the State Illinois
and to the States OF Alabama and Mississippi shall be secured
the States of Tennessee and Kentucky respectively equal
the proportion OF the entire line OF the railroad proposed
and Michigan canal to the city OF Mobile which through
each OF the latter States be applied them
OF the sections divisions OF the read within their
respective jurisdictions I"
Mr.. KING. regret extremely that the Senator from
Tennessee should have made proposition calculated only
greatly TO embanass, but will say him, doubt ui-
maey calculated to defeat this BILL if his amendment should
prevail 1t is rating the old issue, and bringing forward aues
tons upon which gentlemen differ in regard the distrbu
ton Of the public lands among the States. Now, while am
dispose to do every thing that do properly and cons
utionay to aid either Tennessee, Kentucky, any other
State in The construction Of works of this character must
say 10 the gentleman that think he ought be the last
bring forward proposition to embaras work he admits to
be OF such great Importance when b" reflects upon the great
benefits the State OF Tenne has received from the exn
gushmen of the Indian title her public domsin within her
limits all OF which given to her without her paying
dollar for it. believe am strictly correct in this statement;
if not will cheerfuly listen any explanation the Senator
| from Tennessee may have to offer g. ..>:.
| Nh BELL. deny that the State OF Tennessee has re-
ceived any great benefit heefrom. stated before that
believed that all the refuse lands which had been cede by
Congress TO Tennessee, would defray the expenses
arising under the litigation in regard to land titles The ap
preparation made by Congress entirely enured the benefit
OF the grantees under North Carolina, Tennessee deriving
benefit These grants the soldiers and Officers of
revolution, made by North Carolina whilst she was the
owner of those lands. believe my colleague will bear me
out in this remark do not remember the precise amount
but believe the whole have not paid the expenses of ga
ton in investigating the titles under grants from North Caro-
lima. If there has been any advantage of any moment
worth considerations granted by this Government to Tonnes
by REIMBURSEMENT of refuse lands held by the Fed
Government in Tennessee, am no. advised of it. There
NV batyua NnrihE
and Tennessee of certain lands occupied by the Cherokee
Indians and to portion Of which the Indian title
extnguished With that Congress had nothing do,
cept to assent 10 that compact without which North Carolina
could not have ceded her right that domain The land
granted to Tennessee by Congress all reuse land,
which, undertake to say has not paid the expenses of t
gaon asceraned by private titles held by the officers and
soldiers OF the revolution and by private purchasers and
located in country which, the time exposed all
the peri Of an Indian war. .t
Mr.. TURNEY. desi,e to add one word if the Senator
will allow me- regard these public lands They have
not been worth the sections given other States f
school purposes Most Of the lands previously appro
praed by North Carolina, and the grant from Congress,
repeat did not furnish to the State the sections given
ether States for school purposes All The lands that have
been coded by the General Government Tennessee would
not equal that amount. H.. ~.
Mr. KING. l am little amused that my friend should
that Tennessee did get the sixteenth sections
Of these public lands She got however, the thirty
tons. She got all there was, and had nothing left The
State of r,h Carolina of which Tennessee constituted
part, when she coded that State the General Government
coded the public lands under certain conditions The State
of Tennessee, rather of North Carolina, of which Ten
then constituted part through the Legislature to
the officers and soldiers of the revolution certain lands there
be located They located there for the benefit of her
citizens, and the residue of the lands granted to
the State Of Tennessee Whether they refuse not
that State got al-al there We exinguished the In
dian title TO the Cherokee country, and they got ahe
lions for school purposes and ALL they have not been pro-
tabe to the ate not to be held responsible for it,
much may regret it. 1t has been frequently the
have been made TO them. The distribution of the pro-
ceeds of the public lands many years ago injured many Of
the States led them into extraagant expenditures involved
them in debt, and many of them regtetng that
they received it.
To what desire to call the attention of the Senator from
Tennessee, is the fact that by his amendment pre-
va he brings up issue that will divide the Congress of
the United States upon question Of constitutional right and
power.
Mr.. BELL, Tin his seat.) How
Mr.. KING. Ispeak Of the right and power Of Congress
under the constitution grant the States in the
proposed There is great diversity Of opinion the subjects
very great one We depart entirely from the principle
conteDdng for. If the Senator's amendment prevails
go upon the ground that advocating this BILL are
dsposng Of the public domain lying within the States for
the benefit and improvement of the public lands themselves
and giving value to Them by opening new means OF com
municaon by which they may be brought into market. 1t
precisely upon this principle, mentioned yesterday
that made ant for the removal of the Red River raft
There millions of acres Of the public domain lying above
that raft that continually Inundated, and thefre
worthless and could not be disposed Of They worse
than worthless because they rendered the country
extremely unhealthy; and the raft removed by Congress-
in order that the lands might be drained They drained
and went into market and sold for large But if we
III II So - l. l.