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

son whether il be company or State because. III
granted 70 State, j il granted to company.
Mr. DOWNS. II the senator will allow me, / per.
ceivs that be did not understand me-
Mr.. BELL. No, cir. / beg your pardon | shall come
to It in . moment With regard to the suggestion Of the
upon the assumption that the road will be construct
ed through the States Of Kentucky and Tennessee with
out foreign aid and there is no sufficient interest and
will be sufficient interest, in Illinois and Alabama,
Mississippi, to- make the road in Tennessee and Ken
lucky at their own expense That 10 the reason
wished the appropriation made. because think the
road through those States will be eminently beneficial as
link in this vast undertaking There three hundred
and fifty miles in Mississippi and Alabama at $4,000 or
$4,000 per mile and 50 in Illinois. apprebend Il will
senator says $l0,oo0but even that is gigantic under
taking and requires immense capital oresee that
before Illinois shall have perfected her own road, she
will find the work great enough and so with Alabama ;
after they have expended some millions 81 dollars they
will be weary OF the. expense and will turn into the
Mississippi which will Dc very convenient, IN an eco
that the resources OF that portion OF the country the
interest in the western section OF Tennessee will be sn
centy great to call out the capital 70 construct j. al
siderable. Itwould be found to be advantageous 70
very narrow, limit But il would be grand work
and now alluds 70 s general effect not n the Sais q
peon Of the work in the States Of Tennessee and Ken
az a e
enpsnsa o saesn M those justify ny acton
ss u snsss he 1a @aeS
perfectly willing that the consideration OF my amend
ment should not be pressed further, but that vote
should be taken and if is not the sense OF the Senate
that it should be adopted, propose still to give my sup
port to the bill without the amendment 4
Mr. MILLER i have constitutional scrupes at all
in voting for the disposition oil the public lands to objects
Of internal improvements, and would chesrully give
my vote for this BILL il was satisfied that It was not
partial in its naturethat did not operate to the adj
vantage OF State to the exclusion OF all the other
States OF the Union fear il may establish principle
which may with great difficulty be checked in the future
disposng Of the public lands appears TO me, sir from
the opposition that Is made to the amendment proposed
BY the honorable senator from Tennessee MR. BELl to
extend the benefits of this bill to Kentucky and Ten
nessee that this appropriation Is asked Tor solely upon
proceeds Of the public lands to works OF internal improve
ments within the States where the lands lie. Now. sir
Do not understand this limited distribution Of NE
give to the State Of Illinois, for the purpose Of making
great public highway, certain alternate sections q
the public lands lying the line of the railroad; and
we do il, sir because We are told that road like this
will be great public highway that will introduce travel
will facilitate commerce, encourage settlement upon own
lands and that we, being the proprietors Of the land
provement
Well sir it appears from what has been said by the
friends of this bill that this road secures any OF these
advantages. viii do account Of its connection with
line OF railroad extending from the State OF Illinois,
from Chicago down to the mouth OF the Ohio, across the
States OF Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Ala
bamain extent, suppose. about 1000 miles in length
great national concern TO encourage commerce and the
settlement q Gu. RSs; lands NoW what i se
the State OF Illinois the public lands for making this road
within the State Of Illinois, but the moment the highway
n oSsr N s
ing this public domain have right to give il TO build
railroad within the State where the lands lie, but the
men the road crosses the boundary of the State, the
efi ls Now. this limited m
strucon Of the constitution, and this partial appropriation
Of the public property, cannot apprehend and there
fore cannot give my to this bill But before
fvoe upon this bi. should like to call the attention Of
the Senate for moment and especially the senator from
Illinois, Mr. DoUGLAs,1 to various projects now before
should like to have it understood what general sys
tenn be adopted for the disposition of the public lands
growing out OF the various propositions now before the
son Of the from Illinois, HIMSELF to give away
all the public lands TO actual settlers That proposition
includes these very andsincludes all the public lands
in the State oil Illinois We have also the proposition
from the distinguished senator from Massachusetts Mr.
WEBsrER1 donate, under certain restrictions the pub
lie lands We have also the proposition OF the senator
from New York (Mr. SEwARD] 10 give them away,
believe to the foreigners who may emgate to this coun
try. Now wish 10 understand if senators intend to
ar. SEWARD One moment, il the senator will al
low me- Not to foreign fellow citizens, but to refugees
who have failed in attempting TO establish republican goy
ernments in Europe and have therefore been Obliged to
seek asylum in this country.
MIR. MILLER. | understand, then, that he confines
his donation 10 those who have failed to establish liberty
Europe, and come here to seek it where il is establish
ed already to their hands Now ii either OF these
propositions should receive the favor Of the Senate this
b l. so eoquenty advocated by the senator from Illinois,
will be nothing more than mere deception upon the
State OF Illinois; for il TO alternate sec
TONS and they taking the balance, and then the moment
Illinois commences the work the United States into
the Market rather market, and declares that she
will give away all the public lands in the State, should
like TO know what the reserved rights OF Illinois will
amount to- People will not buy lands when they can get
them for nothing
Mr. DOUGLAS. will only say that the people OF H.
nois would be very glad to be deceived in that way, II
they will grant us the privilege.
Mr. MILLER understand the senator 10 be in favor
OF giving away the public lands TO actual settlers
Mr. DOUGLAS. Yes, sir; am in favor OF giving
Mr. MILLER. am for applying these public lands
10 great national purpose-eher for building these
railroads. which consider national highways, for
clearing out rivers and harbors II has also been
proposed here apply part OF them for the purpose Of
education throughout the United States, or for the pu-
pose OF encouraging agriculture, or for the purpose OF re-
moving free colorcd people from the United States back
again 10 their native land All those great projects SIR
are now presented to either by resolution OF by pct
establish policysome system with regard TO the
disposition OF the public lands This is not the only bill
relative to railroads. understand there four five
others OF the character and before vote upon
this matter should like TO have some expression OF the
opinion OF the Senate upon the general policy oil the dis
position OF public lands The truth is, sir that ever since
Congress rejected that great and equal and equitable
proposition made by yourself [Mr CLAY being 10 the
char1 for an equal distribution of those public lands
tha luur