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


for thing that whatever they may say OF the West
they have sagscy enough find out where the good lands
are contiguous and I'll for il, they will hnd out the
good lands should not want better JACOBS stan 70 sho"
me where the lands They certainly are not gong
to take barren lands they have opportunity to look
out for the best lands in Illinois II nothing more or less
than give them opportunity OF selecting good lands 10
make public road through Illinois, 10 De connected WIN
Mobile and then the Senator from Alabama gets up and
saws great national work, and should be connected with
Alabama and Mississippi. Now, should like to know how
you to get through Kentucky and tennessee You
make road and lands in Illinois, Alabama, and Mis-
sissippi and with them you construct road through Ken
lucky and Tennessee suppose they are to get charter
from those States and thus evade the provision of the
stituon which provides that two States form
Dact or agreement Now have word say. II this great
national thoroughare is to be formed, would indicate
very different think there might be found in the
neghbohood of Charleston $50 acres to start the road from
and you will just lay of in alternate sections having an
other Illinois, and running through Tennessee
Georgia. and Alabama, there would be difficulty at all
heard the from Missouri BEsTos the other day.
talking about lacking bills but this system lacking al er
nate sections to make road giving the different States the
power regulate thing which, above all others should DC
pubEc juris-he public highways agree with me senator
from Georgia, and cannot consent that the congress Oh the
United States ducay proprietor, has any rgh1 10 sell
dispose Of the public lands otherwise than TO the
ends Of the 1t has right to give the lands away
even to Hungarian heroes and this giving away the public
lands has tendency introduce into me republic the eo
ments of local jealousy, the most fatal OF all other.
The system advocated by the Senator from Kentucky
(Mr CLAY time ago. OF selling the pubic lands anu
dividing the proceeds between the States was much moie be
raj and correct should much prer that all the public
lands should be sold for what they BRING and the proceeds
be either distributed given to the widows and representa-
tves of the soldiers who fought the Of and in the
Mexican war, and thus withdraw them entirely from the held
Of political influence aud party warfare As far the State
represent concerned shall never have dollars interest
the NATTER that stand here Gas they say OF ues IN
position Of indifference, decide fairly can For the
Government Of the United States to speculate in the public
lands the ground that is the fduciary proprietor,
consent to- do not think that as simple trustee
it has the right to enter into any such speculation Such
advocated the ground OF public good OF the
whole country; but find that there is usually strong
local interest bottom Seshnes powerful slmu-
u and very apt lead those who advocate of
this kind talk largely the welfare OF the poor settlers who
are subjected hazards pioneers going those lands
not encouraged by the Government, DC. am incln-
ed think that the people Of Illinois, Michigan, Iowa. and
Wisconsin, and the other Western States, have gone there
under the most favorable circumstances to settle on the
richest lands and avail themselves Of the richest parts of the
globe ."..
measure Of this kind does very we'll to send out in the
newspapers. Every will talk about and take care OF
their constituents but object to the public funds being
taken improve the richest and most furnishing portion OF
the country that which has and will hav the settlers They
will have what they want, however his bill VIII pass.
have idea that candeeat it. 1t is linked with other
bills to make these splendid national highways through in
fuenta Saes and well assured that the plan Will be
accomplished If the States private companies will make
these highways shall be grateful for them but am not
willing that the Congress Of the United States shall be made
instrument of dveing the natural current OF trade and
travel in favor Of certain localities, by virtue merely OF in
cdenal circumstances, such that public lands lie excu-
svey in certain States. shall vote against this measure In
every form; but know that speaking against the
wind, and that the bill will pass in spite Of any opposition
can offer to It, You proposing to give this privilege for
distance Of four hundred miles through the body of State
and allow when the lands have been sold in the vicinity
of the route that others shall be selected twenty, thirty
perhaps fifty miles distant 1t is not an equitable distribution
Of the property of the States, of which the Govern
tbo
benefit bound to administer them Il would be far
better distribute the equally among the different
States according the policy of the distinguished Senator
from Kentucky or else to sell them out at the very lowest
prices to the actual settler
Mr.. CLAY. Mr. President l rise to do nothing
than express opinion two and not to enter into the
am glad learn that such great
OF public JUSTICE deem it, the distribution Of
the proceeds of the public lands, commends itself to the ap
probation Of my friend from South Carolina, (Mr BurLER,
and that he deems that acceptable which,
Mr.. BUTLER, (nterposing All l am sure that my
friend from Kentucky will allow say that was looking
alternatives; and, doing had right say which Of
two events would depecate least without being understood
to desire either -.>
Mr. CLAY Well, sir, it is exceedingly agreeable to me
to hear the honorable Senator express opnon-eithcr
with without the modification he has made-at all
favorable to great national measure Of justice that would
have redounded greatly to the benefit Of posery ard
cannot but hope that his fear Of the entire waste of the public
lands will induce him, similar project is brought for
ward, to go for it.
Sir, with respect to the particular question before the
Senae have risen merely to state, that in the first place,
entertain doubts whatever about the power under certain
guards restctons and hope the exercise of that
power extended to rivers our lakes and our habos on
the seaboard 1t is right to do am ready, for to
adopt cautious bat liberal for the improvement OF
rivers lakes and harbors But independent Of the general
power which think the Government possesses, have
doubt entertain none, of the right of the General
Government the greatest Of all landed proprietos to ap
proprate portion of that land to the purpose Of making
available, and valuable, the residue Sir something
has been said about truseeshp. Why, sir it is true that
all government is matter Of trust all individual men
trustees created by Providence and bound to administer
their faculties the best advantage, not merely for them
selves, but for their felowmen. But by the OF the
term trustee it proposed to qualify to limit to restrain
the trustee make him resemble the ordinary trustee,
represented in ordinary human transactions do not look
upon at all being The Government is trustee to
men for the good Of the whole and all parts Of the whole
To give idea in reference the Slate Of Illinois
and the same observation will apply to extent to the
States Of Mississippi and Alabama-I will say that hap
pen to know something Of the interior of Illinois which it
is proposed to improve There there what is called the
Grand Prairie do not recolec its extent, but believe it
is some two three hundred miles in width, and sixty
seventy in breadth.
Mr.. SHIELDS. You may say a hundred and fifty miles in
breadth.
M. CLAY. Three hundred miles in length and hundred
and fifty in breadth and is exactly through that grand
prairie that this improvement will pass And now sir,
body who knows any thing about that prae about any
other PRAIRIE must know that when you look that land and
especially that of the Grand Prairie, will not sell for ages
come. in measure inaccessible it is wanting in wood
1t is wanting in it is wanting in facilities for getting
to market. No will go there with the view Of cuvat-
ing land is remote from population, and without timber.
is hut the ia of