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

OF trade ana raye 10 Ayoi OF certain localities, by virtue
OF merely Incidental circumstance such IS that The
public lands Of the country lie exclusively In certain
4 States shall vote against il in every shape into which
i youmay putt But still il viii pass, am now speak
privilege for distance Of four hundred miles through
the body OF State. and to allow, when the lands have
beeh sold IN the vicinity Of the route that Others shall Be
il not equitable distribution Of the common property
q the States OF which the government OF the United
States u mere trustee. and ~ whose benefit we are
bound 70 administer them II would be far better TO dis
tribute the assets equally among the different States ac-
cordng TO the policy Of the distinguished senator from
Kentucky or else 70 sell them out at the very loves
Mr. CLAY. MIR President rise to do nothing more
IMAM 70 express an opinion or two, and not 10 enler into
the general discussion am very glad to learn that sael
triouton OF the proceeds OF the public landscommend
itself to the appreciation fmy friend from South Carolina
MT BusLEn and that he now deems that an acceptable
Mr. BUTLER. (inerposng.) All am sure that my
friend from Kentucky will allow me to say that was
say which Of two events would dsprecae least wlthou
being understood to desire either.
/ Mr. CLAY. Well, sir, il is exceedingly agreeable L
me to hear the honorable senator express an opinion
either with or without the modification he has nov
made at all favorable TO great national measure OF jus
tce which would have redounded greatly to the benefit
posery and cannot but hope that his fear the entire
waste Of the public lands will induce him, il some SINH
lar project lie brought forward, to 20 for it.
Sir, with reference 10 the particular question before
that entertain no doubt about the general power. under
proper guards and appropriate restrictions, 10 make the
species OF appropriations OF the public lands which is
here contemplated; and hope 10 see portion OF tina
power extended 10 lakes and rivers and har
b0rs. | am ready, for one to concur in cautious
but liberal measures for the Improvement OF those lakes
and rivers, and harbors. The Ohio ryerthe greatest
thoronghare in this country. with the exception Of the
Mississippihas depended almost for the possibility oil
navigating upon the exercise OF this same general pow
er, which believe the government possesses, have
no doubt, can entertain donbt Of the right Of the
general government, one OF the greatest 1.-The very
greatest-of landhoding proprieors. to appropriate
portion OF that land for tie purpose OF making the
mainder more valuable and available.
great deal has been said about the trusieeship Of the
government II true that all government Is matter Of
trust Individual men trustees created by Providence,
bound TO administer their faculties to the best advantage,
merely for themselves, but for their fellow But
II by The use OF the term trustee, II is proposed TO qual
~, limit restrain the trust to resemble the ordi-
nary trusts that created in the of human
Actions do not concur at all in that idea The govern
ment is trustee for the purpose Of administering the af
fairs Of the nation according to its best judgment
Tor the good OF the WHOLE and all the parts OF the
whole With respect 10 the State Of Ilinos-and |
to sss and
know something personally Of the interior OF the State
of Inos--that portion OF the State through which this
which is denomnaed the Grand Prairie do moi recol.
lect its extent but II is, believe about three hum
dred miles in length and about one hundred in breadth
Now, this road will pass directly through that Grand
Prairie engthwse, and there is nobody who knows any
thing of that Grand Prairie, who does not know that the
land IN 1t is utterly worthless for any present purpose
not because is not fertile, but for the want of wood
and water, and from the fact that il is inaccessible, want
ing all facilities for reaching market for transporting
timber, so that nobody will go there and settle while it
destitute OF all the advantages OF society, and the
veniences which arise from social state And now BY
constructing this road through the prairie through the
centre OF the State OF Illinois, you will bring millions Of
wise remain for years and years entirely unsaeable
Well, SO with regard to Alabama aud Mississippi the
road which is proposed will pass through what is called
the Pine Barrens The soil there, except in occasional
spots, entirely vaueess, though il is covered with tim
Der which is ntrnsicaly very valuable, but worth
less, because it is unapproachabe and not available fol
the want OF some means OF uanspotto market Well
by running this road though those portions OF Mississippi
and Alabama, you will again bring into market an i'm
mense amount OF lands increasing their value to the ben
eft Of the treasury OF the United States.
i Now, IL possible that the government, trustee, OF
whatever you may choose 10 call tan intelligent being
any raes bound 10 manage the property belonging
or nirused to il such manner as shall in lis own jadg
ment rebound most to the benefit OF the whole country
And 10 promoting the good OF the parts, you promote III,
good OF the whole Is there in Georgia, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, tn,
adjoining Staes who will not, in way another
avail himself OF the advantages oil such road in h,
facilities for travel transportation Ii will furnish
continuous route from Chicago to Mobile And Georgia
has already her stretching out in the di
recton, and will readily form functions with the Ala
The honorable senator from South Carolina mr. Bur
LERl has anticipated difficulty in relation TO Ten
nessee and Kentucky Why, SIR the project Is to carry
the road from Mobile to the mouth OF the Ohio river
to place In that vicinity, perhaps to Columbus,
town few miles below the mouth OF the 0ho--thu
making one grand line from Mobile TO Chicago, o
4 wherever the northern terminus may be, passn,
through Kentucky at that part OF the State where i
extremely narrow and cannot think there will be AM
difficulty under the provisions OF this bill, either in tina
State in Tennessee, account OF the want OF public
lands along the Ii is impossible in the admins
traon oil the great interests OF this country 10 distribute
the advantages OF the administration equally amongst al
the States Take the collection OF the revenue for ex
ample. In the city of New York sone there eigh
nine hundred functonaes connected with that bancl
OF the public service, from all whom that city derives al
advantage in the expenditure OF their salaries and he
residence citizens there and from other iBcidenta
causes III were TO insist upon the principle OF pre-
cisely equal distribution OF the bene arising from suc
souses, should be obliged TO have corps OF eight
nine hundred officers stationed in every city Throughout
the country with liked salaries and with duties &
perform; and Of the other great interests OF the
u Try. But the custom house at New York, and tn
tended Tor the benefit OF New York They are for th
benefit Of the whole country and just this road
proposed 10 be built In Illinois, Is not for the sake
Illinois, although she will derive, doubtless the larges
and most immediate advantage from H. II il FIR TIL
sake, the first place, OF the public lands and for th
sake Of the commerce. and travel and intercourse, be
tween the people OF this great republic, which, the
the facilities OF inter communication augmented, be
comes the more harmonious and homogeneous in all il
parts
Then, sir, | am in favor OF these measures I hav,
not had in my power to look into the bill with iha
care that ought TO have bestowed. confess hav
some hesitation unless il is put under proper resrc
ton, about going far from the road on either cid
OF tia distance OF six miles. To 20 away of wher