Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-11
ace the value Of that which the Govern.

ment retains.
Like the gentleman from New Hampshire. am inclined
to believe that II useless to make any effort TO secure us
ce in behalf Of the old States for any part of the public do
main have for many years endeavored to have the pro
ceeds Of the public lands distributed among the States accord
ing to their population. We have had such law in force
BEFORE and just and wise law but doubt very much
whether shall have such law in force again. believe
that such proposition made by the Senator from Georgia
(Mr DAwsos) at the last session, but it voted down.
That effort indicates, what sorry believe will
out to be the fact that proposition Of that win
never succeed sgain.
Sir We see bow the public lands are going is useless
speak of thing that every body knows The best that
can do is to make good selection in these appropriations
which the States will have snd grant them where
conceive they will be most servceabe to the whole Conede
racy II have opportunity shall perhaps submit pro-
position make appropriation TO construct road from
Louisville St. Louis Il will be through the territory of
fetal my State than perhaps any other which could be
slructed bill to authorize the construction Of that road
introduced the last session. but not acted upon
It had give place other bills for roads little further
North which received favor from the Senate and House
of Representatives Sir, perhaps tho poor privilege may BE
left in the general scramble which has been spoken Of Of
making these selections among those improvements which
WILL by ndeciion, result most benefcal the old States
II that can be secured II is much as / expect.
Mr.. DAWSON. merely wish 70 make one observation |;
to say that my friend from Mississippi (r FoorE) is some
what mistaken in point Of history. He says that
plain Of injustice having been done the State of Georgia
in relation to the public lands Now, uniformly spoke Of
the old thirteen. But he said that Georgia had right
compan because she had been amply dealt with in relation
the public lands that the Indian title had been extngushed
within her limits Why, does not the honorable Senator
know that he is citizen Of daughter Of Georgia.
Mississippi and Alabama the property Of the State
of Georgia In the year 1902 ceded these two fertile and
promising States to the General Government for little
than million of dollars The sales Of the public lands with
in those two States have amounted to between eighty and
hundred mlons Of dollars and all the proceeds have gone
into the Treasury Of the United States Georgia has
Ill
New Hampshire have not proporionatey received, in the
years 1885, 1887 and 1885, Hence II Is that the Senator
s mistaken in suPposng that Georgia has been very literally
dealt with by the General Government We not complain
OF the acts Of the Government under the compact of
1902. We only complain Of this that the public domain Of
the country not administered justly and equally towards all
the United States
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. Mr.. President, the Senator
from Georgia, in remarks which he made this morning,
referred to opinion of mine which expressed last
session Of Congress is my good fortune find
opinions quoted account Of their value but only by
some one who intends to prove inconsistency or fix me to
some particular ISSUE do suppose that my friend from
Georgia quotes it to prove my inconsistency for have al
ways been consistent this NATTER and he had
to suppose that my vote this occasion would be different
from those which have heretofore given upon such subjects
On former occasion made the argument, he stated,
that the whole right of this Government grant lands for
the purpose of constructing canals roads, the benefit
which would result the Government in the increased value
Of the contiguous land hold the Government to be trustee
The land belongs to all the States II is property
and the extent which the Government co. the extent
to which proprietor might go in relation to bis own domain
The trustee cannot certainly do than the proprietor
The proprietor might grant land portions OF land
unsettled doman for the purpose roads, the
means of inducing purchasers to buy the domain which he
wishes to SELL think the Government may grant land and
have voted for grants did think that they ought to
be confined within four or FIVE miles on each side of the
road, within which the selection should be made But last
year went beyond that enlarged to fifteen miles,
and this proposes to still further and beyond the limit to
which think the principle should properly apply.
But it is said that the land within which had agreed
this grant should be selected has been sold Very good
then the argument falls recur to the Of proprietor
who had given some lands to his domain, be-
eving entirely unsettled if the person should back and
say "you have sold this land" what would the proprietor
say He would say if the land already sold there
nducement for him make the grant, for people had al
ready settled the land So in this The very fact of
land having been purchased destroys the principle upon
which such grants have been made For that be-
leving that this does not the only principle which has
governed in times past. and which will control me here
AFTER as an opposer Of internal improvements shall vote
against this till. .
The bill was then reported to the Senate without amend
men and the question upon ordering to be engrossed
for third reading. S.. ".
Mr. DAWSON. In order to the of the Senate
upon the proposition, call for the yeas and nays.
The and nays ordered and being aken resulted
as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Atchson Badger, Baldwin, Benton Cass,
Chase Clay, Clemens Dickinson Dodge, of Wisconsin,
Dodge, of Iowa, Downs Feleh, Foote Gwin Hale Hamn,
Houston Jones, King, Mangum, Morton, Rusk Seward,
Shields, Smith, Underwood, Upham, Wales, Walker, Whit
comb, and Winthrop-s2. ...... \.
NAYS-Messrs. Berrien, Butler, Davis Of Mississippi,
Dawson Dayton, Hunter, Masonr Mile, Phelps, and
Spruance-l0 .#
So the bill ordered to be engrossed for third reading.
PUNIsHMENTs IN THE NAVY.
message received from the President of the United
States covering communication from the Secretary Of the
Navy, the subject of the discipline of the Navy and sug
gestng such amendments Of the law may be necessary in
a
ing to the immediate attention Of Congress which read
be printed.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
The PRESIDENT announced the special order be the
bill to cede the public lands the States respectively in which
they lie. m.. !.
Mr. GWIN. rise to put an inquiry to the chairman Of
the Committee Finance, in regard to subject which
referred to that committee. the bill in relation the
duties collected in California before the State admitted
into the Union. subject Of great importance to the
people Of that State and wish know whether may
pect report upon it in q short time a-..
The PRESIDENT. The Senator has no right to make
such inquiry.
Mr.. GWIN. merely asked the privilege Of making that
inquiry. "
The PRESIDENT. It not usual for such inquiries to
be made.
Mr.. BERRIEN. move to postpone all the previous
des general and special for the purpose Of taking up the bill
regulate the fees and costs Of marsha &C. in the courts
of the United States. 1t will occupy but small portion of
the time of the Senate have endeavored more than
to bring it to the notice of the Senate II is Of import
ance, in the view Of the chairman of the Committee FL
nance that the bill should be acted at early day.