Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-01

public domain Let as BY another estimate what would
cost the Government to bestow tracts OF 6O acres OF land to
every settler The average The Government per acre.
before stated is % cents making for each grant of go
32 30 unremunerated expense to the grantor and
it proposed to distribute the entire public domain in this
manner let carry estimate little further and ascer-
tain how much would require proceed with settlements
this rate. , s.@g s
1t would cost to gipe aDay the unsold portion Of
Wisconsin, 26, 1927, 679 acres, S5, 792, Os9
Iowa, ~, l53, ,265 ........... 5,S737lS
Michigan, 24,s64,s63 ........... 5,47O.Oa9
Missouri, 29,2l6,l73 {" ........... 6,427, $50
Minnesota, now just opening for settlement,
and where scarcely acre has been sold,
SO, l20, 600 acres, IL, ,666, 400
These sufficient examples, merely to present an
hibition of the effect Of the principle.
II true the bill proposes to require each grantee pay
for title deeds &c. sum not exceeding five dollars but
this dsproporonate as to the cost Of the land is
paid the Stae and to the United States The former
to pay to the latter only the cost Of transcbng the
cords, with compensation for previous costs and eIpend
lures.
have thus Mr. President endeavored show so far as
official data would enable me- both the cost Of the public do
main in the aggregate the Government, and the expense
of the disposal Of that domain in the under consider
alton. .
Whatever views may be in regard to the propey
Improperly Of the measure, hold ell bound
anime the question in detail and with figures Let know
how far 60. am disposed to be liberal any
consistently be 10 regard this great subject but
desire to know the truth and examine the facts for the
winch
There is another consideration connected with the nan
cal part Of this subject to which must net omit to refer
aude to the relation which the public domain bears at the
present time TO the debt Of the United States The proceeds
Of the sales OF the public lands ell specifically pledged Tor
the redemption and payment Of the United States Stock su
ed by virtue of an approved January %, lS47" Ac
cordng to official statements the amount still outstanding
and unpaid and for which the proceeds Of the public domain
thus pledged the 9Th of June last S27 $50
The annual interest this is Sl736 l2l. This is
he an
nual sales public lands for the last three years.
During these years the receipts have been less than usual
but under the present system the annual sales safely be
relied upon for sufficient, at least CANCEL the interest
this debt. ..
II is for gentlemen consider how far is consistent with
the obligations Of this pledge thus dispose by single act
Of the public domain.
The ordinary Of SALE and the well settled custom
ce of the Government not at variance with the spirit
the pledge but action which proposes abandon the right
of the party, and to transfer the property another needto
be scruinzed II may be, and probably is true, that the
pedgng party being the Government ITSELF legal remedy
exists to enforce such pledges it may bc, and certainly
true, that the prompt payment Of all the obligations Of the
Government beyond contingency su the public faith
pghted be Withdrawn without the consent of
all interested in the matter If the legal remedies afforded in
transactions Of the character between individuals
wantng much the should the most scrupuous good
faith be kepso much the carefully should abstain
from every act which suffer suspicion Of disregard to
the rights and interests of the creditor. Without his
sent TO depart from the ordinary of administering the
property thus pledged, bound TO make important
change, and, the least Of ALL dsregadng his rights and
own honor, to transfer il to another ~
Mr. President, have referred far desired to the
financial part Of this subject But perhaps shall be told
that under the present aspect Of things, all this idle and
proftess speculation.
has become customary, here and elsewhere, to assert
that the public domain is already disspated and that
in future hope for nothing from this of
that by our acts the fountain is dried up and will
again yield its accustomed supply These assertions have
bean so often and confidently made, that their influence
begins to be felt on action here
In the report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury presented
few days since, is asserted that " sixteen years will
be required to absorb and satisfy the yet to be is
sued estimated under the several bounty land in
force and that the sales of land should hereafter be
relied upon with certainty any considerable extent
in estimating the receipts into the Treasury The honora
be Senator from Missouri INIT BENroS) stated few days
snce his psce here not only that could rely upon this
as source Of income for the future but that the cost of ad
mnserng the land system would be remuneraed the
saes This cost, in his opinion, the OF some
900 annually, would be burden by any
| couesf sfondng Income upon the Treasury.
Now have looked carefully the statement presented
by the Secretary Of the Treasury from which be is led to the
conclusion have stated
Annexed to his report table exhibiting the estimated
number of granted by Of Congress- vet to be located
on the public domaip and which, in his opinion will take
the place Of sales for cash for the sxt en- years.
The exhibit is as f1llows
| Acres