The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-26


them by State authorities portion of. this amount
would be avoided by the United States Taking then,
the sum first above mentioned as the cost to the govern
ment $46,756 3i9 so
And add interest on the advances, moi
less than 26 sos ,449 81
we have an aggregate cost to the treas.
which, the least would be the cost OF the proposed
grants.
But these remarks and estimates apply only to that por.
toA Of the public domain situated within the twelve land
States. These States embrace comparatively very smal
hosoa ! Iees0, o. .ne ao%an now held By by
boundaries far to the south OF their former postoR and
on the west to the waters OF the Pacific The principles
lied beyond the limits OF the present States apply also TO
the entire territory held by the government and in the
mean time the expenses OF survey, management OF the
lands, and extinguishment of Indian title must
not be abandoned by The government. Applying the
same estimate of cost and expense, in the other
cases, to the land without the limits of the States.
We find that Oregon has estimated surface of 2lS,536
$40 acres. The cost OF title survey and management
would amount TO VAT .6409l7 76. The Northwest Ter
OF the Mississippi river, and Indian exchange lands)
contains 424 053760 acres, amounting 92443,79 g.
Upper California and New Mexico (west OF the Rio
Grande) have estimated surface of 1886 $40 acres
amounting to $73 39s.4o2 So, making total OF s79,-
2s0000 at cost OF title, survey, and
Of $al34s3,o4o This exhibits, so lar have been
able 10 ascertain from public documents the condition OF
things il the principle OF free grants be adopted and
carried by the government into effect throughout these
wide domains Add TO this the above stated. for the
expense Of the unsod lands within the limits OF the
ganzed States and you have the aggreg expense TO
the government OF 1886 4S39 81. OF this amount,
some aOo is yet to be expended from the treas
uy. Estimates OF this KIND can, OF course, be but
approximation and are not presented entirely accurate
data. 1t will occur also to every that the actual
pendltures BY the government must depend in some de-
gree the tme reference 10 the surveys and disposition
o the land, when the title shall pass into the States
These exhibits however. sufficient to show the mag
nude of the subject connected with the system which
Yr n yUh
we prepared, not only to yield that which has al
ready been expended for the purchase of land held by the
government, but TO proceed with the accumulation
pense till it reaches the thus indicated. order
carry out the principle Of gratuous distribution twill
be observed that this bill does propose release the
general government from the management and care OF
the public domain until after the organization sf States
and the cesson thereof to their authorities Indeed ap
prehend that person desires that the United States
should relInqulsh the survey and OF the public do
maln Nothing Is more important than that the surveys
should be made in the most manner, and that
the shpcy OF hties easily traced to the government
as granor. which emlnenty characterzes system,
should be preserved
1t sometimes is supposed that there is in this govern
meni, somehow other, title to the public lands by
merely as government No supposiiion could be more
erroneous than this. There portion OF the public
which has not been obtained by purchase The titles
TO western lands obtained from the original States
RECEIVED on certain conditions to be performed
alteration by the general government and which the
latter is carrying out according to their true spirit
Since the Of these lands territory has been
quired BY treaty from France. from Spain. and from
Mexico all OF which yield not merely jurisdiction, but
convey specifically the title to the soil itself.
The treaty with France Of 1908 cedes all public lots
aud squares vacan, lands S and public ea.langs which
The cession by Spain OF 1919 conveys, for five millions
OF dollars in full property and sovereignty, all the
sSa vasaa lands. Zee not private property o' anu squares
The cession by Mexico OF lsls cedes the broad terri
tory OF California and New Mexico in nearly the
II F)-llur
might be well also TO take another view OF this sub
ect reference the expense OF the gratutous cesson
OF the public domain Let by another estimate what
would cost the governmental bestow tracts of I60
of land every settler The to the govern
per acre. before stated is 20 CENTS making for
each grant of 100 acres S32 2o unremuneaed expense
to the gran,or and proposed to distribute the
tire public domain IN this manner let us carry our est
mate little further, and ascertain how much IL would
require to proceed with settlements at this rate.
II would cost TO give d,cdy the unsold portion OF
Wisconsin, rs ,327, ,679 acres, S5,792,os9
Iowa, 27,l33,265 4" 5,973,7ls
Michigan, 2a,s6i963 =" 5,s7o0a9
Missouri, 2s2l6,l73 8427.55s
Minnesota now Just opening for settlement, and where
scarcely has been sold, 53.I2oooo acres, ST.,
6s6,400
These are sufficient as examples merely 10 present an
exhibition of the effect of the principle.
is true the bill proposes 10 require each grantee 10
pay for title deeds &c, sum not exceeding five dollars
but this sun, dsproporonae as II is to the cost OF the
land paid the State, and not to the United States
The former pay the latter only the OF ranscr
bng the records with compensation Tor previous costs
and expenditures.
have thus Mr. President, endeavored 10 show so far
official data would enable both the cost OF the pub
lie domain the aggregate TO the government and the
expense of the disposal of that domain in the manner
under consideration,
Whatever our own views may be in regard to the pro-
priety Improperly OF the measure hold we all
bound to examine the question in detail and with figures
Let us know how far to go. an disposed TO be
liberal any consistently be in regard to hls
great subect but desire know the truth and examine
fho fpft thQ of tha In
which our action must lead
There ia another consideration connected with the hnap-
cal part OF this subject which omi, refer
aude the relation which the public domain bears at the
presen, time the debt OF the United States The pro-
ceeds OF the sales Of the public lands all specifically
States stock issued by virtue of an act approved Jan
uary as, ls47." According TO Official statements, the
amount still outstanding and unpaid, and for which the
proceeds of the public domain are thus pledged on
the 9th OF June last 27935,350 The annual interest
this sum is 81 l,736,12l This is just about equal to
lie lands for the last two or 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 to cancel the
interest this debt
1t is for gentlemen consider how far il is consistent
with the obligations OF this pledge thus TO dispose by
single act of the public domain.
The ordinary OF sale, and the well settled
tom OF liberal grants for objects heretofore recognised in
the practice OF the government are not At variance with
the spirit Of the pledge but action which proposes to
abandon the right OF the other party and to transfer the
property another needs 10 be scrutinzed II may be
and probably true that the pledging party being the
government ITSELF legal remedy to enforce such
pledge ]. may be and certainly true that the prompt