Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-01
SPEECH OF MR FELCH,
UPON THE PUBLIC AND BILL
OF MICHIGAN,
In SENATE, JAsUAnr Is, 1851.

OF MICHIGAN,
UPON THE PUBLIC LAND BILL.
In SENATE, JANUARY l3, 1851.
Mr. FELCH said Mr.. President, il cannot have escaped
thu attention of Senators that the last session of Congress
much greater number Of plans for the disposition and man
sgement of the public lands were presented than at almost
any former session Neither il have escaped the obser
yston Of the country that there has recently existed in the
public mind greater disposition than usual not only to
anime into the administration of the public ands and the
manner Of Of them but also in some quarters there
has been exhibited feversh anxiety to secure legislation OF
the Government of unusual character upon that subject
This anxiety relating the subject to which refer-an
anxiety the present. and devise some new method
Of dposng Of the public domainhas thus been exhibited 10
various In the first place. numerous Petons were pre-
snted TO Congress session. advising plans for
the dspos Of the public domsn OF which proposed
abandon utterly and entirely the whole system which had
heretofore guided the action Of the Government on this sub
iect Public meetings held IN many portions o the
country which had for their what is drnomnated land
reform-to bring about change in the disposition OF the
public domain. Senators here and Representatives in the
other house aso presented various planssome by bills ex
hbng the Of the movers and submitting them Tor the
action Of Congress on the subject by resolutions point
ing different methods in which the public land should be
disposed Of
The attention the Senate the last session bestow
ed upon many bills bearing upon this subject Lands were
granted to the pioneer settler Of Oregon. Bills proposing
grants the purposes educao and for roads and canas
running through portions Of the public doman received the
favorable action Of this body. Some Of these bills have
received the sanction Of the other branch Of Congress
others still await the action Of that honorable body These
however, involve principle at variance with the former
course Of action the subject by the Government On the
contrary they accordance with it and do but carry out
in spirit Of hberaity well-settled principles
The bill now under consideration of different class
II proposes radical change the action of the Government
on this subject and REIMBURSEMENT Of the system now in
operation We enter the consideration OF this sub
ject without feeling that thorough examination and careful
p1od hapdS
ture from principles heretofore regarded just and beneficial
There is the present day no subject, in my opinion,
more important connected with the duty and action of the
Government of the United States, than that which pertains
to tho Of dspotDg Of the public domain The sys
tenn in operation commenced at day when the country
was comparatively limited Now territory extends from
the Atlantic to the Pacific countries rich and fertile and
through regions aboundng in mineral well as TO
the toirewading wealth which agriculture yields 1t has
become important SYSTEM extensive in its operations
and mingng ITSELF in greater or less degree, with all the
great interests Of this country.
In considering this bill we come the class of thus
presented 10 Congress which involve total change in the
whole system Of dpesDg Of the public domain and substitute
ing another II presents in my opinion, subject OF great
importance that trust may be excused for calling the at
tention Of The Senate considerations with regard
What then, does this bill which have before pro-
pose 1t proposes series Of changes, which requires
abandon utterly and entirely all sales Of the public domain,
and the management Of that domain under the present ys
te and which involves the cedng Of the public domain to
not rest here 1t not only adopts the principle Of dvesng
the United States Of the public domain and the management
of that domain but goes further annexes to this dipo-
sition Of the public ands-ths grant of TO the States
certain conditions, which require the careful attention ard
scrutiny Of every who in public position is called upon
this subject The bill under consideration pro-
poses grant each State all the public lands lying within
its limits and this upon several conditions one OF which il
that of the said lands shall vest in either Of the States
until the Legislature thereof shall enter into compact be-
such States and the United States-fr that such
State will grant and convey the land SO ceded to it to acua
occupants only OF the land to be conveyed In quantity
each occupant exceeding hundred and sixty acres
quarter section, and this shall be granted the land
less only The second condition is "that the land b
granted to any such occupant shall be and remain for
exempt from forced sae extent levy execution decree
is that every such grantee shall be forbidden to sell
vey such land to any person corporation who owns
would thereby become the OF, than hupdret
and sixty acres.
And, again. the law of the State within which the Ian.
hes shall require actual residence upon the land of les
than year before the title shall be conveyed the settler
The general features the bill involve rs the dvesting
the United States Of all it's interest in the public domain, and
secondly the granting Of the lands by the States to indvJua
on the conditions which have named.
Mr. President do not undertake say that the present
and system is perfect one, that there prov
sons which should be ngraed upon the laws that relate
this subject make opposition to the broadcast beraty
the part Of the General Government the States within
which these lands lie. could not urge such opposition
without violating my own sense of propey. That one
Government should own the broad domains with the limits
another Government is anomaly which in ordinary
could but conduce to evil Under organization, however
such deeous consequences hare been avoided by the wis
dom displayed in the administration of the trust. This
don Of things devoves upon the General Government th
duty Of administering the public domain induce
influx Of industrious and intelligent settlers upon it,
avoid far may be, every thing which could conc, viii
the free and action of the States in which
land es-as secure in the best possible MANNER the pro
gress Of civilization and the building up in the wilderness
settlements which shall be ousng prosperous and happy
Any modification Of the law which shall produce such result
will receive my hearty support.
But the proposition before the Senate involves ute
abandonment of the whole system under which have here
tofore acted We give away the public domain
1t is very evident from the history Of the past that hav
been essentially benefited by the management of the pub
lands and by the receipts into the Treasury from the sales
II the bill under consideration shall receive the favorable
action of Congress and into operation law its frs
effect will be felt in the financial department Of the Govern
The Of income into the Treasury from hes
sales will be off The importance of this
Of income should not be under estimated 1t found in all h
reports from the Treasury Department, from the frs, Ian.
sales TO the. present time snd uniformly item Of nj
minor consequence. But, in order that may how
has mingled the financial affairs Of the country, and it
comparative Importance beg leave TO refer to official state
ncnts the subject conta ned in the public documents
In 1885 the receipts from customs SO $40 So
The receipts from public lands during tha, year
SA7s7 60075. In 1896 the receipts from customs
SO, while the receipts from public lands
SZa,sH,l l7s s6. During these years than
nai toe amount Of revenue received into the treasury
from TINS source. These years. however, do sforJ s
criterion OF The comparative income from this and ether sources
n nj tnf .t-ss~ L. l.