The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH or MR. sELCH,

OF MICHIGAN,
Upoa vs Public Land BIZ; deiiuered The Senate Of
The United States, January 10, 1881
Mr. FELCH said Mr.. President, II cannot have escaped
he attention of senators that at the last session OF Con
ress much greater number OF plans ior the dlspOsion
and management the public lands were presented than
at almost any former session. Neilhei can nave es-
caDsd the Of the country that there has re-
ceniIy existed the public mind greater disposition
ha usual not only TO examine INTO the administration
Of the public ands and the manner OF disposng Of them,
but Also in some quarters there has been exhibited
svsTsh anxiety to legislation of the government
Of IN unusual character, upoa that subject This anx-
iety relating 10 the subject TO which iefefan anxiety
10 canvass the present. and devise method OF
dsposing OF the public domain, has thus been exhibited
10 various ways In the hrst place, numerous petitions
presented Congress at the last session, adyisng diff
ierent plans for the disposition of the public domain
many Of which proposed to abandon utterly and entirely
the whole system which bad heretofore guided the
ton OF the government on this subject Public meet
ings held in many portions OF the country which
had for their object what s denominaed land reform
to bring about change in the disposition OF the public
domain Senators here, and representatives in the other
house also. presented various plans some by bills ex-
hbiting the views of the movers and submitting them
for The action OF Congress on the subject some by reso
lutons pointing out different methods in which the pub
lie land should be disposed OF.
The attention OF the Senate at the last session was be-
slowed upon many bills bearing upon this subject Lands
posing grants Tor the purposes OF education, and for
roads and canals running through portions Of the public
domain. received the favorableacon OF this body Some
branch Of Congress others still await the action OF
tha. honorable body These, however, involve prn.
cxe q variance with the former course OF action on the
subject by the government On the contrary they are in
accordance with it, and do but carry ont in spirit OF
liberaity well settled principles.
The Bill now sader consideration is one OF different
class Il proposes radical change in the action OF the
government on this subject and REIMBURSEMENT OF the
syslem now in operation. We cannot enter on the con-
sderaton of this subject without feeling that thorough
examination and careful scrutiny demanded al our
hands before taking this departure from principles here
totore regarded as just and beneficial
There at the present day subject, in my opinion,
important, connected with the duty and action OF
the government OF the United Staes than that which
pefps to the manner OF asposing OF the public domain
the cosary was comparatively limited Now our terri
tory eyssds the Atlantic to the Pacific. over coun
tries - and fertile, and through regions aboundng in
which agriculture Yields II has become now import
ant system, extensive in it's operations and mingng
itself IN greater or less degree, with all the great
In considering this bill. we come 10 the class Of cases
thus presented to Congress, which involve total
change in the whole system OF dsposng OF the public
domain. and substituting another. II presents, IN my
opinion, subject OF 80 great Importance that trust
may be excused for calling the attention Of the Senate to
some considerations with regard oit.
What then, does this bill which we have before US
propossl II proposes series OF changes which requires
US TO abandon utterly and entirely all sales OF the public
domain, and the management OF that domain under the
present system, and which involves the cedng OF the
public domain TO the States in which the lands e This
BILL however does not rest here 1t not only adopts the
principle OF divestng the United States OF the public do
main, aad the management OF that domain, but it goes
further; ], annexes 10 this disposition Of the public
ande-his grant OF it to the States-ceriain conditions,
which require the CAREFUL attention and scrutiny Of every
one who, in public position is called upon to act this
subject The bill now under consideration proposes 10
grant to each State all the public lands lying within its
limits and this upon several conditions one Of which is
that Of the said lands shall in either OF the
States until the legislature thereof shall enter into
pact between such States and the United States6rst,
that such State will grant and convey the land ceded
to to actual occupants only Of the land be conveyed
aquantty to each occupant not exceeding one hundred
and sixty acres, quarter secton and this tract shall
be granted 10 the landless only The second condition
s that the land be granted any such occupant
shall BE- and remain forever exempt from forced SALE
tent or levy. execution decree from or by any court OF
law or equity" The third condition is, that every such
grantee shall be forbidden TO sell convey such land TO
any person corporation who owns, would thereby
become the owner OF, more than one hundred and sixty
acses '-s.
And, again. the law Of the State within which the
land lies shall require actual residence upon the land
OF not less h one year before the title shall be con.
Veyed 10 the sAtter The general features OF the bill
vove first. he dvesting Of the United States OF all
Its interest IN the public domain, and secondly the grant
ing OF the lands by the States TO individuals on the condl-
lions which have named.
Mr. President, do not undertake say that the pres
snt land system is perfect one that there new
provisions which should be ngrafted upon the laws that
relate TO this subject make opposition TO the broad
est beralty on the part OF the general government TO
the States within which these lands e could not urge
soch IN opposition without violating my own sense OF
Poprety. That one government should own the broad
domaine within the limits OF another government,
anomaly which IN ordinary could but conduce 10
evh Under our organization, however, such deleerous
consequences have been avoided by the wisdom displayed
IN he administration OF the trust. This condition OF
devolves upon the general the duty OF
administering the public domain as TO induce an in
nux OF industrious and intelligent settlers upon it,
% avoid ~ lar may be, everything which could
met with the free and unembarrassed action OF the States
IN whoh the land lesas to the Best possible
manner, the progress OF civilization and the building up in
the wilderness of settlements which shall be Aourshng.
prosperous, and happy Any modification OF the law
support
abandonment of the whole system under which have
nssesofors acted We are 10 give away the public
Domain 10 very evident from the history OF the past
mat We have been essentially benefited by the manage
neut OF the public ands and by the receipts into the
treasury from the sales II the bill under consider
ahon ehal receive the favorable action OF Congress and
20 INTO operation law, its FIRST effect will be felt in
tne financial department OF the government The source
OF income into the treasury from these sales will be
once cut on The importance Of this source OF income
snouid not be estimated II s found in all the
porm from the Treasury Department, from the first land
ses 10 the present me and uniformly item of no
minor consequence But, in order that may see how
nas mingled 10 the financial Affairs Of the country and
s comparative Importance, beg leave 10 refer TO Official
statements on the subject contained in the public docu-
ments.
1885 the receipts from customs were 81 3ql aIO 50
Ihe receipts from public lands during that wear were
SN.7S76e0 rs. In 1886 the receipts from customs were
34oo94O SO, while the receipts from public lands were
cm,oliIs 90. during these two years more than one
a I'VE amount OF revenue received the treasury
tom lns source Theee years, however. do not afford
r criterion OF the comparative income from this and
oner sources reckless spirit OF speculation aided by