The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-08

his speculalions entirely iaacous If the cost OF the
revolutionary war; the cost OF the long controversy WIN
rance which ended the purchase OF louisiana, the
cost oil all the Indian wars and the cost OF the late war
with Mexico, all of which in some degree con
necled win The acquisition OF the public domain should
be included IN the estimate the entire cost OF the public
lands would be seven hundred Millions instead OF sew
eny-hve millions of dollars. II, the other hand, the
expense account be credited with all the national bene
hts, financial commercial and political, which have been
secured the domain would be discharged from all ndebt
ednesS whatever TO the treasury.
Dir, Inc acquisition OF the domain, whatever was ITS
cost IS transaction completed. ended, past The value
OF The domain is what is worth now, not what II cost
Mr President, such disposition OF the public lands
as have suggesed is entirely misapprehended II Is not
whether we shall renqush revenue OF one and quar-
ter millions The revenue has ceased, and the ioun-
tain from which Il flowed is dried up already. ..
We have by various acts passed within the last ten
years. given up seventy eight million nine hundred and
thrty-tWo thousand five hundred and thirteen acres,
which must be taken oil from the hands OF States
and before your own sales can be renewed
he Secretary OF the Treasury assures us That the reve
nue. IRON the public domain IS suspended by tins egsa-
lion for a period OF sixteen years. .s.
Sir, that suspended for sixteen years has
practically ceased forever. The senator from Michigan,
perpeXed with tins argument reviews the treasury esli-
mates, and reduces the period OF exhaustion to eight
years. .a " .# !.
Sir say then. to the senator. ha, he has not changed
the case .a ... a.. .... .a.....
national revenue thai is suspended for eight years
has practically ceased forever But neither the
aor from Michigan even the Secretary OF the Treas
ury has estimated The period of exhaustion at It's full
length. Congress annually making new appropriations:
The Senate has at this session passed act dsposng OF
We all hope tina, that act will become a law, although
its effect would be To add at least five years the term
for which the from the domain suspended Let
us, then. appehend The emergency as II Is, and act ac
cordingly The domain no longer yields nor will ever
again yield revenue Since its financial benefits have
let longer dispose OF il by impulse and
price, not to say by Partially and favor, but let dis
pose oi as to secue political and social benefits to the
whole Union.
a.
tors The debt charged upon the domain is $50
debt which is rapidly diminishing, and if practise
economy will have disappeared by the appliance OF rev.
from customs alone long before the public domain
will yield dollar for the payment OF the interest
on it, But it be necessary 10 hold public domain liable
for the debt may properly set apart sufficient lands for
that purpose, and let the residue be disposed OF other
Interests require. .....-
The senalur from Michigan resisted the policy proposed
the ground that it would reduce the value OF real
the State. Ii has been urged that in.
convenience wond also reach the old States. The in
convenience, Mr. President. if il should all,
would be merely temporary. The reclaimiag OF the do
cultivated well vacant lands rise in value just
rapidly as new lands lying among or adjacent to them
improved What would be lost in the first instance
would oe abunlany reganed alterward
There is, however, Mr.. President, objection OF
more serious nature than any have yet considered
hear II said all sides that the domain ought TO be dis
posed OF for great and benecen objecs-objecls bene
hcia to the old well TO the States. Sir, have
always favored such policy and is upon that ground
that have cheeriully voted hitherto shall continue
TO vote hereafter, Tor appropriations upon that principle
so long Congress shall continue adhere form
10 the ancient system.
IL is upon this ground that shall support the bill now
under consideration which proposes bestow upon the
Safe OF Louisiana the public lands within her limits to
enable her 10 improve the navigation OF the Mississippi
a to which called the attention oil the Senate
al the last sessona measure OF great urgency, and OF
conceded national Importance have had, moreover,
hope that this great might be applied to the
tabishmeni OF system tor the gradual bat certain
moea OF slavery BY scheme of compensaung emancpa
uon have thought that the slaveholdng States might
wisely propose such system, and that the free States
ought 10 aceede TO IT.
But, sir. manifest that il the old States could no,
agree upon such SYSTEM upon any other sys-
TEN OF partition of the public domain among the States
or OF distribution OF It's proceeds, while they held
questioned the political power OF government, they
not hope to agree upon and the adopton OF
such SYSTEM when that power is actually passing
from them to the new States. The States will con-
troll the decision OF this great question We may, never
theless, by yielding what is inevitable modify the
policy TO be adopted
submitted, Mr., President a second principle 10 wit
That the public lands, TO be granted to actual set
lers, ought TO be secured TO them against involuntary
alienation.
respect all lawful contracts, and would not un-
necessarily interfere with rigorous remedies which
existed when such contracts made Bot II Is wlse
is Just and humane TO alleviate prospeotvely the
lations between debtor and creditor Within the las
twenty years. mprson for debt-a system which had
ptevaiied for than two thousand years beforebas
been safely abolished by every State in this Union and
believe by every commercial nation in Europe.
NeW 1OrR, tue most COMMERCIAL Win cqua
safety, abolished the rigorous remedy Of distress for rent
and has exempted certain portions OF estates IRON ab-
sale Tor debts contracted after such laws passed
Other States have adopted the policy OF protecting the
homestead from compulsory sale home is the first
necessity OF every family 1t is Indispensable the edu
cation and qualifications OF citizens.
Cannot society justly withdraw II from the hazards OF
commercial contracts, and from exposure TO the accidents
OF disease and death We besto pensions upon decayed
soldiers have faithfully served their country in the
wars; protect such anButes against involuntary
signmen and the policy is wise 1t ia generous
But he who ecalms OF land from the serlty Of
Nature, and brings II into productive condition, con
fers greater bene the State than vaor has often
the power bestow Sir, all tha, movable in prop
security adequate supply all the wants OF commerce
The home OF the farmer the asylum OF the children OF
the republic may be safely reserved and protected,
There remains, Mt President, third principle which,
think, demands the consideration OF Congress which
is that the administration Of the public lands within the
States should be renquishej TO them.
II has been sufficiently shown that the United States
can longer derive any financial benefit from the do
main They can, best, hope TO appropriate II to pur
poses of internal Improvement and education. Eype
rience has taught nothing, IT has not shown that the
Of Congress upon those interests is less ndcions
apd benecent than The action OF the several States vi
all the railroads, canals and other works OF internal im
provemento all the universities, colleges and schools
In the countrythe States almost exclusively the pro-
iecors founders, and patrons.
To maintain thai the United States can select such OBJ
jecs and apply the public andst the attainment OF them
more wisely than the States could do is to conrovert the
principle of our constitution which assigns domestic IN
ierests and affairs TO local administration Sir, we have
only temporary jurisdiction and temporary estate IN
the domalnboth OF which oil brief duration and com
paratlvely vaueess The reversion OF both belongs to
a.. Nfatn5 and Iphn nj IN