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

lo,3Oo,ooo acres Whatever estimate we may make,
based on the facts and documents IN the appehed
il will be found that not than eight millions OF
acres can be required under the act
Making deductions from the official estimate above
mentioned corresponding with these views the result
materially changed In the single item OF bOunies under
the law Of September last, more than one-haf OF the
whole quantity of yet TO be located, estimated
in the report to be deducted Instead OF supplying
the entire demand for sixteen years 10 come and thus cut
ting of all income IN cash Tor sales, we have no reason
to believe the cash receipts will fall below those OF
former years. There has always been strong compe
ton for supplying the market in land by those holding
under government grants The table above referred 70
shows that, within the last three years. eleven mil
lions OF have been located under such grants
hausng most OF the old donation rights yet the sales for
cash, although diminished have not heen inconslderaoe
II is probable that there will be yet further dminuon
OF the amount OF cash receipts but legislation remains
in its present state do not believe the amount will be
sss .
cstinated BY the Secretary of yhe Trcasusy
would not be understood to doubt that large quantities
OF land thrown into the under grants for bountes
other purposes will affect the sales by the government
This know TO be its legitimate effect. Grants of this
character may be SO excessive as to prevent nearly all
sales by the public authorities do not doubt this tend
ency OF such grants but the question presented whether
the grants outstanding and INDICATED are excess
sve as 10 produce this consequence The substance OF
the urged upon that the lands already
legisaled away and further proceeds from the sales
into the treasury that the subject is now be-
yond the control Of Congress, and plans for gatntous
distribution OF the public domain may be adopted without
detrment do not appeheHd, sir that this is our true
condition The subject is yet within tue control OF gov
ernment, and yet free, by wise legislation, TO ex
erclse discriminating Judgment and to carry out Ju.
dclous system in our administration OF this great subject
There is nothing in the present state Of things TO require
US to abandon wetried system, and TO rush into new
and hazardous experiment should rather caution us to
return to ancient prudence Legislation true has been
most liberal to the States in which the public lands are
located and the soldiers who have fought the battles
of The country il has been liberal in fostering the extern
sion OF knowledge and the settlement OF the territory and
in carrying out the just designs Of all government re-
joce al this lberay neither do believe il has yet gone
beyond those bounds within which enabled act
according TO the best dictates OF our Judgment We are
yet free to adopt the plan recommended by the senator
from Wisconsin, or to pursue the even tenor OF our way
under the present SYSTEM which adopted at early
day. aud upon which the wisdom of long experience has
been migrated But the consequences OF granting the pub
by the treasury of the United States. 1t would have an
influence abroad in the country, and would materially at
feet the value OF the property OF individuals who are now
andholders by purchase made under the government
would render valueless 10 considerable extent II not
altogether the uncultvaed lands the parts of the
county Ii will be seen if we cast our eye over the ne
States that the settlements widely scattered through
their extensive territories immigration does not advance
in one solid column Ii does mol proceed into the forest
IN qnbroken phaanx occupying and Improving every acre
The motives which induce immigration are various
While the object OF induces him to buy land adjon
ing settlement, and enjoy the society OF neighbors and
the smoke OF another mans cabin cannot be seen What
may be the the fact is undeniabe that the set
selects his land here and anothef there while IN the IN
temedate spaces the lands belonging 10 the governmen
remain for years unsod IL has been subject o seroq
amentaon to gentlemen that the surveys are mad
in advance OF the settlements and new lands are otere
for sale before those in Darke, are Exhausted.
Now, let US look Tor moment at the effect which mus
necessarily follow if adopt the system proposed in TIN
bill. The who holds one hundred and sixty acre
lying in the mids, OF government land would md tn
s oTrS s ss
offered would put end to all value OF lands lhe set
tier who might be disposed to change his place or hi
business (and changes oftener than the settler OF
the froneD would find his farm vcueless and sale i'm
practicable. And. indeed, why should any one puchas
land OF Individual at two, three. or ten, or twen
vanages Of location aud with the same richness OF soil
he can receive land offered by the government withou
payment
| TO show that an right in this view OF the matter
and TO exhibit its extent. let look at some OF III
new States In Illinois there are some $4,000 900 o
not settled, nearly one-haf OF The whole area
In Indiana about 100000 OF acres, or one seventh o
the whole territory, is in the same condition Ihes
are among the most densely settled of the new States
and their population is extended over the whole surface
yet the intermediate snsod land bears the proportion L
that owned by the settlers above indicated la Missouri
three ourihs of the whole yet remains IN the gov
ernment In Wisconsin there are some 2I.ooooo
acres or nearly seyenhs OF the entire surface, ye
to be settled small portion compared with the who'll
is occupied by settlers; and yet the last named Stat
is one to which population has been iocking Tor SOM
years past in greater numbers, perhaps, than to an
other State in this Union This reference establishes
the truth of my assertion that the people scattered ia
and wide the territory, and the property owned BY
individuals is in the midst OF that owned by the Unite'
States
SO intimately is the value OF the homestead of thu
settler involved with the sales OF the public domain tina
they are inseparabe and il would be 10 forget our du
ties the landowner OF the West-one OF the creates
interests OF this great repubcto overlook this consdea
hon in our legislation Before bestowing gratules on
favored class should see to IT that the rights OF othefs
are not put in Jeopardy. ~
| Warrants for bounty land issued TO the soldiers oi
their service in the Mexican portion OF the stpu
lated compens saton-o the amount OF some AK millions OF
acres, yet INDICATED OF what value will be these
grants under the system proposed Since The organlza
ton of the government, grants have been made 10 the
several States TO the amount OF some twenty millions OF
acres, for purposes of educaion internal communication
and other objects OF public utility, some OF which are sti
INDICATED, and much OF the land not yet settled These
must follow the condition OF the public lands and ths
latter the subject OF gaiutous grant, the former vii
lose their value.
OF the above mentioned grants the States, tel
millions OF bestowed for the purpose OF common
schools This noble dedication consists OF single sec
ton, located in the centre OF each township, and. thu
distributed through the whole public domain every por
bordering upon and surrounding II every side are 10
be bad without price, who will pay his money Tor nus
apprehend, Mr. President. that the new States would
look with great dlstrnst upon any kind oil legslauoh
which should tend to destroy impair the value OF tne
property devoted this object. III such thing could
be done to destroy the value OF the lands belonging %
the public schools and by single dash OF the pen to
abolish the fund depending upon them, where would be
our hopes connected with the spread OF knowledge Tor
The future Where our boast that no government on
earth has performed for education IA much ours
Where our repeated assertion that while the government
founded upon the intelligence Of the people, and b.
sustained only by that, we have performed whole
duty in laying broad foundation for the intelligence o