The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-25

Union. But | will say upon the subject WI
not carry my opposition this bill further than have
but il gentlemen will enter into an arrangement, i'm
Piled iah that they will distribute these public lands sc
as 10 do something like justice to old States, VII
upon, must make my opposition known, and do 1t N
order that ne question may go before the country.
MT. DAVIS; OF Mississippi The last remark OF the
senator IRON Georgia requires me to say to hun that
enter INTO no contract, and make no promise for The
future-hal shall vote upon every proposition. when \
arises, according to my own sense OF justice And tell
hiIn beforehand, he wants answer from me, that
am opposea TO The distribution OF the public lands among
the States Least OF all shall enter into contract to
make any measure, however desirable II may be- depend
upon promise TO vote for other measure which ID
hereafter TO be brought forward make no such prom
Use. hold my own conscience under my own keeping
to vote Tor or against bill when comes up, so far as
understand II To be right or wrong
| | stated before, Mr. President. that did not know
whether should object to the proposition OF the senator
from Kentucky whAn fully understood IT, or not
was because did not understand t-because did moi
wish TO have proposition attached which would defeat
the bill before us-tha at the moment the senator intro
duced his amendment asked him for the present to with
draw IT, and introduce his proposition as a separate
measure TO stand its merits and to be discussed
thing right or wrong in itself. #
The senator from Georgia argues upon great principles
OF justice II seems to be the idea that IT to do
an act here becomes Just because we have dene some-
thing like i elsewhere That is part OF my system.
II be right to grant land for the construction Of road
il is upon principles which have heretofore advocated,
not because are willing to grant gratnites elsewhere
This government seems to me to be rapidly becoming
great eleemosynary institution Yesterday we granted
$4,000 900 as gratuty TO old claimants, to whom one
pretended it belonged, and which its friends would not
declare right to 90 BY putting upon simple principle
OF justice but, by fixing amount which they supposed
the treasury could bear, they granted SO much in the
form of graui,y, and nothing else. They have right
to collect money pay the debts, but not to make grants
to persons. however metorious they may be, and how
ever great their claims TO our charity
have on former occasions stated the principles which
governed granting lands for the construction of
roads II the proposition Of the senator from Kentucky
comes within these principles, shall vote for it when
the fact is rendered integibe My only objection to
the amendment was, that did not understand il. and
saw it would he likely to defeat the bill before he
persisted in it,
Mr.. DAWSON. am astonished, sir, at the idea
proposed 10 make contract with him in relation 10 his
Legislative career proposed no such thing and if the
gentleman understood me SO, he muet have been mis-
taken. | said would oppose these measures until
sense OF justice should be restored TO this body through
the influence of the countryso that there should be
implied understanding that whenever there was to be
disposition OF the public lands, they should be equally
divided among all the States.
The senator from Mississippi says this government is
becoming great eleemosynary institution So il s sir
He states truly but not upon the general principles Of
justice, but upon the ground Of Partially Whenever
you make disposition OF the public lands now how is
it done II is done 10 few, TO the exclusion of the
many There is principle assumed, first, that is to
improve The public landsto encourage the sale and TO
increase the value of them and that principle
fails, majority here put upon the ground OF nation
ality-that it is for the good Of the country that the
appropriation should be made. This is what oppose
and il is never too often TO repeat that the public
lands belong 10 the people Of the States, and, whenever
they not appropriated for the general purposes OF
government to give them for partial purposes becomes
unjust. And submit to you sir to the Senate and to
the county il millions OF OF the public lands have
not been appropriated assist individual States, 10 the
loss OF the of the States. Now the question s how
long shall this state OF things continue How long shall
we sit in seats and suffer the public domain, which
is OF the resources OF the country, to be thus appo
priaed 10 the agkrandzement OF particular States re-
peat that is unjust because they have rights which
,ip hell IN he
contributed TO the purchase acquisition o thus property
and are consequently all equally entitled IT, But, SIR
there is mode of legislation by which interests may be
combined TO carry into effect certain objects which will
produce benefit to some and injury to others and be-
the representatives of those whose rights in
vaded speak upon this floor n relation to measure they
looked upon as Intermediates and disposed
sectional jealouses, when in fact they doing nothing
but proclamng that which is true in point OF justice
Why, sir the period is rapidly approaching and see il
in every movement, when the public lands TO be given
10 those who have no lands OF their own. In other
words the country to be taxed TO buy land for those
who own no lands; and if that class OF politicians
gel the pablo lands distributed in this way, then they
must be given TO particular States in which they To-
Gated, upon certain terms beneficial to themselves but
Injurious To others who helped to acquire and purchase
those lands
The more, Mr. President, have though, upon this
subject the have seen its injustice and the greater
do feel the obligation resting upon TO let the
try know the state OF things towards which rap
idly tending have watched this land question in all
lis phases Not one ray OF light is ever turned towards
that side, and all the light is upon the States in
which the lands located Now, submit, is it right
beg my friends who Interested in this not
10 believe that have any unkindness towards other
States towards this appropriations bat repeat again.
if these lands belong to the public, every section,
whether il be the old or the States, should be en
tied their proceeds The internal improvements OF every
State should be aided in the appropriation and it is i'm
material upon what principle you approprae-if you ap
proprate to one, you should TO another.
Mr. DOWNS | am very sorry, Mr.. President, that
upon this day. set apart especially Tor the consideration
OF private bills, my friend from Georgia should have
taken occasion TO repeat what have heard from him
very subject shall not enter into the discussion but
wish to suggest to my friend and TO the senator from
Kentucky also that good part OF their Argument has
no application here. They to think this
amendment ought TO be introduced for the advan-
tage OF Kentucky. | wish TO inform them that
another old State, Tennessee, has fully as much,
if not more interest in the original bill introduced
here as Mississippi or Louisiana, because this road
contemplated by the original bill is branch OF The
great railroad extending from the mouth OF the Ohio,
through Kentucky and Tennessee into Mississippi and
Louisiana The bill passed at the last session made pro-
vision in favor of it, One OF the important locations OF
this railroad is, understand 1t, upon the hrs high
Keniucky-so that 1t will pass through Kentucky and
Tennessee and thence into Mississippi; so that Ken
lucky already greatly interested in the original bill It
seems TO than in this amendment do hope,
therefore. considering the difficulty which This amend
ment is likely to create that my friend from Kentucky
will 10 Withdraw H. and let the original bull pass
believe the other bill is lair and proper and although
slice heretofore, yet when comes up shall be willing
10 give il fair consideration nothing al present
why should not vote for it. But this is bill Tor rail-
road moi OF great extent far relates to Louisiana and