The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-01
CONGRESSIONAL.
DE rEla no akmAnMs


z
}e public lands for the purpose OF paying the public deo
hd distinguishing the federal title TO lands within The
ew States, and 10 grant donations aud pre- smPtons 70
na settlers and cede the unsod and unsaeaois ahds
,the S.sles in which they lie
MI H. said the title is bill was an index to It's con-
,s and gave general idea OF rs scope and OBJECT bu'
" subiect beng momentous. and himself not OF the CON-
i,tes to which il CHI be referred he deemed II right TO
lake brief expcfion Of the reasons IN which was
bundled, and OF the manner IN which was expected to
ccomplish its objects
THE ret object IS The payment Of the public debt. and
proposed are, accelerated sales OF the public
Ands This supposes the fact that we have, 81 present.
public debt and that the public lands not doing their
arr towards the Of that debt Both these assump
pms are true and brief statement will show the Sc
ioas exten. to which they are SO, We haze now new
is smaller have public lands but they no
hnger available means Of paying the public debt
The Secretary OF the Treasury in his annual report upon
he finances, dscoses the facts TO and avail my
eIf OF his statements TO authenticate officially what say
the Senate. The debt, in round numbers tor this is
e in which 10 state fraclions,) and including the
Texas stock not yet issued 900 O00 and the interest
,ccung the same. for the ensuing year. Vi 1000.
diminishing down until 1868, when the last item OF
be public debt is due, to W $50 900. and amounting in
"a 100000, making together $i340oo,0Oo. The prin-
kpa and interest of the debt being, then, 900.
becomes serious burden to all who consider, do.
public debt TO be public curse -,
One hundred and thirty -four millions is then the
mount, principal and interest, OF the present national
iebt, and is the amount which the people of the United
Wales nave 10 pay Bct Iiu VI
very item OF il shall be paid without borrowing, il
,ecomes due But il any part shall be paid by the new
rocess OF paying old debts by creating then
he total OF the burden account of the present
a1ona debt will be as much above 1914, ,O0O, 900 the
ltersst loans to pay principal and interest on
i shall amount to- Taken either way, it has to be
rovded for and the means, according to our system Of
nance, from two sources the custom houses and
ne public lands These are the theoretical sources OF
tvenues-he theoretical; for one OF them, thai Of the
nds will cease to he source OF income after the pres
and IN he mt nj sal
}ng continued without alteration, for sixteen years.
hs will carry 10 about the end OF The time for paying
ie last item OF the public debt The last payment be-
ones due in 1858, and sixteen years will bring to the
yese of that time. This results from the military boun
lies OF the last session and at the previous sessions and
so well stated by the Secretary Of the Treasury that
Eiall avail myself OF his words:
. The laws recently enacted giving lands to those who
frved in the with Mexico and the last session
eh us had served in former in addition TO grants to
etaes for internal improvements, viii undoubtedly supply
e market with the portion Of the lands that viii be
f.qaired for occupaon Tor many years This
aurcs OF rcvenae reioresrna indeed. paratvey
n still in the ten preceding lS4S available for
aai average ot So s93sl6 49, (,,atement v)should MOI
etsaef be relied upon with any certainly, any
ideable anoant p, the trea suy
Statement K aPpendsd 10 this report, shows the
pen made, and the number yet be es,ma led
pm a1s pay rolls and ons1 eyideaess e on M, S
enty Of lands sold and aton from market by virns OF
,s s: as yss ISIS sad ss s s.
td q $lssi. is4 TO- averaging 70 soa7l 5s
70 DC vassa M Act. W
bove average Of 499 2a7 46 acres per anom over six
yet be issued, estimated under the bounty
and in force.
Thnte will then be diverted from the tire aspIy from the
ie OF lands. the OF Slis245, ,s96, pated
date when The revenue law o! 1876 was enacted (See
latement y
This abatement Of Mr.. Secretary Corwin shows very
eaIy that is 10 bs expected from the public
ands under the present mode OF selling them, for six
zen years He might have gone further, and show D
at they will not deray the expenses OF their aimins
taiion during that tme and that they are, the con-
lary 10 be OF about 900 per the
oyernment during the whole OF that time. This further
nni, being omitted by him, | will show myself, and
pr that purpose will have recourse 10 the estimates OF
xpendure for the management OF The public lands for
ie ensuing year. These estimates
thce OF the Commissioner of the General
Land Otce p. I3 OF the printed estimates S92, 900 90
onlingeGi expenses, same page 65,92 SO
nrveyors General and their Offices, p. IA 65,220 0O
nrvey OF the public lands, p ~ 2s2,s2o 90
Expense OF collecting the revenue from
lands, page AZ 10000 90
s75,o52 50
Thus the public lands, while yielding nothing for six
en- years, will require expenditure OF nearly three
iarers OF million per annum, out OF the public treas
y. 10 deray the expenses OF their administration during
that iime-amounung IN the whole TO nearly twelve
lions OF dollars The whole expenditure OF the gov
ament, then, including the manss emeDt of the public
IDS, Will fall upon the customs and now let us see
lat these expenditures are 10 be The estimated ex
naufes, according 10 ne report OF the Secretary
be $40 500 900 and Congress always originates
me millions OF appropriations and above the es
ties, which are always granted in full The total ex pend
re Tor the ensuing hscal year may safely be set down
$4,000 600, And ibis enormous includes nothing
sinking fund-nothiDg Tor the gradual extinction OF
new public debt-nohng to go to the principal of the
pt The interest only is included and to meet these
millions, the sum of forty-hve millions is es-
ated from the custom houses. If these forty five
mons were realized, it would still leave dc c,t OF FIVE
l'ons; but they not to be counted upon-at least
succeeding years The Secretary shows that this pro-
= from custonss IL unusual amount. flowing from
noerant np,rtations the fruit of temporary crcum-
noes and he shows further that these temporary cir
distances must soon cease, and with that cessation
p come dimunItion OF imports, and coDsequen
Hhe OF duties. In all this | concur with the Secre-
and 20 fully that adopt his own words in the part
's report which relates TO this point, and make them
own The Secretary says:
We cannot overlook the fact In estimates Of future
ue that the last three four years have been excep
VI ones-that we indebted Tor large revenues in
keis OF Europe. The ease with which the low dates
pf the act Of IS46 may be reduced still lower by
iul frauds and undervslnations. comoncd with the
tes Just stated have induced large Of
But the markets OF Europe are recovering their
teeu oi the famine are passing away; our country Is
tis believed, excess with foreign goods and IL
VI be contrary to all reasonable expectation TO look Tor
attnuance OF these large imPorta,ions."
continuance OF this large income-forty five millions
the custom- houses-is, them not To be expected.
squae as il now IA by five millions 10 meet the cur
expenses Of the government and the mere interest OF
ublic debt, II is soon to be more so how much no
AN tell. but enough, beyond doubt, to increase
ily the deficit which exists. This deplorabie re.
faced by the Secretary he faces the dehcll. ana
~ il to us; but do not think he faces the remedy,
shows us that He looks to the customs, and ex.
TO make their income adequate by an alteration OF
$ws which would increase the duties and diminsn