The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-14

for the very thai he senator from Msss-
supp has slaled,to check the onward course OF the
federal power and place the States the earliest posi-
BILE day. upon the strongest foundation OF State sover
eighty.
{ Mr. DAVIS Of mississippi My friend from Ar
this bill within the principle which he and |, be-
ieve both agree 10 egoyernedby He thinks hiss
in which the grant OF land will result to the benefit OF
the proprietor. will say that | always meant the
palpabe and direct, and not the doubtful and ben
eft TO the proprietor-such benefit as an individual
would recognise in his with regard TO his
land Then would ask my friend from Arkansas how
he expects the establishment and endowment OF unac
asylum Connecticut benefit the State of Arkansas,
increase the value of the land in Wisconsin If he
show that he cannot bring within the rule be-
the rule requires that the land should be granted
for the purpose OF embracing the value Of the remaining
ury That grant would be within the rule which puts the
sS &. va.u.. ne stet
tor But the senator says it is his purpose TO dvesl the
United States OF their territory in the States order that
they may be actual sovereigns oyer their domain Very
good that may be the object But il is not to be done
that is, with any proprety-in my opinion.
We once had distinguished luminary in this cham
bera remarkable for his wisdom his purity,
and remarks able. indeed, for boh-who once occupied
this seat he honorable senator pointed to the seat for
mery occupied by Mr. CaIhoun,) and who was known
the very mbodment of the strict construction of the
be States He d to maIs the Saes
ageRts for the sale OF the public lands requiring them
when the lands surrendered TO them, TO pay
the United States But among other objects which be
had in view to remove the possibility OF collision
between the federal ard the States growing
out of this tenure in the public domain and which he
considered as likely at some day to produce serious cols
between the general government and the States and
between the separate States, AT the time when the
proposition first presented TO the Senate, believed
il the soundest that was ever made in relation
TO public lands would be glad to it adopted
States within which they lie~,hose States being under
obligations TO dispose OF the public lands according to
the rules and regulations laid down by the United States,
and then to pay the treasury of the United States
certain per centage of the proceeds II is very
different proposition from the OF The honorable sena
tor from Arkansas, | think. 10 distribute the lands
many years since that the senator from Kentucky who
sits furthest from Mr. CLAY claimed that the pub
lie lands OF the United States should be held as great
fund given for special purpose and which should be
husbanded, and not squandered profligate youth
would waste his patrimony before he had come OF age
had come into its possession We have squandered it to
great extent; and II is now question how much we
reservewheher we shall yet observe the pFincl.
pies which have governed or whether we shall by
this precedent abandon the whole OF them.
We have other propositions before the Senate, and ii
they all adopted there will be nothing of this great
pa,rmony accruing 10 the federal government One OF
them is proposition to make ,he great number Of land
the land thus granted the market at once, and close
up the land Offices OF the United States for the is
This refer now--though il is not connected with the
subject now under consderaton-as OF the in
stances in which we are Fastening to squander our
patrimony in the psblic lands do not consider this as
bill which comes within the rules OF conduct which
the thinks that he and strict constuconists
OF the constitution should always feel bound by in
action here. .
Mr. PEARCE Mr.. President. after the free, and
may say the lavish, appropriations OF public lands during
long series OF years. seems to me 10 be almost too late
10 inquire into the constitutional power oil Congress
them III there any force 10 be gwen TO precedeHts,
appeal almost with unlimed confidence TO the pece
dents winch the history OF the last thirty forty years
shAs, Mt hosC nj lfs
preparation OF the public lands 10 those objects which
supposed to be oil great national Importance but
i has bestowed them upon Sates-nsw States ana
old Staes-for variety OF purposes other than those
which some gentlemen think constitutional IL may not
be amiss for to mention some occasions on which
these grants were made.
Besides the 100000 acres which granted each
Stale by the Of s4l and grants before and
since for purposes OF internal Improvement within the
limits of the States within which the lands lie we have
different times made grants of public lands ior great
variety OF purposes OF them Farey eeemosynay IN
ihe1 character We have gwen lands in Illinois for the
grading and paving Of the rlver bank al shaw nseiown M
the purpose OF improving streets and alleys We gave
lands thirty EIGHT years ago. think, to the sufferers BY
the earthquake IN Missouri, commonly known as the
New Madrid grants In 1919 we gave township OF land
to Connecticut TO support deaf and dumb asylum In
1896 made appropriation OF the same sort ior
similar institution in Kentucky
partial grants Its benefits vide as the misery
which il proposes relieve. The apporionmeni Is TO be
equal among the Statesa east lar and equitable as
1T be made by any general rule The giant u gen
eral u is limited 10 local objects, ronped to the
limits OF single State The benefits Of the b, as
wide the Union, and such Congress has repeat
edy sanctioned After all this course OF precedentss
shall inquire into the constitutional authority, par,
tcuary since By the great which passed at The
last session. have made The public lands of no value
at all 10 the treasury of the United States We have ap-
piled great national domain to purposes just az purely
eleemosynay as that intended by his bill We have
given TO soldiers who have served 7g0 bounty
lsnd- which under obligation OF contract TO
give for the which they rendered many
since, and when majority OF those who rendered those
services had long been in their graves THE was pure
bounty. do not mean 10 attack the motives of thoee
prIaon from the public domain which is as remote IRON
those objects which gentlemen contend are in
separabe from great national purposes anything which
be and that il be sanctioned by no
sutlonal authority which does not equally justify this
bill The individuals whs derived benefit from tina,
bounty land had claim upon the government Other
than that which The government IN ITS spontaneous
away lhe public lands 10 the amount OF over hun
dred millions OF Is II for thoss who have done
that To say that our haads tied : When there
has been limit To these donations of public lands but
OF bberaly Is for us on this occasion
to oppose the passage oil bounty to that class who
above all others are entitled TO oul comm,serauon
who, besides the deplorsbIe physical sufsrlngs IN
the midst OF deeution the most absolute and unreeved
exposed 10 privations far greater than those which
the hopeless paupcr ri them starved,
frozen. ebanesi. whipped, immured in worse than the
elons cell cut OF from all human symyathles, and de-
prved hy an nscruabe Providence OF that which
alone elevaeA above the baes There rs, 900 Of
these miserable and destitute beings the United States
But shall make Grafton the subject, though il
one sought a then for defamation | know none 40 |