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

amendment VIII give tnen ana that
expiration OF this half century II will be seen that this
very policy, much opposed-of appopratinS public
lands 10 the construction Of roadswill be foand 10
have been OF beneficial and benign operation upon
The wealth and prosperity Of the whole people and upon
the bond OF union ITSELF than the system which has been
pursued heretofore, bene6cent admit that that system
has been am sure, therefore, the honorable senators
who in favor of the passage OF the original bill will
Ind aided by the amendment proposed Tor there are
many IN Congress who agree in the sentiments have
pressed and think those sentiments becoming CON-
! mon IN some portions OF the Union ,##tA1 j d5&
Wllh regard to the merits OF the Improvement specified
IN the amendment TO the BILL will certainly be OF
vast importance IN connecting Louisville with ST. Louis.
II will be beneIcent its operation to all the southern
States. and especially TO the city OF New Orleans gs
WALKER who seems TO intimate that the constr uction
OF railroads across the parallels OF latitude through the
western and the southern States will tend to revolution
deep an interest IN he ssby 81 Tie present channels
and courses OF commerce any nevertheless, am
willing to incur all the hazard of constructing the roads
now under consideration. have found the roads
and canals that were made in any part OF the United
States the more the whole country prospered You may
make railroads anywhere: they win practically terminate
IN one centre, and swell the wealth. the prosperity, and
the advancement OF the great commercial metropolis OF
the Union Her position is assured She knows no fear,
Mr. DOUGLAS. feel boundto say one word upon
this subect my own State has been referred
celvng part OF this grant The proposition comes from
and Indiana TO st. Lous-o have road from point in
kentuckyto 10 point in Missouri building up cities
each end OF tue road, neither of which is in Indiana
IN ILLINOIS, but in opposition and rivalry towns
not on the line that would mark out ii were get
ting 1t Tor the benefit OF Illinois But you cannot connect
these two Sta!es-these two sections Of the county
without running Indiana and Illinois. think,
therefore, that ii is hardly fair charge this upon
gratuy-to charge upon that this grant is made to
us, when rs TO build up towns out OF State, and Tor
the benefit Of towns in other States of the Union go
Tor this measure not measure for my State not
as measure that | would recommend particularly for
her interests; but 90 for it general measure, by
which the interests OF that portion OF the country large
will be promoted The public lands will be increased In
value. and i will be for the general interests Of the
try to sacrifice many OF the local interests OF my own
constituents Upon that principle 60 for il. a.as0t
AS to its being donation to the States that entirely
mistaken idea These lands through which this road
runs have been in the market upon average for forty
at $ 25 per acre, and yet you cannot sell them
You might keep hem in market for forty years longer
that price, and you would not sell them OFT You make
this road and they become valuable, and will SELL You
double the price OF the alternate sections according TO
this BILL and you are to receive tor oneaf OF the land
that you get nothing for them they now but II
this road is made you sell them for the amount asked
Tor them II is therefore, 10 sell the lands, TO
put money into the treasurya measure repienshng the
treasury OF The United States and benehtDg all the States
Of the Union-imposng pretty hard terms, as il may
My friend DIR from wisconsin [Mr. WALKrs] says il
is cruel to the settler to compel him TO pay ~ 50
per for these lands But how is il crue' II you
do not pass the grants the land the property OF
the government and the settler will not pay VI rs per
acre lor IT, as forty years experience has shown. BY
grants, remaining rendered worm
So, $40, $15, and $40 per acre Now, is 1t any
great hardship to compel TO pay So SO per acre for
land which worth IS, SlO or Sl5 per acre i il any
hardship make the land valuable its value,
and then give him an opportunity OF purchasing I! he
will not buy them al the price, but he will have
the privilege OF purchasing them increased prces after
we wish extend to him | have yet TO learn that il is
any greater hardship to pay 81 so for land that is worth
it, than TO pay 81 20 for land which experience
shows is not worth IT. That Is the simple proposition
in this bill. So far IL local provision for my own
State, is not 10 benefit IT, But far increasing
the land fund concerned far the settlement of the
country concerned, and in connecting the different
parts OF the Union together will be great advantage
to the general interests OF the country and have some
local advantages my constituents, although II will
be 10 less extent because 1t throws the trade out OF
my State into the other States. 1t will benefit Missouri
al the end, and Kentucky, which will be connected
at the other, and not Illinois and Indiana, where the road
is 10 be made
Mr.. WALKER j hope the senator from Illinois [Mr
DoUcLAs has not sat down with the supposton that he
has entirely tTiumphed over my objection. II he did,
will soon convince him OF his mistake. do not think
used the cruel with regard to making these pro.
ducers pay double price for what is left But spoke OF
the fact which neither he any other senator here
deny that this whole policy is pursued under this agu
ment of benefit TO the government and when these
grants made in alternate sections, is equally facl
that the atenaes not granted are increased in price, and
the settler has To pay The increase OF 81 % per acre,
whether the land is worth that not He IS the one
that is TO foot the bill The settler and producer IS to
pay the increase in the price of the land. do not care Al
land worth IL that is not the question. The Ques-
ton is, the whence you gel the pay LOT Cre'
ang all these channels and avenues OF commerce That
is the pockets OF the laborng and the producing
classes OF the country care not il the land be worth 35
or $40 per 1t is the fact which put prominently
in opposition TO this whole policy Do you resort to any
other 10 make up the deficit to the treasury OF the
United States? DO not answer me by saying that you
give equivalent in increasing the value OF the lands.
The qualI,y Of the land is not increased at allit will
produce more afterwards than IT would before. The
whence you derive the pay for the government
whence yeu derive the which makes up the dchcit
ueneI--le
pockets OF the producing settler believe they are be-
ginning TO understand the matter, and, charming as these
grants may to you, and great as the credit s mat
may be claimed Tor the procurement OF the they are De-
ginning to be appreciated. 1fc3
have no enmity to the State OF Illinois G0d knows
there be second State in this Union that wish well
to- more than any other IT is that State. II Is the State
in which, the State OF my birth, spent the most OF
my life AMI IN which spent my early years have
the most kindly regard for that State and would pro-
mote her interests IN every OF the word when
could well do But it does seem that we ought to
fleet for moment whether shall here in this precpl-
make this grant to State that has already
received much. Why, sir, this is no slight matter
The railroad through Illinois, for which have already
made grant, is some $50 miles in length. | do not
remember the exact distance from Vncennes to st Louis
But from Vncennes to Louisville about Ito or III
miles, making some 100 or no miles in all. And u n
now proposed 10 make grant, and to do It IN consdea
ton of the fact that the alternate sections not grained
will be increased in value. have indispositon to
favor the interests OF Indiana and lllinoislar from IL
But looking at the question OF justice, ana ookE a.
another policy which proposed 10 us BY the oomm'ee
on Public Iands--which rs to equaze the amount Oh
grants made to the Statest would be WELL mlnk, 10
pause and reflect But the Senate are aveIse 10 re-