The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-25
CONGRESSIONAL.

TENNESSEE,
On tss I0tOa Land Bills dslirsred in he Senate,
February 10, 1852
Mr. BELL. MIR. President. when took the floor on
this subject stated that ii not my intention TO de-
tain the Senate by making an elaborate argument upon
the various questions involved in It, stated then. AS
believe that is question OF great deal OF I'M
poranee There may be questions OF greater interest and
magnitude demanding the attention OF Congress oui GER
tanly the question OF wise and settled policy OF dspo
sing OF and administering the public lands Tor the public
good is very desirable object For twenty Years past
this has been atopo OF annual debate IN ihe halls OF Con-
gess The importance OF the subject has rather grown
Of late, particularly since the events within the last
four or five years. During that period, large accessions
to the public domain have been made by annexation
New questions new ideas as TO the proper mode OF dis
posing Of these lands, have sprung up in the meantime
ALL oil them deserve serious consideration but shall
attempt to enter into but very few OF them at This time
wish that for convenience, Tor JUSTICE and for avoid
ING bases and pariaes in regard to the particular bill
under consideration, these questions could be considered
and settled Independently OF it. and by separate
ure. Although at first approved the OF the SEN
etor from kentucky lMr UHDERwooD1 in offering his
amendment 70 this bill yet now incline 10 the belief that
The entire subject s too large to up by way OF an
ate There are considerations which operate in favor and
behalf of the bill which ought not to prejudice de-
con on the general subject For example, neighborng
States have had appropriations of this description made
them very recently and am told that at this session
have granted portion of the public lands for making
sralroad in one OF the new southern States should be
/
who have taken the lead in this question: that this sub
ect should yet come up in separate form. know
how difficult It would be to edge in important meas
between other subjects which excite considerable in
Rest and which already before us-the French spo-
aion bill, the demands making upon by California,
and other similar measures But this is subject Of such
aday possble and whether it shall be separated from
this bill or not will be for the Senate to consider.
have said that i was question OF great magnitude.
said the other day that the honorable from Mich
gan MR. FELcHl had presented the argument on his
side Of the question very clearly, and as it then appeared
me, fully forcbly, and ably But it has since struck
that he omitted TO make some statements which it is
really important should be brought to the notice Of the
Senate do not know that any of the facts TO which
sude as not mentioned by him may not be within the
knowledge OF senator's they are IN public documents.
in the reports OF officers of the government and
have been 1nted from year to year but members OF this
body have not time and leisure to examine carefully all
Of he important iacts connected with matters Of legisa-
ton They only have time for cursory reading with
view TO have some general knowledge of all the affairs
goenments and this does not enable them often to
bear mind all the important statistics great ques-
tons repeat that the honorable senator. although he
made quite lucid and able speech his side OF the
qshon, omitted TO state some important facts and sta
ltts on this subject which ought to be brought TO the
nOdce OF the Senate and the country refer more par
ntuary to statistics which relate to the real magnitude
this property which is the subject Of debate In speak
Of The pnos, ,aoman We hays always considered
have always known that we possessed large quantity
Of unappropriated public lands We know that il has
magnitude Of this interest -what is its condition now
To how much OF the public domain has the Indian title
been exingushed' How much remains unsold or un-
appropriated How much remains of unsod and unap
popraed land in all the States What is the
amount oil public land surveyed and open to settle
by citizens and by foreigners according TO
our policy regard to immigrants from abroad These
are statistics which are important, not affecting the
principle of the decision We should to this sub.
ect but because they tend 10 draw due and proper
snion and interest TO the subject My honorable friend
fnut tnypa Mr. I hy brip hts
proposes 10 appropriate TO his Stale million and hall
o acres. That's small and nconslderable item when
we look a, bills OF similar nature, and to the whole
extent OF the public lands which may be disposed OF in
he fame way. do not propose 10 oppose this bill of
pay tnend iron Iowa, unless should hnd very dec-
sd spirit OF injustice pervading the minds OF honorable
naioIs IRON the new States III such spirit does per-
ade ihem then may be found necessary to defeat if
possible every Of the kind, until those gentle
nn be brought TO some fair and just consideration Of
what Is due 10 the other States OF the Unonof what is
due 10 the whole country II they will not % that, then
viii remain Tor us TO consider what means we have in
oa power 10 coerce-norally, mean, not physically
Whal considerations hold out to them TO do JUS
zee to the public generally on this subject
What, then, is the amount OF this great interest
the amount OF the whole unapproprated domain
ihe United States within the new States and organ
ied Territories, exclusive OF California, New Mexico,
Oregon -for do not propose TO embrace them in the
dtseni discussion This is a subject which has at
ed so le attention Of late that senators do not
eel any results which can change the former current OF
sslatioR on the subject, and hence the subject has little
uaehon, They do not consider seriously whether
hee ought 10 be any policy adopted in administer
ms great fund or not Ii may not be in my power,
10 NE power OF all the gentlemen who take different
ew Of the importance OF this question: TO create in
es enough IN IL TO bring this body TO decision upon
general proposition establishing our land policy upon
ns more just, equitable, and permanent foundation
vi shall make the attempt to awaken some deeper in
ts on the subject. What, then, is the real magni.
we Of this when considered in relation 10 the number
acres OF the public domain now open for sale ap-
oplaled in any way Congress may have the power
,hnk ptoIet 10 adopt' Tables have been presented
te Land Omee al the present session, but they have
there was very full and elaborate report made in
~, Whleh shall make the basis OF my remarks. From
~ ume When he United States took upon itself the ad
uauon OF lnis great property up to the 30th Septem-
lsiV, mere had actually been surveyed in the new
es ana iefnlones 3l2 2ll6,0O0 OF public land.
NNeout odd hsures or numbers when they fall below
usan9s AZ That time there 100000 acres un-
nyed-made up for aught know, OF lakes and
aps amounting altogether 10 3S2 ,523 900 acres This
n. Is exclusive oil lands which had been settled or
PaSgpuaed oy France and Spain, from whom we de.
~ uue 70 large portion OF our public domain. Up
me same daie-that is, September 30, is49--there
pen sold by the United States i0i 1856 ,o9a
80, mere had been granted for school and edu.
"aal purposes ll,lo9 009 10 the new States
agreements IN the new States, S,474,oo0 acres
a"s, 70 The whole, 12i 5oi 900 acres, which had
~. appropriated by the government OF the United
80 mus IN lsig there unsold and unappro-
s ~ ands still remaining in the new States and Terri
w. 70 the amount OF 2e1 ,0iS,000 acres. deduct from
49, Yufes an approximate or estimated statement oil
anas granted to the States during the last Con-
stoenominated swamp or overhowed lands. deduct
'a per cent OF the whole quantity to that grant
esunale the amount ri sWamp and Overflowpd lands