Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-08
IN THE SENATE, MARCH Is, 1852

tiers, cession 10 The States, &C., briefly considered
In THE SENATE MARCH 15 1852.
Mr. BRoDHEAD said: 1t is not my purpose, Mr.. Pre-
sdent TO make what is called regular speech. AS tn
votes are about to taken this model and pioneer bill
only design briefly TO explain those about to give
and the substitute am about to propose Inc point
and propositions which win control my action upon thi
and TIE many other similar bills granting alternate sec
tioas Of the public lands five miles on each side OF tn
road land doubling the price Of those retained for thu
purpose of aiding in the construction OF railroads, ma
discuss fully hereafter. l will do little than stat
them
Much interest is felt, not only in the but in thu
old States in regard to the public lands Now that the
slavery question to be settled agitation IN regart
to the public lands has commenced contest between
the old and the States threatened, should %
avoided and the questions settled upon just equitable
and constitutional principles.
cannot vote for these alternate railroad bills
for several reasons, although would to do 50 yery
much to accommodate the amiable talented and accom-
plished representatives from Iowa, Messrs DODGE AND
JosEs,) whose bin is under consideration. | fee
embarrassed because one side and my udg
ment and duty Senator on the other.
Five propositions before Congress upon the
subject of the public lands Debate has been had upon
all, and bills submitted to carry some into effect;
To grant alternate sections to aid in the construction
of railroads Fifteen millions of per would
thus be taken for years to come.
q To divide them in kind among all the States-thc old
States taking much given the ones, for
purposes of internal Improvement.
g. To give them actual settlers. About four millions
of per annum would thus be taken. Adopt this
pan and continue the issue of land warrants auho
rized by law the soldiers and very little viii
be received from the sales of the public lands and the
expenses Of the land system viii be thrown upon the
Treasury.
4. To cede them to the States in which they lie
s. To graduate and reduce the price.
These alternate-secton bills do not commend them
selves to my favorable consideration because
l. They connect this Government with system of in
cessy for attudnous construction Of the Constitution
volave of its principles They provide for an Internal
Improvement system in disguise. 1t is an obque mode
of legislation
land SYSTEM which has worked well for many years
past and bring applicants here for years to
They local and partial in their character and
will change the Of settlement from part of
State to another. They do not provide general rnes
and regulations.
g. They the principle that this Government
aid works of internal improvement in States where there
arc public lands and cannot where there are none
A. In point of fact they provide for partial dstribu
ton Of the public lands injurious to the old States and
portions of the ones through which the roads do not
pass Besides they facilitate the creation of monopoes
for the grants made the States in the
of the Illinois grant they forthwith transferred
to railroad companies
5. The public lands have cost this Government,
posed of all the States large of money, and large
have been received therefor The records show that
provided the Indian annuites and Indian department and
Indian net taken into consideration. The
is pretty nearly balanced and there remains vast
quantities unsod. 1t is estimated that have about
fourteen hundred millions of acres including the Indian
territory undsposed Of In view of the increasing strength
of the Western country and Of the fact that many of
lands have been long time in market, and the States
cannot tax them and in view OF many other considers
TONS think it is proper to graduate and reduce the
price thereof only actual settlers but generally
g. Graduate and reduce the price Of the public lands
and leave the construction Of railroads. &C., as in the old
States to State and individual enterprise. This plan is
simpe il furnishes cheap homes to poor settlers pro-
oes good feeling among the States abates the tendency
to Capitalization prevents monopoles and is free from
constitutional objections Our land system presents other
questions besides those Of money and finance.
These Of the large objections which have to
these alternate bills They decided, radical
and constitutional and such in my judgment outweigh
any considerations of public policy which may be urged
In their behalf.
NV objections if good are equally decisive against the
amendment Of the honorable Senator from Kentucky
That provides for equal grant to the old States fol
purposes of internal Improvement If grant CANNOT
properly be made the land States for purposes
internal Improvement it follows that it be made t.
the old States say nothngo theproprety ormpropret,
of State holding lands in another division is to be
made the most unobectionabe mode in my opinion, is
to divide the proceeds Of the sales Of the public lands
among all the States do not say that favor that
policy only wish to be understood saying that
prefer il to the proposition submitted by the honorable
Senator from Kentucky. The lands indebted to
the customs. II will take ffty-fve sixty millions OF
acres yet satisfy the land warrants recently authorized
to be issued soldiers Large yet due the diff
ferent tribes Of Indians under treaties The expenses of
the land department very heavy All things consd-
cred do not believe this Government will receive
dollar Of from lands and therefore, II dis
tibuton is made TO the States 1t must be from moneys
collected ut the custom-houses II all the public lands
should be ceded the States in which they lie, and
have nothing but the proceeds Of the sales in the Terrific
ries the lands quite certain, viii bring US annually
in debt want the from the lands TO pay fol
their purchase the Indian annues and the cost Of the
administration The Post Office Department is made L
support itself so should the land department
There may be defects in present land system, but
doubt whether human wisdom could devise one which
would thus far have worked better. We must have
general system. Time and circumstances may demand
modification of the present We are here TO make
general laws for the public good and the fewer they art
in number the better All Governments should have soms
settled policy We cannot egslate in regard to partcu
lar localities We cannot properly wisely Judge whether
railroad should east, west porth or south. Some
of the old States might want road TO one way, som'
another way. Hence questions brought up not pro
per for adjudication in Congress Why should We pro
vide for sale and settlement Of the public lands in par
ticulsr part of State and not anothery There II
but rational answer to this question Every genera
law will operate inurousyi particular cases. and there
fore complaints may TO be justly made but il shonlc
be remembered that is much easier point defects
than devise remedies TO touch bemishes than TO ex
tract them TO demoish edihce than to conve
nient substitute.
II we should cede the public lands to the twelve State
in which they lie would still be obliged to keep up tn
land and Indian departments for the Territories.
sion would not therefore, much diminish the expenses
nor would it, in my opinion, much benefit the ne
States than graduate and reduce the price. IL tn
new States take them they would be obliged
incur the expense Of their administration Besides
State would adopt system, and another State anothe
- A. .tra at