The daily union., 1852-03-18

States will realize Just so much upon them il she had
parted with none OF her lands.
Now. sir, will the senator from Missouri. will the
senator from Illinois, will any of the gentlemen who
argue the benefit OF these grants Of ands guarantee 10
the United States two dollars and half per acre Will
they put proviso in this bill that the United States shall
realize that sum That is the precise difficulty have in
this whole matter, sir All The assumption, and all the
reason is founded upon the idea THAI the United States
are, with certainty, TO realize the - so per acre
for all these reserved lands. II you guided by expe-
rence, think the presumption will be quite otherwise
The United States for lis alternate sections has realized
nothing but the minimum price. That is the result OF my
observations in relation TO this, and confess myself dis
appointed in regard 10 It, But am throwing out these
suggestions, and do not enter into argument
atal am willing to vote for any OF these enterprises
which shall promote the public good but am greved
that gentlemen should rise here and repudale the idea
that they receiving any benefit from these grants of
land L seems to me not only to be little false. but to
little of ingratitude shall probably give my vote
for this bill wish to make one further remark, and
| then am done.
There is portion OF this bill which approve very
much. There is another portion which is not 10 my
mind so plainly of public utility. do not why II is
expedient and necessary that there should be road run
ming parallel TO the river unless the improvements in the
navigation OF the river are 10 be abandoned. do not
wish ito be supposed that the grant OF this road involves
that question. take il that the Mississippi river is 10
continue 10 be public highway. And YET asked
and solicited to make roads for that purpose. do not
quite see my way clear to vote for road which runs
parallel, nearly parallel, to the river itself. STILL sir
Iowa thinks she ought to have the privilege OF fixing
these roads between places which may to her best
II she had been content TO take little less TO open
road into the interior-opening new highway where
there is none-I should have been very well salts
fed with it. am not certain that the objection now
raise ought TO induce me to vote against the bill wish
ed TO throw these ideas before voting that may not
for one be considered committed to this immense sys
tenn because / vote for this bill.
/ MIR. DOUGLAS. | have but one word to say. | can
not understand the argument of those gentlemen who
say that the alternate sections will not be worth ~ so
government of the United Staes and at the same
time turn round, the senator from Georgia has done,
and take the oson that it is grant to us TOR the pur-
pose OF building railroads. to the value OF ten dollars per
Mr.; DAVIS. hope the gentleman does no, that
Mr.. DOUGLAS No. sir; | only mean that those who
act with him take that gtound against the bill For in
stance the senator from Georgia the other day. IN his ar
gument against the Illinois bill. 10 prove that
900 acres OF land worth 10 the State twenty
odd mons that every o land granted to the Slate
for the purpose OF making the road would be worm $40
per consequence of the making OF the road and by
summing up these figures against the States OF
Illinois, Mississippi. and Alabama he went on 70 show
The federal government by getting this small quantity oil
land He then turned round and said that the govern
ment lands would not be enhanced farthlng IN value
How is tns If you have benefited Illinois twenty odd
millions, have yoa not benefited the United States twenty
odd millions more by their reservation lie announces
that lands TO be enhanced in value by the con-
sructon OF the road. think that II you have benehed
us, you have benefited yourselves to the same extent
care no, whether ii be one million, ten millions twenty
five millions, how much il s You must adhere to the
principle you have advanced Either the value OF the
reserved lands enhanced the lands granted to us are
Il worm Dul xl 10 per acre.
IL seems 10 me, however that one rule prevails with
regard the States and another rule with regard to the
States MY oBoI bs sa ,ss as ysos
an My opinion is that 81 SO an acre is an under
estimates and therefore it is lair argument to presume
that the reserved sections would be worth more to th'
United States than the whole OF the lands would hav
been worth if the grant had not been made for road
4 That is the view we lake
not that the not beneficial 10 us but we as
ser thai is beneficial TO the government OF the United
States Is il any argument against It that 1t benefits vi
while il benefits you 10 an equal extents
1t has been complained that Illinois has transferred
, these lands TO company did not suppose il was I
matter OF any consequence to The public, or to the gov
ernment OF the United Siaies whether the State OF l
nos sold this land and made this road itse or whethe
she got company to dispose OF the lands and to con
struc the road, provided comply with our contrac
with the government provided we make the road within
the time agreed upon the spulaiions you chose to i'm
pose in the grant But will say 10 the honorable
senator from Massachusetts, that there is wide dis
tnction between your passing an act oi Congress- ano
vesDg title TO the lands in the State OF Massachusetts
or any other State and the Illinois Legislature making
disposition of the lands We ask you TO give these lands
to the State IL is for the State government to make al
arrangement with the company and The State VIII lnser
such provisions in regard 10 axaton IN regard 10 tn'
time for the sale of the lands in regard TO the consuc
ton OF the road in regard to preempton rights, and II
regard e the settlement, Of ne lands as .ne sa1e ~ m oo ~
interests But if Congress should undertake 10 grant ths
land 10 foreign corporation. the Stale has no suct
power over that corporation TO impose these provisions
and TO provide for the protection OF its citizens Tha
) is the great point OF distinction. The dstncuon w
take is in conformity with State rghtshe rights OF tn
States the power protect their own interest,"
against other interests and against speculation. II I'LL
nos has made bad contract we have only ourselves
blame, and the federal government We are conien
with the grant which has been made and we intend
the road completed within one-haf the time whic
you gave for making H. II we give you the road y
hve years instead of ten, we stipulated to do w
think it should not be matter OF complaint urged agans
u.s. that make out OF II than you expected, es
pecialy when il is evident that you make just as muc
we do, and therefore the federal government max
more than they expected when they voted Tor the bill
, Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts. am not aware, SIT
having expressed any opinion entertained any sen
4 tment which would authorize the conclusion that
urged such an argument as the honorable senao
suggests that certain persons have urged mat s una
y these lands are worth ten dollars acre.
q Mr. DOUGLAS. [ said that the senatar from Georgia
acting with you against the bull made that ar
y gument
Mr. DAVIS. am no, acting against the bill am al
dressing the Senate upon this topic oil the policy genera
announced that expected to vote for the bill; ana
shall do it, But, wish the whole subject might
spread before the Senate. wish merely 10 say that
think there is very considerable share OF deusion upo,
this subject that the hopes and expectations put tor
with regard these lands destined TO be dsappoht
ed There 10 be such sums realized as suRsese'
, by the senator from Georgia, lMr. DAwsosl lnat
quite apparent unless there Is change IN ne sa'e
things because all experience leads US 10 oneen
conclusion All our experience shows that no suct
lbopes and expectations have hitherto been realized
That makes me doubt very much whether we shall eve
realize the 90 so do not mean to question tne
proposton that building railroad enhances the vaue o.
the lands in its neghborhood for II II were not oi
the fact that the quantity OF lands brought INTO the mar
ket has immensely increased every yesr- the lefIoy