The daily union., 1852-03-17

passed at the last session granting lands 10 Alabama
mississippi, and Illinois. The construction which has
been given to that bill. net ony by lis friends upon this
moor and IN The other House, but by the department in
ITS execution, has been that the lands only within the
SIX miles, but those also outside OF that line and within
lhe hIleen miles, must be selected in alternate sections
mat question has been before the department under that
law within the last few weeks and decided as have
SAID mat bill. therefore, having received that con
sHueuohin my opinion. correct construction, accord.
ing 10 tue intent and meaning OF The friends OF the
nfe here and in the other House the time passed-of
esaise lhs ol viii receive the same Interpretation when
~ becomes law OF The land. and the department are
called upon TO execute it, The lands will then be located
10 alternate sections 10 The extent they go upon either
side Of the road up the ffteenmie line This con-
stfucuon think, obvaies the objection OF the senator
from South Carolina, Mr. RHETT
NOW in regard 10 what the iorer senator from South
carolina Mr. CalhouD] has said can only say that that
speech was made IN support OF bill OF which this
copy and therefore regard Mr. Calhoun as having en-.
dorsed not only The principles, but the details OF the bill
now before u.s. remember well the emphatic lang uage
OF Mr. Calhoun at that me when II was urged thar the
Illinois bill was TOO arge--lha The ROAD was too long
ihat required 100 large grant OF land The reply Of
MI: Canoun was. that the principle being right, the
policy being correct, the longer the road and the more
land gwen, the greater the advantages to the United
Slaies winch would result from il. II was in reference
10 ms policy that that speech made. The impress
sion is fresh upon my mind. because being here at the
Tune, and feeling an interest in the matter il made deep
impression upon mind II the principles of that bill
conect this bill heng copy OF it, must be also
/ Mr. UNDERWOOD / do not recolIeci sir that in
the fofmer discussion which has taken place upon this
subject the attention OF the Senate ever brought mi
nuely TO the consideration OF the selection of the lands
beyond the six miles provided for in these several bills
with reference TO The question of price. This is what
want TO have understood do not intend to enter into
discussion am as much tired OF this subject any body
can be- and am tired Of hearing myself talk upon it But
rse 10 make statement and then 10 make little mo.
lion, when Will take my seat do not recoect that
blr calhoun, or any other SENATOR in the discussions
when took place al former Congress this subject,
Called the attention OF the body question OF The In
creased prce outside OF the six miles IRON the line OF the
u a dad
6y these bills upon any lands beyond the six miles The
increase of price is limited to lands within the SIX
miles, and IT there be no lands within the six miles. the
bill is donatlon-a complete donation-of SO much land
10 The States, for which The government gets equva
lent at all have voted lor these bills heretofore upon
my principles OF internal Improvements, knowing the
result feeling the result and willing 10 for it. But,
sur wish this 10 be understood: want the Senate and
the country to know when vote for these bills, that
thai Is the effect OF lttha the lands outside of the six
miles are SO much clear gain TO The State. and there
compensatng OF the price upon the lands that
y IS clear loss 10 the government OF the United States
is perfect and complete loss Ii is much donated
away. rose 10 make that statement.
Now, sir having adopted the proviso offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. BELLl move. 10 make
tue bill consistent, 10 strike Out the words "New Mex
ico." IN another part OF the amendment
The amendment was agreed TO-
| Mr.. RHEIT When | noticed what Mr.. Calhoun
said as quoted IN The argument OF my friend from Iowa.
Mr. ID DcE] did not wish the Senate 10 understand
hat intended support what Mr. Calhoun supported,
and 10 repudiae whai he repudiaied. But Mr. Cal.
Carolina, thought il proper 10 show that Mr.. Calhoun
had not been correctly IA The passage quoted
Il understand his speech. do not stand corrected by
The senator from Illinois What the principle upon
which Mr. Calhoun advocated the bill Upon Tie alter
nate section lrlucle-that were TO give section,
and put adoube price upon The next secton and thus
The government, selling the next section at increased
price, lost nothing by the doctrne and in fact the
States nothing. II was no donation 10 The States. 1t
was nothing but an equitable arrangement, which the
United States made as lanaboder. by which we lost
nothing, although the States gained by it. That the
principle OF Mr. Calhoun. Is that the principle OF this
bl The honorable senator has just stated that The bill
operates within thesix miles, and not bey ond. Bey ond
tue six miles there Is provision whatever, far
the pnacipe advocated by Mr. Calhoun is concemei II
Is very true Thar there was additional inference in the
bill but will not insisl upon my construction oil the bill
Tor the senator has stated The department have pu,
another CONSTRUCTION upon it, But II is very capable OF
my construction and, II not mrta KEN the senator
from Georgia Mr. DAwsoSl alleged that construction IN
his speech. and although have been attending TO the
course OF The debate certainly have not heard that
construction coniradced; may have been, but have
not heard IT. But this bill is not in conformity with the
principle OF the hill advocated by MIR Cahoun-ne prn-
cipe that. as andholder, we did nothing than 10
give away one section, selling the next for twice much,
and therefore lost nothing Whatever. We gave nothing
but II was merely an arrangement which Tie andholder
had right 10 make; and thus escaped entirely from
the constitutional objection. He would have made
that Argument 1t the bull had been introduced nakedy
without any restriction in going beyond the SIX miles
Suppose that Illinois, or any other State, should take
every alternate section, and that the sections reserved
should not sell for price higher than that stipulated in
the general laws OF the county-tha the alternate sec
tions should not sell Tor double price; would Mr.. Calhoun
have voted for the bill Certainly there such
question presented to his mind Certainly il not
brought before the Senate and does not appear that he
had any such case IN view.
| Tne question was stated upon the amendment moved
by Mr. uSDERwooD, as amended and the roll was about
being called, when
Mr. JONES. Of Tennessee, said desire simply, Mr..
President 10 say TO the Senate that do not expect TO vote
upon this amendment OF the senator from krntuckynot
that does not meet my appreciation for am IN favor OF
evade any yote and hence desire to the Senate
The why do not vote for II. The senator rom
Arkansas-now absent-(Mr. SEBASTIAN being called
away by business requiring his presence, came 10 me and
asked me TO pair oil with him this vote. hs matter
of courtesy and kindness him consented, DIFF
frred upon the vote for il and he opposed 10
H. For this reason shall not vote upon the amendment
1 OF the senator from Kentucky.
/ Hr SUMNER As have a similar explanation 10
make, will make II now. AT the request OF the sena
tor from Georgia. who has participated IN this debate
/ Mr. DAwsoS,] and who has been called home TO his
family, with view to his personal accommodation
have paired off with him. Had voted, should have
voted az ainsi the amendment
The question beng then taken upon the amendment o
MIR USDERwooD, making grants OF lands to- the OLE
States resulted-yeas Is, nays 26-as follows;
Fan, Foot, Il ,mlin. James Mangum, Pfai, Seward
Smith, Underwood. and Upham-I5.
NAYS--Messts. Atchi on, Bayard, Borland, Bndhead
Brooke, C, Cuase, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge OF Iowa
King McRae Mason. Morton, Rhtt Rusk, Shields, Soule
| Stockton, Wade, and Wslker-26
Mr. SEWARD moved TO amend by striking out and
insettag as stated below
| The PRESIDENT That amendment is no, now in
order. lhe amendment male to the bill reported by the