Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01

Thus an effort is made to bring TIA "a'san of ten
p in.o @ @ ne by holding reward of the value
One scheme Of ,.,:. .r.. ..ava. L.. o.ho.s
T E n.oIa aS~ cluster around the leading project
uh nI combinations is constautly enlarging, and
- .aorised application IL nsds % depend on the
If all. The system in fact goes furhers Meri-
subjects for legislative action quite sure of de-
unless united to the prescribed circle The influence
" the whole scheme is pernaous, and tends to change
our Legislative hall into market place, where vote may
be bartered for vote.
The pswer of the General Government is deriyatve-
conferred the hand and limited the other, by
compact The States have an independent existence and
clad with the elements of supreme power 1t is the
business of States and Of the General Government to
support the poor to disseminate learning to encourage
the arts promote agriculture, and construct roads and
canals The jurisdiction of the General Government be-
gins where that of the respective States ends Who will
claim that the National Government has right to
struc railroads? The mode in which the business is
cessary carried upon these roads furnishes an abun
aan answer to this question. From their very nature
they are exclusive He who wants to travel cannot put
his own car on h. track He must submit himself to the
ctaon of Others He must enter cars prepared for the
road Fast or slow the engineer controls the movement
and the murpurs paudits of the passenger alike
heard netler increase diminish the speed How
unlike the navigation Of our rivers lakes the ocean
There eah master spreads his to the prop
tous viad or dashes onward at pleasure with his huge
bu obdient steamer The former is close and restricted
the litter is free and national The one is suited to the
mpdt Of State legslaon the other to the broader hed
res Of individual States great rivers and lakes are
the highways Of the nation The Objects therefore, to
which these funds devoted lie beyond our consttu
tional limits As well might we devote funds from the
Treasury for the establishment Of bank ut Hannba as
to send out railroad from that place through the wild
lands Of the West.
st said that these lands are given the States and
inasmuch as the undoubted right construct
railroads. therefore the constitutional objection is
suered? Let us Test this question If this bin proposed
to make geners distribution Of the public treasure to all
ba .,,ef
than the presents yet it would then be open the strong
objection Of collecting money from the people for dst
buop among the people, abatng the expense of colec
tiop and payment But this proposition is to give large
amount Of land TO single State with provision requr-
ing that State devote the avas Of the land the
struction of two specified railroads II we have not q
constitutional right construct railroads have we
right TO make donation Of funds for the construction
railroads. II we have right to accomplish object
directly have right to accomplish the object
drectlyP If there be any which will enable to
bring about this result it lies beyond discovery by
tai vision.
These public lands held by the United States in
fduciary capacity In the sale and disposition Of them
Congress acts trustee What right has trustee TO
to give away the public lands than have to put
hands into the treasury and make donation in specie
these lands taken from the market and given away
that source Of Is cut off Increased taxation by
way OF import dues otherwise is necessarily resorted
to in order to supply the deficiency in the public
thus created Instead therefore, of selling the nations
lands 70 pay the nations debts give away these lands
and tax the people pay these debts Let the argument
be put IN this FORM and will any rise in his place and
maintain the right in Congress to make any such dona
ton The very nature Of the trust is at war with this
gross assumption Of power
But sir, propose to examine this question Of power
further. How and under what circumstances did the
General Government obtain title the public lands east
of the Mississippi river Were the grants by the States
to the General Government absolute or limited Iet n
be remembered that most Of the original grants from the
British Crown to the American colonies covered lands
t1n tn he
grants we're made long before the country was fully ex
pored Little attention paid 10 their northern or
southern boundary and hence these grants tapped upon
each other Disputes began arise between the States
the rghtfu extent Of these grants until tho Amcr
can Revolution quietng these disputes gave rise to
more momentous question To whom did these unappro-
pated lands rightly belong9 The blood and treasure Of
NIL the States were freely poured in that great srug
gle for the benefit Of the whole nation. The yet