Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-03-04
2O,625,OO6

ZU,OZ0,UUO
This is all. In the whole aggregate,
only d lillle more than twenty millions of
acres have been granted 10 these States.
The value of this sum total, if deducted
from the estimated value of the franchise
enjoyed by the Nation, will still leave a
very large balance to the credit OF the
land States. Estimating the land al ST.
25 an acre, all the reservations and grants
will amount to no more than S25, 1885,
257. Deduciing this sum from s72.-
490,475. and we have $40, ,702,2l8 to be
entered to the credit of the land States,
or, If we place the tax at two cents an
acre, more than double this sum.
This resnl. leaves the nation so largely
in debt 10 the land States. that it becomes
Of small importance 10 scan closely the
character Of these grants and reserva-
lions, in order TO determine whether in
large part they have not been already
satisfied By specific considerations on the
part of the States. But the stress that,
in the course OF this deba,e, has been laid
upon this bounty, leads me to go further.
Ii appears, from an examination of the
acts of Congress by which The land
States were admitted into the Union.
that large portion of these reservations
and grants was made on the express con-
di.ion that the lands sold by the United
States, under the jurisdiction Of the
States, should remain exempt from any
State far for the space Of fUe gears af-
ter sale. This condition is particularly
applicable to the appropriations for com
mon schools, universities. seats of Gov
ernment, and salines. amounting TO l2,.
l05,O93 acres. II is also particularly
applicable to another item, not mention.
ed before. which is known as the five per
cent. fund. from the proceeds Of the pub
lie lands, for the behef. of roads and ca
mails, amounting in the whole to $5,242,.
069. These appropriations being made
on specific considerations, faithfully per-
formed by the States down to this day,
may properly be excluded from our cal
culations. And this is response to the
Senator from Kentucky, Mr.. Under
wood, who dwelt SO energelically on
these appropriations, without seeming to
be aware OF the conditions on which they
were granted.
That may make this more intelligi-
BILE, let me refer to the act for the admis-
sion Of Indiana. After setting forth the
five reservations and grants already men
toned. il proceeds:
".9nd provided, Gi,oays. That the
five foregoing provisions herein offered
are on the condition that the convention
OF the said State shall provide by an or
dinance, irrevocable without the consen,
of the United Stn,es, that every and each
tract of land sold by the United States,
from and after the lst day Of December
next. shall be, and remain, exempt from
any tax laid by order Of any authority Of
the State, whether for State, county, or
township, or any other purpose whatev-
er, for the term of Eve years from and at.
ter the Gay of sale."
This clause does not stand by itself in
the scts admitting the more recent States.
but is mixed with other conditions. l
will not believe, however, that any dis
elimination can be made between partic-
nlar land States, on the ground of diff
ference in their conditions which may
properly be attributed to accidental cir
cumstances. The provision just quoted
is found substantially in the acts for the
admission of Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and