The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-31

naming poruon he said
!. via saswef the senator. The general government
ser rAE DISPOSAL op PORTION OF rnE PUBLIC DO
AN g hAlsA rHK VALUE or CLEARLY
thA r0wKk or rnls GOVERNMENT"
While respect the views OF Mr. Cass and Mr. Cal.
hogn, AZ the same time claim the privilege 10 differ
van thems their notions come In contact with mine,
however humble Upon this particular point desire 10
ss dishely understood am not taking ground against
me eonsuiuuonality OF such a for grant that
Sonsess has power eeded by the constitution 10 dispose
Of The pnbc property. But power may exist when il
- npos 70 exercise lha. power and desire to show,
~ can Inst 70 adopt such partial legislation would be
neaprdehi anus and burlfal 10 the interest of the gov
eminent, because unequal IL certainly cannot be sus-
s.%s. 70 may ss ggropPsa . ~ policy The
tended tor bat We think not sustained by the arguments
sadaesd That Congress has power to make all needful
Fulss and feguahons and 10 dispose oil the public prop
sEis and iands no one will pretend deny But is that
power special general II not special then il must be
general. and consequently applied generay-no 10 one
css bnt 70 thfy Aales and, before said, ii
csed al ALI IN this partial way must be upon policy and
not upon principle II the principle of the gov
etnmsn that the proceeds OF the sales oil the public lands
should 90 nio the treasury 10 meet the national debt
Of the people OF State but OF the whole people OF the
United States Since that is no longer necessary, may
now abandon H. and adopt policy that may end in the
establishment oi new principle, sound unsound And
We thlak the legislation tending TO this principle TO
be sound mus, be national IN s character. Government
may sd particular Stale in its works OF internal i'm
pfoyemen OF national character without abandoning
principle. while 10 aid i for special purpose would only
rcquiie change OF policy. The former when once
tabished. may be abandoned--it cannot be changed;
while the latter may be formed modified, and amended
Are We 10 suppose that Il was ever contemplated by the
insertion oil that clause IN the constitution which the
honorable gentleman IRON South Carolina Mr.. ORRl
refers ottaf Coagfess shall haze poner 10 dispose of
aad make all nsedfm rules aud regulations respecting,
Hs territory or other property belonging 10 the United
siafs-l say. was IL contemplated BY this clause that
our genera government would al any time the
character OF arbitrary and landed proprietor. managing
~ property of speculative purposes TO the detrimen OF
s best interest and that o Us czenss For unless
admit this fact the arguments OF honorable gentlemen
must grow weak the closer survey them. contend
that the gover1men, - national trustee, holding the
property IN charge for the use aud benefit OF the whole
having delegated power 10 appropriate IL 10 the OF
any State exclusively TO old State exclusive
oi new. and the reverse Bu, pass from the con-
slltutonal question 10 consider this policy. they
tell US the best interest III the government s TO people its
wild landso bring the soil in with the plough
thereby to develop i,s strength and productive qualities.
Aud are told this alternate section scheme which
proposes TO double the value o the remaining sections,
and people them, will effect all these desirable results,
while contend that to accomplish such ends the price
o the land must be cheaPened rather than increased la
this conclusion we think the facts plain, and
tain
Il is not the policy OF the government 10 double the
value OF her lands for in doing the object and aim
OF applying labor TO her lands twthou, which they OF
little vaue) - a, prevented by The lands being placed
beyond the reach o the working man, We agree that
% people me wd lands s speedily as the laws OF Nasre
and the necessities OF society may require IS subscribing
the true interest Of government and carrying ou the
tention Of the rarners OF The constitution.
But the question upon which differ is, that TO grant
alternate sections Of land for railroad purposes TO the new
States ia which the lands happen to e exclusive OF the
old States that have ceded, the other States that have
contributed 10 acquire that same land for the gov
ernmen,, will not effect that end generally at first
view are led 10 believe Here we take issue.
The Argument that BY increasing there naming alter.
nate sections the line OF railroad in any State,
where the population is sparse and uuhxed, thereby
you do not diminish the resources OF the treasury,
think incorrect My opinion Is founded upon the fact
that in proportion you increase the value OF parcu
lar class OF your land. By runRng railroad through il,
in the proportion you diminish the demand price,
and sale OF lands IN the other portion OF the State aud
country distant from the line ol railroad This assertion
propose sustain BY the argument OF honorable gen
emen reversed because you cannot construct railways
through all your public lands II you could or il there
public lands unsettled than those on the
lines OF roads projected, then the reasoning would
be more plausible. but such is not the case. Govern.
ment much more than that aud requires such egs
aon as will operate as equally as possible upon Iis ct-
II is said this scheme or plan will much enhance the
value OF the surrounding country by rapidly settling
the lands. II honorable gentlemen expect results in
a State, where the population Is sparse and not
fixed, which usually flow in the old States, where the
land titles are perfected. and the population dense
and fixed, they are much mistaken But they do
not for the honorable gentleman from Missouri [Mr
HALL tells us-and II is one OF their main argu-
menis-thst, IN The new States only the good lands
on the rivers and roads taken up, while there
numbers s1usitng about waiting for the Indian title
become erungushed before they make permanent set
tement This being So give them alternate sections for
their railroads. And what i the consequence Il u
not evident, by their Argument that you have gen
eral rush oi population 10 get the line OF the rail-
road And does not tns very fac, pon, oat 10 US plainly
the inevitable consequence. which i the abandonment
and depopulaon o the back country And - u not very
evident that The price and sale OF government land IN the
region OF county distant from the line OF railroad must
decrease and diminish in proportion the labor s ab.
slrac,ed from Il and the demand increased fot u else
wberel In an old State this is no, much the case,
because. as before siael the population ). hKed and
but little value towards keeping up the resources Of the
treasury; and II count 4 BY dollars and cents. the
government would perhaps lose as much BY the dmin'
ished ms by the increased value of the public lands
Besides sach system would seriously affect the interest
OF those who have made early purchases and settlements
as well the interest OF the government Bat its ten
dency to niure and prejudice the value OF the lands be
longing to individuals than the government, hecaase
the laer gets the advantage Of increase elsewhere
while the ormer - not compensated ~ any way VI
think this important Tact, and worthy oi the serious
consideration OF members from new States | must be-
eve the true interest OF our governmental policy re-
quires adopt that viii secure the gen
era settlement Of her public lands, irrespective Of 70
caues, conditions or qualities. I cannot believe the NJ
ernae section scheme will fully carry out this oblsc
because too limited In ils operations and effects Never
heless, am willing 10 grant lands 70 the States respect.
vey from policy, than upon principle. for wotks ol
reat national character--uch the railroad fom Itn
cinnat through The very heart OF the nation. 10 the soah
ern seaboad at Charleston, the road now under way
from New York. through the valley OF Virginia and Ten
nessee 10 New Orleans These are truly national ~ theif
character and, although being constructed fapy W ~
dyiduas and States, they might be encouraged by gov
ernment.
But | leave this branch Of the subject 20 talk oi
another idea which is advanced before us " = con-