The daily union., 1852-02-13

maximum and minimum fixed by the first ordinance,
aud Al - cunous 10 see into how large number II was
contemplated that the region would be divided The
States were to be from hundred 10 hundred and
nifty miles square. III that provision hal been literally
carried into effect instead OF five States northwest OF The
Ohio, we should have not less than len. than
twenty y-ihee and in the twelve land States al the
same ralio there would be not less than twenty-seven
nor more than sixty-on
The very fact that this division into States made
IN advance OF settlements shows that the federal gov
ernInenl was charged with the care OF the public do
main, IN The belief that il possessed both the power and
the disposition 10 hasten its settlement and bring
States into the conederacy Here the federal government
assumed most important aud responsible duty-tbe duty
oil forming new aud independent States. To secure a
rapid and healthy growlh-e form institutions OF repub-
can government-lo foster education and promote pros
penty and happiness both energy and liberay
The title OF king maker has little meaning when com
pared with that which indicates the noble assumption OF
the general government to raise up Tree and independent
States throughout the wilderness of the Western World
The region embraced within their limits was offered
sacnhce by the noble States OF Virginia and Connecu-
cut and South Carolina and Georgia, TO secure the for
maon ei the confederation Is is now the pledge oil the
perpetuity of the Union.
History believe, can scarcely exhibit more inter-
esting incident than this to which have referred And
we should look in vain in the annals OF nations for
OF similar characteristics
Among the despotc governments, msnamed Holy Al
liances are sometimes found deliberaing the condi
hon OF nallons, and decreeing their fate Adversely in
vlles aggression prosperity kndles anmosity To over
throw Kingdoms TO divide or destroy nations, and parti-
on Their territory among conqueror is spectacle too
often exhibited But eter has history presented
noble spectacle than that which exhibited when the
federal government assumed the charge OF wilderness
domain under deeds OF cessoA which stipulated for future
the charge of their growth and prosperity Never has
more noble act been performed than that by which old
States yielded TO the federal government the region OF
enolned duty OF building up free and independent States
within t. States, in that region, il required by the
deeds OF cesson should be admitted into the confedeacy
The people constitute the State and not merely unnhab
tied lernory and much TO be done before that dis
tan region could become the abode OF cvlliZdon and
expand sai into the proportions required Tor that pol
cal organization, While the territorial form Of govern
ment has existed in this portion OF the country the gen
era government has exercised liberal policy in the pro-
motion OF settlements. 1t has been the custom to
make roads within the Territories by money appropra
tons Within the last year two Minnesota the most
recently organized Territory in which public lands
offered for sale has received liberal grants Tor the pur
pose of making ntercommuncaions. II seems however,
TO be supposed that the moment the State within which
the unappropriaed lands are located is admitted into the
Union the and charge OF the general government over
y IS to cease that the liberal action OF the government
for the promotion oil the settlement and the convenience
Iof the immigratng community, may justly be abandon
ed and that The care OF every interest which mnges
self with the general prosperity oil the country devolves
upon the State authorities.
These States to be admitted when they con-
tanned sixty Thousand inhabitants each We inquire how
the admission OF the State into the Union can change the
duty or the interest OF the government IN regard 10 the
policy OF settling and selling The public domains States,
with hiry-hve millions OF acres may. on admission into
the Union, contain sixty thousand inhabitants scarcely
enough 10 constitute the population OF well settled az
rcuural country IT, when the State is formed and ad-
mi,ted into the Union, the care OF the general govern
men IN promoting sales OF the public domain is TO cease
FAR better to defer the State organization, and TO
main IN aerntoria condition. Almost the entire terri
tory within lis boundaries is perfect wilderness You
have little settlement in a single corner wherever a
stream OF water runs and navigation be had You
will find small settlement here and there along the
streams navgable waters; but the great OF the
faI
slbe for purpose OF settlement. when its forests
unbroken And yet il is thought that the duty OF the gen
era government is terminated whenever the State ad'
mltted into the Union.
Maps sometimes prepared, Distinguishing by colors
the portions of the States which settled and those
where the lands are still held by government IL any
will take the trouble 10 examine such map he will
be surprised at the large tracts of land remaining unsod
The difference between this state OF things and that oil the
old States where there are inhabitants on every square
mIc aud where roads already made and abundant Ia
cites for communication enjoyed does not readily occur
to the mind refer Tor example, TO the condition
OF my own State. Michigan is composed oi two penin-
sulas Since my knowledge OF the country, which was
many years ago. the settlements confined TO two
southern tiers OF counties, and the large mass OF the
State was as much wilderness when the territorial
government was fst established there Until within The
last two three years not single OF land IN the
northern peninsula entered and now II pen.
etrated by no public road or other means OF
ton inland beyond the lake shore and yet II comprises
about third OF the State In the southern peninsula,
within the limits OF the settled countless the southern
border we have all the ordinary facilities Tor travel and
business belonging 10 settled country but beyond this
the great body OF the territory is held by the government
unsettled, and portion OF unsurveyed This condition
OF things exists not only IN that State but IN many OF the
others Look al Wisconsin. The settlements there lie
chiefly along the lake and the southern border oil The
State while the great OF territory in the interior is
untouched forest. The condition OF things ex.
lists in Iowa. the State for whose benefit this bill is IN
tended Of an area oil some 80 100000 OF acres 2S00OO
remained, according TO tables prepared in lsi9 unsod
In Michigan, with an area OF 35,000,00O OF acres,
2j 900 900 remain unsod In Missouri, OF 430000OO,
The total area, 20 o0000OO public property. In Flor
ida OF 3so000 600 OF acres, "a 100000 still belong TO the
government.
Now SIR il is manifest that over the interests OF the
land States the general government by virtue oil It's con-
nexon with the ownership OF the soil, has control al.
most absolute The prosperity oil the State IS committed
10 the charge oil the federal authorities Suppose the
latter, dsregardng the prosperity OF the former, and
undertaking 10 exercise arbitrary power over the
whole subject should utterly refuse TO make sales OF The
public lands would IL not embarTass the action oil the
State government Would it not check the advance oi
the public veal Would II not present an mpassable
barrier 10 the growth and thrift OF the State Indirect
legislation bearing this subject even remotely not
unirequently carries with II an in1uence when Is
fel, its retardng effects the settlement oil the new
States
The absolute control which is claimed the public
domain lying within the States is broad enough to ex-
clude all Interference the part OF the latter The au;
horty OF the State by made as poweress as that OF
individuals Railroads, canals, and other improvements
required for the OF the public, aud which may be
carried by the authority OF the sovereign State, upon ma.
king compensation, through any private property can
nuous line OF such Improvement Is intercepted by
foryacre lot belonging TO the public domain the power
to construct the work terminated Every year applica
tons made to Congress in such Tor permission