Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-08

8rese1ntsaRs not pEinoPles, ard na 9sescn Of con-
q assssss sssss ssss'Ts - n ''s Z
Congress has given millions Of acres to schools colleges
asylums canals &c. why question its authority aid in
the construction of roads through its territory Ter
ritory without population is ahowing wilderness Popu
laon will not penetrate without roads, and roads
be constructed without The power to dispose of
and make all needfu rules and regulations respecting the
territory and other property belonging to the United
6tates literally interpreted embraces all these PROPOSE
tons because the gus dpoaend right of dsposing,
unqualified, is the strongest expression of language
Buths power must be limited by another phrase Of very
wide import yet narrow compared with the former-'sto
promote the general welfare &c., and by the deeds Of
cesson to all the lands lying northwest Of the Ohio
It is unnecessary for the purposes Of this argument
discriminate. All the lands admitted to be
property subject to be disposed of by the Congress
Of the United States for the general welfare.
The Constitution expressly gives this power Of disposi
ton there is therefore question about the rghto dis
pose Of; the mode is the matter for discussion.
Five propositions have been presented Graduation
and reduction Of price ceson the States wherein they
ie donation to every occupant partition among all the
States donations to railroads canals &C.. all of which
have their friends, and worthy of consideration.
No period in the history Of the Union has been more
favorable for the dspassonate discussion of this topic
than the present; and it is deeply to be depored that
intrinsic moment has interviewed is hoped gentlemen
will divest themselves of all sectional feelings, partia
ties, preudces and, assuming the elevated views Of
American statesmen, impress our legislation with ma
tional character.
The tendency Of the public mind to revert to this SUBJ
ect after violent political convulsons is remarkable
just twenty years ago, when the storm which then
threatened to involve in domestic strife subsdng
the public lands the Ararat which the ark of
State rested. Then as extravagant schemes were
projected yet the sober second thought of the people,
Notwithstanding the highest names and most commanding
influences conspired to paronize them overriding pot
cal partaties listened the voice of experience and
WISDOM and acquiesced in the system established by
revolutionary fathers
Gentlemen have forgotten the political drama
enacted by the Senate Of 1882 The President recon-
mened the lands should be ceded the States in which
they ie Democratic majority against the protest of
the committee referred the message the subject Of the
public lands the Committee Mansgdctuyes and when
that committee reported xganst the ceson and in favor
Of distribution the majority referred the report of the
Committee Manufactures to the Committee on Public
Lands which reviewed the report Of the Committee
Manufactures reversed all their positions and endorsed
the policy of the President
The idea of cession to the new or land States to the
cusion Of the Old avowed then, not only by candi
dates for the Presidency, but Governors and Legislatures
found to advocate it. Since national views
have prevailed scarcely statesman be found radical
enough to such proposition.
Sound public sentiment seems it may not be unwise
to advert for moment TO the vast considerations which
constitute the Federal title to the public domain:
The sacrifices of seven years war, in which fifty
thousand lives and 5000 O00 900 spent by the Old
Thirteen form the first nstalment; SIS, Geo. 900 in
money and S5 600 900 indemnity for American claims
against France in purchase of Louisiana the second
stalment So 900 for Florida the third fifty thou
sand lives and $3.50 600 in money in prosecuting the
Mexican war, the fourth $15 100000 under the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidago the fifth Add to this the extin-
punishment of title and removal of aborgines heerecon
Of forts and defence of frontier the survey and location
Of lands and all the machinery of the land system and
fbp aUur eQp he lace fhop
When to these added the formal deeds of cesson from
Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut North
and South Carolina and Georgia, and the treaties with
France and Spain and the Indian tribes chain of title
woven which must be recognised long the basis Of
property exists All the schemes now under consi4era-
ton have this redeemng featurethey admit the title Of
the United States and their right to dispose of these
lands.
Appointment idea advanced by the advocates of rradua
ton is that timely concessions often avert total losses
and that unless such system adopted the hour may
come, when the whole will be wrested from Such
arguments IN my Judgment unworthy of the East and
unjust to the West Are they bone Of bone and
flesh Of our fesh Can they forget the deeds of their
fathers or the homes Of their mothers Nay have they
not recently mingled their blood upon the battle
fields rallied round the as and shouted for Joy at
the victories One language one constitution one
country, is the common sentiment from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, from the Rio Grande and Ga the South
to the Oregon and Aroostook on the North q fs
The cesson to the States has nothing to
consonant with the principles Of the constitution and
Confederacy Like the graduation system it seems to
spring from distus that magnificent patriotism which
prefers TO be generous rather than Just taH
The public lands patrimony sufficient for centu-
ries to combine and sustain the Union against
foreign aggression and domestic dissension While they
remain common property, disposed of for the common
welfare they constitute capital to strengthen public Gre
dit; they create sinking fund to extnguish the public
debt, they furnish whereby the Federal Govern
ment exercising wise discrimination may promote the
mutual and reciprocal prosperity Of the East and West
by eItendingmeans of communication transportation, and
population. l,
is unenyiable and ungracous duty oppose any
proposition for the ameoraton Of the condition Of those
who feel "poverty's unconquerabe bar" the proud
mans contumely and the oppressor's " but the
General Government cannot the grand almoner of
the States Each State each county, and each city must
alleviate the suferings of its unfortunate population
far from conoundng poverty with crime and feel the
force as well the beauty of the poets exclamation
How many a soul sublime Aatt
Hath felt the influence of malignant star,
And waged with Fortune eternal war"
do propose, Mr.. Chairman, to discuss the const-
tutional question which has incidentally been examined
do not propose ask whether this Congress- tho
legal power dispose Of the public lands in the manner
indicated by the special order but inquire into the ex
pediency Of dssipating what regard most sacred
portion Of the public treasure hope in the remarks
may submit to the oommttee uttered as propose to ut
ter them in frank and candid temper no one will sup
pose intend mpugn the generosity Of the motives Of
those who now sustain the proposition before you ac
cord to every what ask for myself-purty of in
tenton at the same time cannot close my eyes TO what
apprehend to be the destructive tendencies Of such eg
laton II is legislation In my Judgment based entirely
upon principle Il is legislation calculated to sap
the foundations Of Government and II persevcred
must result in the mort deporable consequences refer
"a o0r,oul ult,xra II