The daily union., 1852-03-18


shows that II Is about become the theatre for the applca
ton Of human labor, the all producing source Of comfort
and wealth" 4M
This is the true spirit which ought 10 setusie not
only every man from the West but every man from
The East, and every other section, who takes Just,
and liberal, and fair view oi this subject There
other opinions which could bnng in opposition TO those
OF the senator from Kentuekyfrom the East, also The
gentemaa doubtless reeolecis that, perhaps, OF the
mrs, Presidents who pressed this subject M Van Buren,
LOOK decided ground in favor OF early disposition OF
the public lands in some way 10 prevent annoyance and
injury TO the States. have before me the speech
winch he made on the subject but shall not read H. He
assumes the doctrine that although from necessity the
control OF the public lands by the general government
must be tolerated for tne yet II is necessarily lncon-
sstent with the welfare OF the States, and that the pub
lc lands ought 10 be ceded 10 the States, 10 be DIS
posed OF by them al early day possible Another
individual, now no more, OF great promnenceihe a'e
Juage Wooibury-whe member OF this body,
uoned The doctrine which the gentleman has much
controverted, that the new States have the power
OF taxaiion--(and unless II was given up by he new
States they could have exercised that power)afhough
ne opposed grants OF land IN many cases and an fact
all cases where money could not be granted yet he ad
mitled that the grant OF school lands and other
grants TO the western States nothing more than a
lar equivalent Tor The power oil taxation which they had
gwen o Yet the gentleman does not seem to be salts
fed with all these autbortes-with all these
IS dePrving the old States OF their rights; that portion
OF those lands ceded by Virginia and other States
the express condition that they should be disposed OF Tor
the common benefit OF the Union and that, there FORE
n
duce and read here ordinance OF the Continental Con-
gress, providing that after the appropriation OF certain Of
these northwestern lands, ceded by Virginia to the pay
ment OF bountes TO soldiers. come large proportion OF II
(six seyenhs, believe) 10 be distributed BY lot
among The States and therefore, he says, il intended
at first that these lands hould be distributed among the
States. But The gentleman scents entirely to have for
gotten some circumstances which show that, although
that might have been reasonable and proper AT that
time, IL has no application now al all
While under the confederation, and before The adoption
OF our present constitution, the United States had no
separate financial system She did not levy taxes She
called upon the States for their contributions, and they
contributed their quota The financial operations OF the
government depended on the States. Money was not
drawn into the federal treasury, but each State was
called upon for It's quota In order, hen 10 refund this
money TO the States or in order that the separate States
should have the benefit Of these lands the
fund, II was necessary and proper after paying some OF
the general charges that they should be distributed TO the
Saies because there other 10 get at IT, That
ordinance passed, believe, in 1887 Al any rate, il
was very short time before the adoption OF the consttu
ton. do not know that the lottery drawn |
do not suppose any State drew any lands If any Of
the Saies did, perhaps the gentleman inform me
to the fact. lind on record no such statements but
hnd the government under the constitution
into operation more said about the drawing OF loe
Ties II was carried out Il was sy stem applca-
Bile 10 the confederation; but the the present
stuon and government formed, the lands sold
and the proceeds paid into the treasury and became
common fund.- 10 be expended like all other funds That
has been the system that has been carried from that
day TO this. The gentemans Argument therefore,
10 me TO be unounded and that the precedent afforded by
The action OF the Congress of the confederation does not
apply under the present constitution and government
he proper mode. in my opinion is 10 pay the proceeds
INTO the treasury from whence they are TO be appropriated
as all other funds
in another particular He says that the condition tha,
the proceeds shall be distributed equally among the
States does not apply TO territory acquired from foreign
counirles-to Louisiana Florida or Caliioniahecause
that was obtained without any such condition Now, il
this be the would most respectfully ask the gentle
man what application has the argument for all the lands
ha h.r. ull fh .Ia
which suppose will be asked for at this any other
session, are proposed TO be granted in that vast territory
yves. o' .he msslssppi not an acre oi winch was ac-
quired except from oregn States; so that according 10
his own aIgument to the duty OF Congress TO disrb
ute them among the States his proposition falls TO the
ground, and amounts 10 nothing
Mr.. UNDERWOOD | would state TO the gentleman
that my argument applied 10 all the bills There bills
pending granting lands in Wisconsin, and believe in
Michigan which formed a part OF the original north
Mr.. DOWNS Perhaps there may be some applica.
ons IRON States east OF the Mississippi but comparative
y they very small But there are other consd.
eratons which ought 10 be taken into account in lhis
matter there are other inducements for making these
grants to new States The gentleman seems 10 think
that between the Uniied States and these States there
is pretty air and equal transaction. Emigants max
their way into the wilderness, and connect their settle
mens as well as they can with the other portions OF the
country After they have struggled through years OF
difcuiy DANGER and trouble, until they get fifty,
or sixty, or seventy thousand inhabitants they for
ward and ask the government of the United States to
clohe them with the authority and power OF State II
they are then admitted into the Union, he 10 speak
OF 1t as II il were boon granted TO the Siaies-as
II II was discretion they might exeIcseas ii II
true that they had right TO keep them OF the Union
II they choose. Sir, he is totally mistaken. ii is a
solemn duty which Congress is required to perform, and
must perform. So far from the government having
control over the matter, they have but limited powe
over It, There is bat single condition which, ac
cordlng TO the constitutions Congress has a right 10
qure, and that that the States shall have repub
llcan governments. And although they may have some
Times refused for time, 10 admit States yet ii the
gentleman had looked little further into the subject be
would have found that, with all the power OF the United
States, they have practical effect in keeping State
permanently. They have done and could
have eheced II IL II had been tried What was the
with Missouri She formed her constitution before she
was admitted into the Union. Her State government
was organized Suppose Congress mad not admitted her,
would she not still have remained Stael Could they
ernmen,l Could they have forced that government upon
the people Could they have enforced their right (Which
had been agreed upon with the Staes) that the public
lands OF the United States should not be taxed Again
take the instance OF California. Suppose she had not
been admitted, could the United States have coerced her
think they could not These questions always set
Tied by agreement--are always arranged in some way ,
and although injustice may be imposed upon a new
State, yet, whenever she is admitted II is not boon
but the exercise Of tight the pa of Congress and
right the part OF the States Ia be admitted when
they have the requisite population which right the Uni
ted States cannot in the exercise OF wise ard sound dis
cretion, refuse them. l..-s. 4
for making these grants Butare there not other consde
raons in favor OF these grants to the new States How
do these lands become valuable How is il with the
lands in lowal Why are they so valuable The same
Iowa, with all its rivers and its fine timber, and its
mounds and its has stood for centuries past where