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

the way 10 let people know what we are DONG IL ~
right for us TO build railroad TO aid IN building one
let us do t at once by indirecton These bills
looking directly to- and having for their primary object
sale and settlement Of the public lands It follows, as
matter Of course that they involve the Federal Govern
ment in system Of internal improvement; opposiuon
which has now become fundamental article in the Greco
of the Democratic party We all know when breach
made in q constitution or great principle, how
easily and how speedily is wdened Last year one bill
of this passed. and ten or fifteen are proposed
asking fifteen millions OF acres. Next year the
| number will be the same, if not greater.
Every intelligent man who has witnessed the working
of the Federal Government must the tendency
soidaton The States seem to be fast becoming mere
corporations looking to the Federal Government for
port Congress is constantly besieged TO overstep its
legitimate powers. Annually hereafter grants of land
will be asked until all is exhausted in the States and
then applications will from the Territories Wher-
there power there be disposition
and abuse it. All admit that strict construction Of the
Constitution forbearance to exercise any power
cept where express grant for it be found in
the Constitutions necessary for the preservation and
perpetuy of this Government and yet the restrictions
and limitations Of the Constitution to be Of avail
when aYnptui prompts or interest leads the way We
have Government formed Of external and internal sove-
regntes The general and great purposes OF the Union
protect against foreign invasion, to defend us
against connections and Instructions and to regulate
intercourse with foreign nations All other matters
with few exceptions in the machinery OF our
left to the States II this doctrine of strict construc
ton be enforced Congress will longer be beseged
by jobbers contractors, and SPECTATORS and people VIII
to think that the world be egslaed into the
millennium. If dscord among the States rebellion and
anarchy shall destroy this fair land it will be be-
this Government has assumed not granted
by the Constitution Look at the fearful ratio OF increase
of expenditure upon the part Of this Government But
few years ago the annual expenses only amounted TO
about thirty millions of dollars they over fifty
millions 1t almost impossible to resist those who
come here to capture the public treasury or appropriate
to themselves the public lands.
is said however, in answer constitutional scruple
that has been the practice of the Government to grant
alternate sections to aid in the construction OF canals and
the Improvement OF rivers Precedents are cited ana
the aid Of great called in Sir, admit the prece
DENTS but deny their force Precedents Why, they
be found in this Government for any thing and every
thing. They rise up like Banquo's ghost. Our evil
deeds live after We not in Westminster Hal, how
ever where precedents are considered binding Great
names brought forward. Mr. Calhoun's opinion has
been cited Upon what great question of constitutional
construction have not great statesmen been about
equally dvided and of them have been found upon
both sides of the question Take the questions Of
the bank, tariff, internal improvements, subtreasury,
slavery, &c., and show the opinions Of statesmen
equally eminent both sides. therefore think it my
duty to read the constitution for myself and if in
doubt go the side which gives least power to the
General Government and most to the States. confess
that prefer the opinions expressed by President Polk in
his celebrated veto message of the river and habor BILL
those of any other statespan upon the subject of in
ternal improvements.
and make all need rules and regulations respecting the
territory and other property belonging to the United
States The bills called upon to pass do not pur
port to make any general rues land all rules we make
here should be genera respecting the public lands.
Who viii deny the correctness of this proposition If
authorize railroads through the different land States and
change the price sometimes within FIVE and sometimes
within fifteen miles of the roads, every must that
speculation injustice and endless confusion and litigation
must be the result If grant lands to aid rail-
road, we must make grants to aid all other projected
roads. We make rules-in other words, make laws
with view to dispose of the public lands, not with
view to construct railroads and canals Besides what
right have to make rules which will promote the sale
and settlement Of the public lands in section of
State and not in another? Who viii say that this ques
ton is not properly put? Every Of experience it
seems to me- must see the confusion, beneficial only to
spectators, to which such policy would lead And
again every body knows that nearly all the lands upon
the line Of these roads have been sold Why them call
it bill granting alternate sections when it is well known
that they will be obliged go off ten fifteen miles from
the line of the road to get the required quantityte wit
five miles each side of the road !?
1t has been said and intimated again and again. that
this Government and the old States have acted unjusty
toward the new States l cannot admit the fact. BY
compacs with the States upon their admission into
the Union five per cent Of the nett receipts Of the sales Of
the public lands is set apart for the Of such States
Three per cent is to be annually paid to the respective
new States and two per cent to be used in construct
ing roads to and through them In most instances, how
ever, the whole five per cent has been paid TO the
States Out of this three and two per cent fund
81 900 600 have been paid to the States. Nearly
So 900 900 expended constructing the Cum
berand road to and through the public lands The Gene
raj Government paid the expenses Of each State while
Territory and gave each kind of outfit Besides
twenty millions acres of the public lands have been given
to the States for schools universities seats
Of government salines, deaf and dumb asylums, sc.
And again as an evidence that this Government has
extended kind and liberal hand to the people Of the
West and Southwest look at their past present, and
prospective growth in all the elements Of individual
cia and national wealth and prosperity. 1t is
pied in the history Of nations. Every stroke Of the
woodmans beyond the Mississippi seems to enlarge
their dominion and augment their power To no one does
this prosperity afford sincere pleasure than to my
SELF It's great and glorious spectacle to see the hui
man family thus going out not lawlessly but under the
benign influences Of Government to cultivate and
subdue the EARTH and peaceaby possess its broad
trimony. would not deal grudgingy with such peo
pie For many reasons, which might state, believe
Of people preserve and perpetuate this Government
They must trade in the East and hence the preservation
Of the Union is necessary for them We ought to adopt
liberal policy towards those who lead the way in bring
ing into subsection the wild and unbroken lands Of the
wilderness Hence bring forward this measure TO gra-
duate and reduce the price Of the public lands lin lieu Of
these railroad proects which win operate benefciay to
the ardworkng pioneer and cut up the schemes Of spe
cuators by the roots II must be apparent all that
must choose measure the other | prefer the
graduating is the only which, in my opinion,
can pass the House. The landholders have the
greater the security for present form Of government
Besides the rights and interests Of the aborng classes
should be looked TO and cared for IL there is place
where they obtain land cheap the supply Of labor in
the old States will become greater than the demand and
then wages will be forced down they in Europe
The evils Of redundant population should be avoided
especially in republic. would Like to see every labor
ing have home which he could call his own, and
which he has purchased however cheap. Men, In this
ID IN cho itr