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


Mt CHURCHWkl.L sad
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ara Who sesss ,hs hea and haa ny esa choice,
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.ly oi my gsasFous coeaEae. sha a. oa aaA ASA hm
70 TsaOO ny sssmins sase.ey os wsn' q "eds"'y and
Mt WILLIAMS Certainly s'r 40 On will hear
yOsS ys, wiI icIHiTRcawRLL Mt Chairman. had / sspse,.a
that would es preceded hy the honorable ssailsmAn
from Name fslr. fvlssl with sarh siabolkir sfsa.
nenis and with facts 40 iorehy presented should have
,rsmbed at the idea Of throwing lance ior Tear that my
amor woali not be sakcent 10 receive Ia F.arp.
Raj the Arguments oi The honorable gentleman aud the
positions which he assumes be correct, lhsa shall have
no Of what may hereafter ssy as 10 the correctness
nav as well say here as further on ia ny remarks,
that do intend 10 touch politics. Tor the that
Think fully enough has already been sad on that sub
jeet 10 the very great neglect al the public business
shall ,ry sir, 10 conhne myself 10 the bill and sabec,
under consideration, and although Little contrary 70 our
hab, OF late, hope may no, be called 10 order Tor 80
The honorable gentleman from Maine [Mr fuLLrRl
assumes positions hostile to the homestead bill which
think He admits the tact that The pabic
land belongs properly the people But while he admits
ha, fact be denies 10 the people the right 10 dispose oil
that property, and contends for the old policy which is
now no LONGER an, wnsn aaanaoasa sh py
a loss TO understand III we were starting out with our
government- this was the begnning,he hrs, legiss.
ion the public landsthen the Argument OF the gen
tIeman from Mafne might seem to be more plausible
But in this advanced state OF the public mind when
whole country has been agiiated upon the great land
question, 1t is too late to go back TO first principles 10
AVOID inevitable consequences As before stated, if we
starting now upon this great question, would al
yield TO the honorable gentlemans Arguments But
such is not the case
The policy OF the general government in regard to the
proper disposition OF the public lands unsettled
in both branches OF our national assembly Al period
in The progress OF the republic has there been much
anxiety manifested on this subject al present.
The landed estate which is proposed 10 divide is one
Of immense value, the claimants TO which, and the inter-
ests involved, diversified and complex that the
human mind scarcely comprehend the many bearings
that particular decision may affect and the results il may
produce The present generation Is not alone interested
but the legislation on this subject IS to extend 10 other
times, and affect future generations.
This being SO, how well does il become us 10 exercise
wise discretion in the policy may adop touching the
disposition OF this great government estate The national
mind seems ready for the enactment OF such laws
necessity may require IN the To dispose OF the
whole property (snce it is longer required liQudae
the public detts) as speedily as practicable seems to be
The wish OF large number oi the ownersperhaps OF
majority OF them las is indicated by their immediate rep
ssentaves; and, result of this fact have less
Manhiriy or forty schemes presented from dderentqua
sdhe country proposing to divide the property bed IN
charge by the for the and benefit peo
Reo whom properly belongs The day has gone by when
twas thought proper argue the proposition that the land
Belongs properly 10 the people The time has arrived TO
act; lei act in that will be satisfactory to an
approving conscience, and alike 10 the country: Tor
such legislation carries with il responsibility OF the
greatest mportance by it 10 mark the chan.
mel through which the landed interest OF twenty three
millions OF people, estimated at over fourteen hundred
millions OF dollars, is TO pass. Then how careful should
we be dispose OF portion OF this property
advance the interest Of the largest number OF those TO
whom il properly belongs, without injury to any.
Taking this view OF the subject into consideration, II
may not be improper to review briefly one or two OF
the many plans proposed.
Among the projects. we have one asking government
land aid in constructing railroad the entire
continent penetrating the mountains bridging the rivers
and filling The valleys, until track is graded and smooth
enough for the great iron racer to run over empire
from ocean TO ocean. To say more OF this scheme,
the author is at least entitled TO the character and credit
Of bold advenurer. But are ready and willing 10
the responsibility which such heavy legislation
would impose Are our lands sufficiently ypeopled And
prepared 10 compete and exchange the products
Of our soil and labor with all the world! But il is not
my purpose argue the merits OF this stupendous scheme
at present.
Another proposition which has beeen submitted to Con.
gress, Of less magnitude. but perhaps OF utility
portion Of the American people, is that OF donating alter
nate sections of land for railroad purposes in particular
States in which the land happens 10 lie
This plan has been argued, and have listened 10 the
logic Of its friends with much pleasure. while they
were demonstrating the consutonsliy Of such
eonending that is constitutional for Congress make
these grants on the ground that II will not diminish the
resources OF the treasury that by running railroad
through The land granting every alternate section on the
line OF the road for six miles on either side Tor its con-
sructon, thereby the remaining sections will be in.
creased such extent keep up the OF the
treasury; that the object and interest OF government TO
settle lis Wild lands that this plan will speedily do il
And my honorable friend from South Carolina Mr. 0RRl
bngs TO his aid the opinions OF two OF our greatest
statesmen which given in the debate in the Senate
10 ls4s the bill making donations OF public lands TO
NE State Of Illinois TO strengthen his own position, and
10 show 10 us and the country that he blazing out
anew and unaveled path through the political forest
near their opinions the powers given by the consttu
Ion to the general government;
| Mt CALuoUs. have seldom given a vote the result
oi which gstihrd me than the which gave on
that occasion then presided that chs which
occnY and gave the casting vote take myself there
e some snare in the credit Of that ncent i'm
ont Ihdeed do not think that there Is principle more
penecy clear rom doubt than this s. II does be-
onB 70 tne category Of internal improvements all Ii IL
hot power claimed by the government MS government
UeohRs 70 We government landed proprietor. Aud
WI aud mat g ts not only right but duty, and i'm
Po'hn' dny Now, what has been considered equitn
" arrangement between the government and the State
when may undertake improvement passing hrough the
pnoc landsi Long since agreed that the OF
thae sections was far contribution the part Of
hy sd aes considered as proprietor, and fom which
w united States would he very gamer Iappears
ome 10 be an equitable arrangement; and doubt whether
any case, either OF canal railroad passing through
ne public lands, the United States will not be a gaue
~ nat rftH prepared be the road long
u De onR gain ths more II be Short you gain the
'eai and you contribute in proportion to your gain"
Now that the proceeds not needed in the treasury
M The land has ceased TO be revenue, this Argument
eannot be applied
Gen Clss. in that debate. in presenting the reasons
"hy he would support the bill, sadi
This bill does touch the question Of internal i'm.
poysment AT n IL asserts right the part OF this gov
nneni 70 lay out road, regulate the construction Of
aIoad The federal government 10 great sndhoder; "
poseses an extensive public domsn; and have the
se under the constitution, 10 dispose of that domaini