The daily union., 1852-02-13

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amendment 10 The Stale Of Rhode Island for instance,
would De suicient 10 make about ak miles OF railroad
Now,l Missouri were 10 receive an equal grant in pro.
poon to her area, she would be enabled 10 construct
lhIee hundred and thirty six miles OF railroad. The
whole amount OF grants, however. heretofore made 10
lhat Stale or internal Improvements would make only
about twenty miles Of railroad All the railroads in
the great western valley nefsecing large tracts OF
y lying between rivers which are naygable OF between
towns OF great commercial Importance, are necessarily oil
very great length compared with similar roads N The old
States But IN that valley the construction OF this kind
oil improvements has but just commenced The seven
teen olaes which mentioned in Tue amendment have
IN operation 6,456 miles OF railroad, while the twelve
land htaes having much greater extent OF territory,
have some l21 miles OF railroad
II WIN be observed that expenditure OF the proceeds
OF Inc lands granted when converted into money in in
terna improvements would fully the expressed
object of The grant is not with the appropriation 10
Iowa under the bill have already shown that none of
these grants OF alternate sections sufficient 10 con-
struct the work Tor which they bestowed The State
must make fufther advances TO construct the work.
Only about oneth OF the cost OF the road is supplied
by Tue grant aud where government besows enough TO
construct one mile OF road the public is secured in the
enjoyment OF at least five miles. Not under this
amendment These States subject TO such condl-
on lhey are required to make advances, and 10
def no aud Every grant OF alternate sections in the
States thus secures five times much benefit TO the pub
c as the same grant would 10 the old States under this
amendment.
Fourteen millions Of acres of the domain within their
lusdctionihe choice lands-are to be held by the gov
ernments OF the States mentioned in the amendment All
may be located in any OF the States and thus put In
charge o ioregn government large portion of the
land II may be held from the settler for years, and
exorbant price may prevent sale and retard the set
tlement OF the country.
am not uamindu OF the fact that this proposed aI-
preparation IS to be applied to the two objects oil internal
Improvement and oi education, or 10 either the legs
ature OF the State shall determine In most of these
States both of these objects is already provided
for In all OF them the of securing such adyan.
ages are at command In OF them is the condition
oil an early settlement IN existence To bring them with
in any rule which would require these grants, the
shadow should turn back the dial to the days when
the forest almost unbroken--when roads, bridges,
canals, and schools Just beginning be establish
edwhcn the proprietor Of the soil solicited settlers and
cul,ivalorswhcn the business Of distant points enjoyed
no communcaon-whcn the great interest OF the public
in The growth OF community overshadowed private in
erestsand above all 10 the time when the proprietor
OF their domain held j, in his exclusive grasp, and
administered il at his will These days have long since
passed with the old States, and nothing remains on
which TO found claim Tor aid any principles applca-
Bile 10 the region OF the new States
This much the right Of these States to portion OF
the western lands on the principle OF grants 10 the new
States Ii thegran should be made, il find JUS
hcaiion in any legislation i'll favor OF the new States
The right to It as mere donation do not hear urged
by the of the amendment II so, il would be easy
to show how partial the hand that poroned il out,
how unequally il was divided among the States named
IN the amendment and how mistaken the policy Of a
distribution among the States of the property belonging
TO the Union turn TO another branch OF The subject.
deny the power oil Congress TO make such disposl-
tion OF the public lands have already referred TO the
origin OF the title 10 these lands, for the purpose o show
ing the condition which they ceded. the great
objects 10 be secured by H. and the duty OF the govern
ment IN ITS administration must refer 10 them now,
ior the purpose oil showing how, alter these duties
discharged, the lands the proceeds to be applied
The gouerament, the great trustee of the title Of the
western lands has not only It's duty III the management
OF this domain but also lis duty applying all that is
| not needed TO accomplish the important objects TO
which have already referred.
The act of New York. in rendering cession Of her
1 ln1z IN ~ ,hn
ought 10 be appropriated common fund for the ex-
penses OF the war; aud therefore they cede them TO the
United States la the resolution of Congress, 17s0, nyi-
ng such cession, the pledge was given to the several
States owning the territory that lands ceded should
be disposed oil for the common benefit of the United
States lhe hrst deed OF cession, which was ty New
York, IN l7ol, annexed the condition, I" that the lands
should be and nure Tor the and benefit of such OF the
United States shall become members of the fedora
alliance OF the said States and for no other use or pu
pose whatsoever"
The Virginia deed OF cession declares that they shal
be considered common fund Tor the and benefit
such OF the United States have become shall becom
members OF the confederation or federal alliance o th
SAID States, Virginia inclusive, according TO their usua
respective proportions IN the general charge and expend
iure and shall be faithfully and bona de disposed OF 70
that purpose, and for no other use or purpose whasc
\ ever"
These cessons were made before the adoption OF iii
present constitution That instrument sanctions no, onl
the title in the United States, and the charge OF its ad
mnlsiration bat The rights OF the respective States
cured by the condition OF these grants North Caron
and Georgia made their cessions subsequently To IN
adoption OF the constitution; and they inserted the
conditions, that the land should be fund for
Of all the States according 10 their respective aud usual pr
portions of The general charge and expenditure, and shall
faithfully disposed Of Jor that purpose, and for no Other use
purpose phaierer.
I Now the practice OF the government has been uniform
from the beginning 10 sell the lands and put the proceed
into the public reisury Such portions as were needle
for the benefit OF the whole for bringing them into
kei for preparing for the sales, Tor carrying out The gre'
design of building up States for admission into the con
fedeacy, justly regarded within faithful ad
minisiration Of The trust But beyond that goyernmer
has not yet advanced. The proceeds of sales hav
always been raid into the treasury, and applied, ik
other funds collected for the purpose, 10 the use OF tb
general government, In this way. and in other, ca
they be appropriated common fund for the use
all the States 'according TO their usual and respecy
proportions 10 the general charge and expenditure"
II The amendment proposes, instead OF making sale
these lands and placing the money in the treasury TO ar
portion them out 10 specified number OF TO Stat
depend on population, and therefore unequal. Tb
only OF revenue into the United States treasury
except from the sales of the public lands, the customs
This is not lax on the several States II ii So
might ascertain the proportion OF each, and make dis
tnbuiIon according 10 their usual respective proper
tions" Ii is not an assessment on the inhabitants
each State II il were these proportions would be dc
termined by the decennal census returns. II is not
contribution etied property ii IL were, official val
ualion would be required, by which the proportion woul
be determined The supply OF our treasury bya tax upo
imPoiations admits OF no such apporionment The art
tered inland, and consumed IN unequal proportions owe
all the States, the consumers refunding the duties
part OF the price There not only official act deter
mining ascenaining the amount consumed by eac
State but there no ossbiliiy OF approximang TO i
will not be said that the amount OF duties paid IN th