The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-05

thar u
State Of Iowa in aid OF the construction OF certain rail
Mr. UNDERWOOD said
We have Mr. President, the spectacle now exhibited
of senator rising The hour OF adjournment 10 ad-
dress empty seats upon the subject OF The pablo lands
embracing pecunary value greatly tanscendng any
hodv We have this spectacle exhibited, after the con-
sumption OF whole day upon the question whether a
letter from Kossulh should be printed We spend tme
il seems TO me- upon small subects--snbjects Of mere
elioueite-and thus we have very little left for the
sideralion OF The most important questions But, sir,
lhere may be another besides the steness OF the
hour for the thin attendance OF senator's My friend
from Virginia, [Mr HUNTER, think did great in
Justice by the flourish OF uumpes with which yester
day he announced my advent His remarks We're calcu-
lated to induce expectations that something worthy OF
admiration coming The utter increduity OF the
Senate now outstanding my friends compliments, is per
iecly manifest from the empty benches But have
duty to perform, as think, 10 my constituents and TO
the country and, without being dsmayed by the ds-
heaHening circumstances which surround me, will en-
deayor TO perform that duty well as can.
The subject under consideration has grown in import
ance instead OF being diminished The interests involved
greater now--much greaer-ihan they have been al
@ e COUNTRY 70 the neacuabe interests now S nvoved
resulting from the acquisition of new territory from
Mexico. Our old sysems OF administration relating to
the public lands adopted prior to these acquisitions.
These golden acquisitions, adding so much to the value
OF the fund.- ought, it seems to me, TO produce revision
Of the system in reference TO the disposition of the public
lands How does the question stand now in regard to
lis magnitude! According 10 the report of the Comms
soner of Pabc Lands the 3Oth OF September, Is49
there were within the United States 2.475Ss5 square
niles About 100000 of these lie in the Territory of
Minnesota, the Northwest Territory, Oregon Territory,
Nebraska Territory, Indian Territory, California. and
New Mexico 80 you perceive iha only about one
can be regarded populated and formed into State gov
ernmens leaving vasl amount OF unsettled country,
Gently acquired, which system must prevail.
and which should be adopted with view TO the interests
Of the whole people OF the United States The subject,
therefore, IS great one.
There IS dIerence--and that difference will notice.
because it will become important in the progress OF what
lhaye to sayin the modes by which have acquired
separate portions OF our public lands There is differ
ence growing OF the time when these lands have been
acquired and the nature of government at the date
Of The acquisition, which will produce corresponding
difference in the principles applicable to this discussion.
Aage portion of our public land acquired by
made by different States OF the Union and Of that
thus acquired, the part ceded by Virginia obtained
prior to the formation of the present constitution of the
United States; the part ceded by Georgia. afterwards.
All the Northwest Territory, as it was called,
comprising five States Of the Union, in the forks be-
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, acquired by
the United States under the old articles of confederation
The Southwest Territory, embracing two States of the
Unlon-Alabama and Mississippi was acquired by
sion from Georgia, subsequent to the formation of the
federal constitution. The cessions from these Sales
braed all the lands surrendered by the States Our other
territorial acquisitions have resulted from treaties made
with foreign powers since the formation OF the federal
constitution.
Out Of those different acquisitions at those different pc
RODS certain principles necessarily arise that ought TO be
considered in the disposition OF this great fund.- Those
principles will be especially considered when come TO
examine the argument OF the senator from Massachu
sets, Mr. SUMNER
When The Northwest Territory was ceded 10 the con-
federation, the States of this Unionf 1t ever be proper
10 the expression sovereign Slates"--were 10
much greater extent sovereign than they now. In
nv political creed reject The title sovereign" ap
pcable aay part OF government either State or
national am much OF a republican, SO much OF
democrat, that admit no sovereign government what
ever over me. would not quietly live under govern
ment which could be "Soune'gn' with respect TO my
great and essential rights | want them excepted from
the powers Of the government | want them reserved
and protected by constitutional provisions against the
acts OF all governments. Examine our constitutions,
State and national, and you will hnd that many OF the
great rights pertaining TO men have been excepted from,
and are not subject to, The powers vested IN govern
ment In regard to those great, essential rights, we are
independent and not subject to any soutrega but God
This exemption from the power OF all government, de-
fined by written constitutions, is the true foundation
upon which liberty securely resposes But when
The territory northwest of the. Ohio river was ac
CURED by the confederation the States were much
more soyeTeign-if that term can apply at a-than
they are now. At that time they had not surren
asred the powers vested by the federal constitution
in this government How did the confederation ac
qure the title 10 that country, and for what purpose
was i acquired These are important inquiries. The
old Continental Congress requested the States TO
render their titles 10 the lands which had been acquired
BY the revolutionary struggle 10 the confederation abso
luiely as government. Virginia refused TO do IT, | do
not know that this fact has been sufficiently i'm
pressed upon the American Congress or the American
people, During and subsequent 10 the American revo-
luton the small States upon the seaboard insisted that
ther arms their money their blood, their efforts. as
encent IN acquiring the vast unsettled wilderness as
were the and efforts OF those States which contend
Cd or the right to hold all the copoy for their separate
use and benefit embraced by their respective charters
Hence several Of the States, Maryland particularly, re.
FUSED or years 10 ratfy the articles OF confederation
Songess al an early period, with view 10 aay the dis.
sactoh and heartburnings respecting the unsettled
SSnaPpfopaied lands. adopted resolution inviting the
Sae surrender their titles TO the vacant domain based
on CHARTERS from the Crown 10 the confederation for
national purposes II was as follows;
49, ieiolosd That the uuappropriated land. that may be
ia s telnquishcd TO the United States by any paron
~ a pursuant 70 tho recommendation OF Congress OF
% Vh September last, shall be disposed Of for the com
'Hon benefit Of the Unted States"
ilal resolution dates as far back 1850. It's object
~a 70 ooian the domain, so that the Congress might
ase disposition OF ii for the whole United States, re-
Nlung the whole a unit, according 10 our motto, "E
r'I1eis untm." But VIgina--the great landholder
uef uuef lhe charters OF the Crown--refused TO make a
.onyeyanee by which the United States unit con-
4aed government we're 10 hold and dispose OF these
si INs of national purposes, How did she cede her
b ~ one conveyed II in 1854, not for The benefit OF
h I gnIed States government, but IN trust for the
aegI OF the several StatesVrginia included with the
W I ilere ~ an important distinction here, IN my mind
I I wish to impress It upon Congress, for the senator
suos Chairman OF the Committee on Public Lands MIR.
IcHl seems to have overlooked it altogether. The
E1sse Of the deed OF cession executed by Virginia is
siolows:
a states (and reserved for certain specfed)
.s, pe considered fund for the and ben
la such Of the United States have become shall
y n members OF the conf ration or federal alliance
b,n, SAID States, Virginia inclusive according TO their
p respective proportions ia general charge and ex
Eue and shalt be faithfully and bona fde disposed OF