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

January, $780, the date OF the last computation was as
follows
Cost Of 6369s3s on
Cost Of selling and managing .......... 760,s2i 10
Total, ............................. Ha57,s7s 80
The aggregate receipts from sales of public lands from
the earliest period TO the ls OF January 1880 amounted
TO the sum of $l35 ,339,093 II.
No estimate has yet been made for the newly ac
CURED territories, for California, and cannot be made
until the land system has been extended 10 the Pacific,
and the actual cost OF surveying, &c, ascerained.
Deduct, then, the actual aggregate cost from the az
gregate receipts, and it leaves net balance-a clear
proht--in favor OF the government Of $6o,3s 2l3 ~
In this computation OF cost included the fifteen mil
lions paid TO France under the treaty OF 1903, Tor Lou
sana, ard the five millions paid TO Spain, under the treaty
Of 1919, for the Foridas By deducting this amount
$3.50 OoO000) from the cost the actual profit TO the gov
eminent would be ,213 10.
propose to make this deduction for the reason that, in
the purchase OF louisiana the value Of the land within
its limits formed part of the consideration whatever
The government OF the United States found It TO be their
true policyan indispensable policyto get possession
and command of The mouth OF the Mississippi, and the
Gulf OF Mexico-a policy dictated by every considera
ton of commercial interest," as well as by every consde
ration, in military point Of view, pertaining to the de-
fence OF the country. .u#
The same policy governed in the purchase of the
Floridas This then, the most favorable exhibit that
be made OF the land system as source OF profit and
revenue 10 the government, in period OF sixty four
years-from 1887 TO 1850.
Ii also appears that within fraction the one. half OF
the above The result OF the receipts for the two
10 $l4 600 IS, and in 1886 to 1921 ,S77179 So.
These extraordinary receipts the result of reckless
speculation created and stmulaedby deprecated paper
currency, which at that time was receivable tor public
dues and the evil only arrested by the issuing of the
specie circular by President Jackson.
To such extent had the national treasury become
burdened from the proceeds OF the land that distribution
resorted TO; and Congress- by the act OF 23d OF
Jnne 1885, concluded to depose with the several States
Of the Union the sum of s3746s.s59 81, OF which sum
actual depose made OF S27O63,430 so.
question, then, OF investment the abstract
the government might here rest for il has been than
reimbursed. But, in this view OF the subject, the ques
ton of profit, as connected with and forming part of
political economy, presents itself IN another light Com
meree is the life and support OF every nation. It's foun
dalton TO be traced TO the cultivation oil the SOIL and
its prosperity reckoned by the extent oil IFS agricultural
productions.
IN ancient times ii was commerce that gave wealth.
and power, and grandeur 10 Carthage and Tyre, aud
Alexandria, and, modern times, wealth and empire 10
Holland and 10 Venice The loss OF their commerce was
the decay OF their prosperity, and the loss OF empire.
Should it not, then, be policy TO extend far and wide
the basis of agricultural interests, and thus lay
broad and deep the foundation OF our commercial pros
perty
might here inquire to what extent then would the
passage OF this bill induce settlement and increase pro-
ducion The most liberal estimate of those who couli
avail themselves OF the provisions OF the bill would not
exceed million OF persons One hundred and sixty mil
lions of acres OF wild land settled, improved and cult
waited, the result Of policy Swallowed forth and guar
antied by The passage OF this BILL would not only extend
far and wide the basis oil our agricultural interests but II
would extend far and wide and secure our commercial
supremacy.
The increase OF agricultural productions consequent
upon such settlement and cultivation would be almost
ncalculabe. The single item OF wheat, estimating
surplus and above the necessary wants oil the pro.
ducer at three bushels per would be equal to $780,
100000 OF bushes-yalued at fifty cents per bushe
would amount TO S240,00000O. The same rule and es.
innate will apply 10 all the other great variety Of agricul
ural productions The result OF settlement, improvement
and cultivation OF the soil
million of freemen, by the liberal action OF their
own government put IN possession OF limited quantity
of wild and-a home-would soon supply themselves
and families with the necessaries and comforts of life
The history oil all prosperous communities exhibits the
fact that supply our wants and consult comforts
in proportion TO the within our control With in
creased means comes increased demand for all those
supplies, the interchange OF which is the life Of
and constitutes OF the main elements OF national
prosperity Mach that contributes to our necessary
wants and comforts is the result OF foreign production,
only OF foreign fabrics, but the production OF foreign
climates Assume then, that each andhoder created by
the passage Of this bill would in consequence OF the n.
creased production the result OF his own labor be ena.
bled To supply himself and family with foreign produce
lions and fabrics the value Of but $50 per annum, and
il would increase annual imports $50 100000; the
deuyabe from which, under our present
system OF thirty per cents would yield annually 10 the
national treasury the SUN OF $4,000 900 The increased
importation thus created would induce a corresponding
export OF agricultural produce-the result OF wise Just
and benevolent system Of governmental policy, which
bad caused two spears OF grass TO where bat one
would have grown.
If is true as it has beea alleged that il is the policy
OF the government 10 cling to the public domain as
source OF revenue and profit insist that no erander
scheme speculation can be devised than The passage oil
this very bill All land specualions IN the valley Of the
Mississippi have proved successful Just proportion TO
the extent OF the surrounding settlements, improvement
and cultivation. The very basis of the numerous
grants heretofore made by Congress OF alternate Sec
OF the public land 10 aid in the construction OF roads
canals and railroads, the assumed increased value
that would be given the remaining sections by the
sucton OF such improvements II IL The great argument
relied upon in support OF the numerous applications and
bills for the partial appropriation OF the public domain 10
Ia he 81 rt1h
provsments. II Congress has recognised the principle
aud acknowledged the force OF the argument, by sane
toning this system Of partial legislation why not carry
out the principle and extend the policy! opposed 10
this partial legislation and in the general scramble that
is about 10 ensue Tor the public domain want this bill
10 stand first and foremost upon the statute-book.
Mr., Chairman, In the examination and discussion OF
this subject, It IL important to remark for IL is true
exhibited by legislative history that the policy OF the
government in the management OF the public lands with
view 10 revenue, has for years contemplated change
relaxation, VI not total abandonment OF such policy.
As early 1892, General Jackson, in his annual
sage 10 Congress, stated that
IL be doubted that The speedy settlement of these
lands constitutes the true interest Of the republic The
wealth and strength Of conntry It's population, and the
best part OF the population the cuvaofs Of the soil
and true friends Of liberty. II to be trne
policy that the public lands shall practical
bic to be = source OF revenue"
In 1870, the aggregate revenues Of the government
Sl76G0 $50 % the expenditures reached 10 S2i,
139g20 IL In 1851 the revenues reached TO $523l2,
e79 81 The aggregate current expenditures Tor the same
year were $50 952, 500 80.
In 1910 the population Of the United States was II 069
453. 10 1850 Il 23,2j7,723 Mark the disparity |
Why this extraordinary increase OF expenditure The