The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-30

10 ludlViuual6 ana companies. Z'S,toZ
For seats OF government, &C.,. 5O.S6O
For military services. lb,olS,Obo
Reserved for salnes. ............. 422 325
Reserved for benefit Of Indians.... 3,40O,725
Reserved for companies, corpora
tons, &C .............-....--.. o,soo,ooS
Confirmed private claims. 1,l23.9O3
Swamp lands granted TO the States 27 ,397 .26O
Central railroad grant ....-..... 3O2o,92O
Total of acres unsold and unappropriated, Of Of
fcrod and unoifered lands, on the Goth September,
1851, l, ,339, $50 1903 acres.
IL appears from this table that in period ol
seventy years only I0l 633, $50 OF ncrcs have been
sold, and that the Government stil has on hand a
mighty domain Of over thirteen hundred millions
OF acres. Is here not ample fund for all the pur
poses Of education for the relief Of the Insane for
homes to the actual settler, and for the purposes OF
nternalimprovement?
Mr.. Chairman, much as l desire to portions
of the public lands appropriated to internal i'm
proycmcnts. yet this is no; the chief measure with
me. In my humble estimation, the fret aud most
desirable application OF the public domain is TO
make ample provision for the insane, thAteat and
dumb. and the blind. The Governmcntcouid not
make more useful application Of portion Of the
public domain than by assisting each State and
Territory TO endow an institution for each OF these
objects. The census Of lS40, in total population
of II ,O69 453 persons in the United States, cxhi-
bitcd an insane population of II ,457; and The CEN
Of 1885, in total population OF % 267 49S, gave
an insane population OF $1,000. The increase OF
the victims OF this fearful maady is in ratio far
greater t1dn the lnCFedec Oh inc WuOc pOpulatiou.
But, sir, the results of proper medical treatment
in institutions established Tor this purpose have
been most gratifying Thousands who were con-
sidered hopelessly insane have been restored to
reason, and there is every reason to believe that
the lrghtful increase of this dread malady may be
in great measure stayed if proper relict Is al
torded.
The grants in favor of these objects should be
muniicent, and such with the aid of the States
would place these institutions beyond the cOntn-
gency of want. These grants nre not conended
tor on the ground maintained by certain political
economists of France, that it is the duty of the
government To furnish direct subsistence to the
people, and which has led her impusive popua
ton to clanor for government aid, instead OF re-
lying upon the surer rewards OF honest industry
and perseverlng labor. 1t ia upon the higher prin-
cpie of duty TO the children of misfortune, who,
by the inscrutabc DEGREES OF an overriding Provi-
dcnce, deprived of the ability to procure mea
of support or education. There comes to US, sir,
an appeal from these unfortunate classes Of our
population addressing itself to the kindliest sym
pahies, the nobest impulses of the heart, as well
to the highest considerations of patriotism. Yes
sir, from the dethroned inteects Of the twenty
seven thousand manacs in the land, the stopped
cars OF the deaf and dumb. from the sghiless eye
balls OF the blind, closed forever to the beautiful
frame work Of art and nature by which are
surroundcd comes this appeal.
No longer needing the public lands source
OF revenue, some statesmen OF great emnence have
regarded their possession a curse rather than
blessing. But This depends upon the to which
they are applied. II our public domain is discreet
ly applied, it will be exhaustess fountain of
blessedness to the people. And If Congress will
look at il Alright and will grant to the States suf
hcient quantity OF these lands to endow these insti
tutions, and TO place the means of relief within the
reach OF these sad children Of misfortune it will
have accomplished one OF the nob!est and most sa.
cred objects in the light of God or man. Much is
said about progress but this il a sort of progress
which will prove incontcstably the christian
hghtenment OF the age, and bind new and bright
glories around the brow of the Republic. 1t may
be weakness in this business &c Of fna steam
and railroads, sicbiy sentimenfdIify, perhaps; yet
confess that appropriations for these sacred OBJ
jccts ls my fret desire, and l would rather all
the projects foe grants of the public lands fail than
these. would have each State by the aid o! these
lands, erect a magnificent cdihoo, with comiorta.
bic and spacious apartments, adorned with the de-
corations of art and every pleasing establishment,
surrounded by large cnclosuros OF foresttrce, beau
tiiul shrub, aud blooming Hover. So that If your
wife or daughter, or mine, should ever fall victims
10 insanity, (and IL " a calamity to which all
liable instead Of being confined within narrow
apartments and prison houses, she may walk forth
in the light of Gods glorious sun, breathe Hea-
vcn's pure air, and, if her fancy choose pluck
flower by the wayside.
Sir, that page OF history which shall record that
the American Congress, in the year 1852, made
ample provision for The sc sacred objects, will be
immortal page. And when noble ediiices for these
objects are erected, and these institutions firmly
G. tablishcd, they will rebound 10 the lasting honor
Of the Congress which made the appropriation, and
will be pointed TO by our children and chidren's
children, from generation TO generation, as the
proudest m, numcnts of the glory OF the nation.
cannot here forbcnr TO refer to the fact that the
State of Illinois, in addition 10 her tax for the sup
port of the Government and in addition TO her sep
arate tax Tor the payment of the public debt, with
a spirit worthy OF her people, imposed n separate
tax for the relief Of ber insane and the cduca tion Of
her blind Aud deaf and dumb And perbaps three
nober cdiilc,s not 10 be found IN any State than
la1Ng xTgat
izen, the admiration Of every stranger, and the
glory and delight Of every patriot and christian.
Sir, what mUst be the pleasure With which every
citizen of Indisna aud Illinois reads the following
tribute from Mics Dix, the great philanihropist Of
the age, and the illusioua beneactress Of her
She says:
Look at Indinna--nobc. clear sighted Indiana.
She adopted wsc and noble policy, equally pru-
dent ana humane, aud levied a special tax for the
insanc, lVr the deaf mutes and tho blind within her
borders, at cost Of more than 100000" "Tbere,
IN that young state, almost within the shadov OF
her capitol stand these mon numents of n christian
and enlightened age, recording n fOrethOught and
which, under the circumstances, has
no parallel; though Illinois, ranging side by side
geographically, almost completes a corresponding
page IN per history p"
The above extract is taken from hcr memorial to
the Legislature Of Maryland And in justice to
my state, / may say that the expenses already in.
Cured by tie State Of Illinois tor these Obi cts
ceed considerably the sum of $4,000 Now, sir,
many others, are embarrassed ty heavy dcbts, and
that all the States taxed TO the utmost Of the
ability OF the people to bear il will be seen that this
aid from the public lands would be most timely
aud Appropriate, and of the greatest importance.
oRAsTs TO ACTUAL SETTLERS.
Mr.. Chairman. shall not 60 into the discussion
at length of the bill under consideration have for
many ytars entertained opinions favorable grants
Of the public lands, in limited quantities, TO ac-
tunl scItlers But | humbly conceive that those
advocates OF this bill who opposc grants for rail.
roads are much in error; for II Is only by opening
roads through the public lands, mud making them
accessible TO market, that they arc TO be made de-
sir0b't homes for the actual settler.
better illustration of the effects Of the present
land systcIn could not be given than tho drclara.
ton which has been made by the gentleman from
New York (Mr. SUTHERLANp) to this committee
He snys that he knows, nj his boa rdng house. four
who own $4,000 acres. each, OF the
public lauds. ! would ask that gentleman if that
system il TO be considered beneficial which toler-
atcs the Withholding OF these lands from settlement
aud occupation in the hands of wealthy spccula.
tore, 10 the exclusion and irjury ci the poor and
industrious citizcnfl Would it not be better TO
have these lands in cultivation, divided into small
farms, and occupied by our industrious poor fami.
lice, than for them 10 remain unimprovod. and alb
sorbcd entirely by spcculators6 IL that Just sys
tenn which permits the wealthy speculator who
ra. ea np piftlpr Hts In