The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-03
THE UNION WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY MORNING MARCH 1852

PTOVtTIy-WHlCn CUInpdCT5
Sales aud then BY treaties made by The general govern
on the part OF the States The great question then
comes up. Where did the title gol Ii went, necessa.
ry the government of the United States bat IS not
an absolute e but one with limitations and restrictions
in behalf OF the States All admit that the United
States being the landed proprietor and trustee the States
are the cssiui que trust That is the principle which,
think should control in the disposition OF the public
lands The first question is, How shall we dispose OF
themY Now, answer, first, according TO the terms Of
the contract under which they acquired The lands
obtained OF Virginia and Georgia obtained by com
pacts having written stpualons which ought 10 be con-
formed to and. were i case as between individuals,
court OF equity woad decree the execution oil those re-
slrietons and spulaons. The restriction was, that al
the payment of certain debts The property shall inure
10 the benefit OF the States What States All Inc
SlatesVuginia and Georgia includedupon the prlnci-
Plies of equity and justice in their distribution The
dividing question between US has been this One party IN
the government of the United States at one period say
Keep all the public lands and their proceeds for the pay
ment OF the general governments and then there wan Dc
equality in their distribution That is my doctrine. II
the proceeds Of the public lands could go into the public
treasury and be applied TO the general expenses OF he
government, that would be an equal distributions and
would have objection to 1t. One class OF politicians
in this country maintained that this land could be APP
proprlaed to objects OF internal Improvement Another
class maintained that Congress had power to appro'
pirate either the public lands money for internal I'M
provements. That was debaiable question for long
time. But mark. now these gentlemen. who do not be-
leye that Congress has the constitutional power to APP
proprlate lands or money Tor internal improvements
what do they now do They come forward and say.
give this land money for internal improvements But
we will tell you what you can do You can give the
lands 70 State, and the State direct these lands TO
be applied TO internal improvements Moreover you can
appropriate the lands and declare al the same time what
the States shall do with hemhat is direct them TO con-
sruct railroad make other internal improve
ment. Now, suggest TO you Mr. Presidents and to the
Senate, this question: Il Congress has not the power TO
do this Of itself with the public lands. has the
power TO delegate it TO the States think il would be
just conclusion that if Congress had not the power do
OF ITSELF it could not delegate The right 10 any single
State.
But will pass from these general propositions, and
come down TO the directly before U.S. What is
the proposition before us Gentlemen say we agree
with you that Congress has power to give these pub
lie lands TO US, unless it done upon certain principle
What is that prncple' 1t is that the dpount that the
government gives must be made TO it by the increase
OF The value OF the remaining lands; in other words
States shall be sold for So so per acre. nsead of the
$l 25 per acre, at which il would be sold without the
grant That is the principle upon which the friends Of
to take this case out of the position in which | have
placed it, What is the principle involyeds Alternate
sections and the increase Of the value OF the remainder
OF the public lands
Now let me refer to the senator from Iowa mr. JoNEs
upon this particular point The railroad from Dubuque
to Keokuk about 210 miles in length, the road
runs. That road has already been incorporated.
Mr. JONES, of Iowa. The gentleman is entirely mis-
taken. The road is only about $50 miles long.
Mr. DAWSON The road has been carried TO Iowa
City, about $50 miles, and then to keokuk will make il
about what said-240 miles.
Mr. DODGE, OF Iowa. AS my friend refers TO this
matter, am sure he desires 10 be correct.
Mr. DAWSON. Certainly.
Mr. DODGE, of Iowa / will furnish him with the
result OF calculation made by the draughtsman OF the
Senate. He says
In pliancc with your request have made
1851 In alternate sections for fifteen miles, each side Of
direct line from Dubuque, via Cedar Rapids Iowa City
and Fairfield, to Keokuk and find that there 50Z7 100
Tue distance is 1875 miles Three sections each
side OF the line would amount 10 LILO sections 900
acres"
MIR. DAWSON. may be mistaken. went to the
map and examined it, But we will say 1876 miles.
This road OF 1875 miles from Dubuque 10 Keokuk is
between two points upon the Mississippi riverone point
mouth OF the Des Moaes river, making almost drec,
line from one point OF the Mississippi river 10 another
CATION in the world And yet an effort is made here TO
take the public lands and make railroad from point TO
point on this river, running almost parallel with IT, al
eging that for two three months in the year the
obstrucis the navigation in that river consideration OF
which you 10 appropriate 500 and odd thousand
Of land 10 build this railroad. You will start from the
bank OF the Mississippi at Dubuque, and when you get
through your railroad you will be upon the Mississippi
again, 1875 miles from where you started Now the first
question which comes upis, Does the condition OF the
land along this proposed railroad require this improve
men, TO render il valuable Not So Every gentleman
upon this floor knows that this is merely demand TO
get an appropriation for partcu ar State out OF the pub
lie lands OF the country when the circumstances do not
Justify IT, ! am told that this road from Dubuque to
keokuk goes through OF the finest bodies Of and in
the whole valley OF the Mississippi.
But let us 90 little further. went 10 the map Tor
the purpose OF getting information, and learned even
the population OF the various counties through which
this road passes This road is already incorporated, and
is in the hands OF individuals The county OF Dubuque,
in which Dubuqe is situated has upwards of TO- 900 in
habtans. Three fouhs OF the public lands down from
Dubuque 10 keokuk for five miles each side OF the road
have already been taken up, and tie portion OF The
try in the neghbohood OF the road is the most thickly
populated and has the most prosperous people in the
great valley OF the West Now, where is the balance Of
the public lands asked for in this bill TO come
froml Upon what principle is this grant askedl IL
is said that il will increase the value OF the lands
remaining 10 the United States. Now, there is not
loot OF land for five miles on each side OF that road
which be obtained for even $2 50 per acre, ex-
cepl IL be some poor land which nobody would take
but for the timber upon IT, Now, where is the balance of
the lands this grant 10 be obtained The bill says that
in the event the lands taken os subleclto preemp
ton for five miles each side OF the road, then the
State of Iowa. through her agent shall have the right
extend the lines within which she shall take her land
10 fifteen miles each side OF the road. But in that
case the alternate sections that reserved to the gov.
ment between five and fifteen miles from the road not
10 be put up 10 81 so acre. but TO remain al 81 IS
per acre. as they are now Hence this land be taken
from portion OF the country where the price OF the adj
Joining sections is not TO be increased al all That is The
provision OF the bill Yet the country is taught To be-.
eve that improving the public property by the
passage OF these bills and throwing money into the treas
ury-ihat berality is for selfish purposes, and the
government does not lose a dollar. Now, this is not
sustained by the facts before s unjust TO the
try, aud it is time should arrest this matter, and let
something like principle and justice be involved in the
passage OF these large appropriations. But will pass
from this point to another.
Now, how is this road 10 run Mark it well. | have
the map oil Iowa before me, and the road has been
traced upon it. Iowa is a great and glorious Stale,
and | admire the warmth, energy, and success with