The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28
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Thus the new States, with one third the popu-
ation ofthe old States, get 81 600 acres of the
public domain for the purposes OF internal I'M
provement. The lands, under the provisions of
the bill, are to be sold by the States, and the pro-
ceeds applied TO the building of railroads. The
lands granted directly to the States, under the
provisions of the bill, for certain purposes, the
States acting trustees for the fulflmcnt of the
conditions OF the grant the States having reserved
to them the power of granting all charters, de-
signaling the routes and location of such roads,
and the application of the proceeds Of such grant,
or any portion Of it consequently the General
Government exercises no power or control over
such roads, nor is it Identified in the interest or
benefits arising from the building or operating Of
them.
contend the Federal Government has no power
to engage in a system of internal improvements,
or to locate roads within sovereign State. And
If it had that power, it would be unwisc and not
judicions to exercise il. To the people of the sew
eral States all such powers are reserved, to be
exercised by them in their legislative capacity.
Many of these petitions come 10 us, asking do
nations Of land for roads, to commence at some
stated point, and continue line TO be terminated
at some other point, for which no charter exists,
or has been created by the State within whose
limits such donation is asked.
We have had already collision of opinions ex-
hlbited upon this floor, by gentlemen representing
these land States as regards the location and do
nations asked for these lines Of road. The safety
and weIl-being of the Federal compact require
strict adherence to the powers conferred by the
Constitution, and that the rights reserved TO the
several States should not be invaded. The ten
dency of governments, as they increase in power
a d megnifcence, is TO Capitalization, which is a
power dangerous to republican form of govern
ment, and If permitted To be ingrafted upon and
exercised by the Federal compact, will sooner or
later lead to a ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the States COM
posing the compact, producing results disastrous
to the welfare and happiness Of the people build
ing up separate and independent districts, with d.
vided relations which might produce state of
civil warfare, and blot out the name Of liberty.
Mr.. Calhoun, the great American statesman, who
has passed from among us, has left in his opinions
and declarations on this Subject prophecy valua-
bic to the country.
The TUE TO the lands granted to the land States
under the provisions Of the bill, become vested in
the States wherein they lie the States having the
power Of sale, and transmission OF tile to the set
tiers. The States have no power to vest the title
OF the lands in the name of any corporation Gre
a,ed by them to buid the roads having only
power conferred upon them 10 dispose Of The lands
as trustees, to settlers, and apply the proceeds of
such sales to the building Of the roads, they pro-
gress. The sales Of the lands, consequently, are
left open TO the settlers whereby no special priv-
leges are conferred in the sale and settle ment Of
them, and the same equality is preserved as if The
title to the soil transmitted direct 10 the pur-
chaser by this Government Power is also given,
under the provisions OF the bill, to the several
States TO grant the right OF way through the pub
lie lands to such roads the States shall charter,
with power to take materials of earth, stone, and
wood from the same, 10 aid in the construction OF
such roads, out OF the lands donated by this act.
The proceeds OF the sale OF only six sections can
be applied to each mile Of road which the State
shall designate. The presumption rights OF all set
tiers are protected who may be occupying the
soil and all lands reserved to the United States
for any purpose, cannot be conveyed or disposed
Of under the above provisions, the grants only
reaching and covering those lands upon which the
Government have made no prior conditions.
The following statement contains the present
number Of Senator's and Representatives in the
old States, and the amount OF acres granted to
each State in shape Of land warrants, to be sold
by each State, and the proceeds applied for school
purposes, or such other public purpose the legis-
latures Of the several States may direct.
The following is the amount OF lands granted
by this bill for schools to the old States