Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-17

countrymen. And can we doubt that though lost To
mortal sight, his great spirit yet hoyers these
of his earthly glory and contempates, with all the in.
tensity of which his immortal nature is susceptible the
in which we, who hold in hands the legsla-
tive pswer of this great nation, discharge the sacred trust
which is committed to by those to whom he gave ber-
y and independence Hear extract from that precious
legacy which he has left US, his " Farewell Address,
The North in unrestrained intercourse with the South,
protected by the equal laws Of Government finds in
the productions OF the latter great additional of
rhine and commercial enterprise and precious materials
manufacturing industry The South in the intercourse
benefng by the agency Of the North its agrcul-
grow and its expand. Turning partly
channels the Of the NORTH IL finds its particular
navigation invigorated and while it contributes in different
ways norsh and increase the general Of the national
navigation, looks forward to the protection of maritime
strength which itself unqualy adapted The East
like intercourse with the Vest already finds and in the pro-
essye improvement of interior communications by land
water will and find valuable vent for the
des which brings from abroad manufactures home
The West derives from the East supplies requisite growth
and comfort and perhaps still greater
must of necessity the enjoyment of ndispensa
BILE outlets for its productions the weight influence and
the future maritime strength Of the Atlantic side Of the Union
directed by ndissoube community Of interest
ton Any other tenure by which the West hold this
sental advantage whether derived from its separate
strength from aposate and unnatural xon with
foreign Power must be intrinsicay precarious."
RAILROAD GRANTS
But Mr. Chairman one of the most interesting aspects
in which the subject of "internal improvements be
presented and which avoids political prejudice and
honestly differing in their construction of the Consti
tuition is the aid proposed to be given by this Government
out of its immense public domainestmated to be at the
present time than 400 600 600 of acres-to the
Gland Sates by grants OF alternate sections along the
lines Of their railroads and other public works which
they have projected towards the and speedy
completion of those important works, which, when
peted will directly and to almost incalculable extent
benefit merely the States in which they are built but
the Government of the United States and the whole
try Sir to my surprise gentlemen seem to have stated
something akin to constitutional objection to the making
Of these grants" at least ntimatng that Congress
would violate principle sacred constitutional
provision, by making the proposed grants. Now sir it
to me- any such position this is totally unbound
ed and indefensible The honorable gentleman from
Tennessee, MIR. CHURCHwELL, who entertained with
very plausible, we-delyered speech few days since
seemed to be inclined to the opinion that these grants of
alternate sections in violation of the rights of the old
States and especially Of the rights Of Virginia secured
the ordinance Of $780, by which she coded her public
domain north of the Ohio to the United States, as
fund for the and benefit of such of the United
States had become should become members of the
federal alliance of said States Virginia
inclusive according to their usual respective proportions
in the general charge and expenditure The honorable
gentleman did bear in mind the fact that we
were not then constitutional Union ]" then
aliance of sovereign States " and that that
render of her public domain made by Virginia to the
States forming that confederation for the purpose of
paying off the public debt and deraying the expenses Of
that Government which the States, States were
tain proportions One of the effects Of this surrender was
tighten the contributions which Virginia and the other
States had to make to the general charge and expend
ture." That confederation" found to be ga mere
rope of sand and not firm bond of union" and was
abolished by present Constitution adopted in 1888
Now what does that Constitution provide in regard the
public domain? 1t gives the 'spower" to Congress to
dispose of and make all needfu rules and regulations
serning the territory and other property belonging to the
United States." The disponend power of dis
oosa of the public domain is thus given to Congress in
he most explicit terms which could be empoyedwithout
my restriction reservation whatever The whole subject
left to the discretion Of Congress The honorable gen.
leman (Mr. CHURCHwELL, however, says-and wish to
10 him any other gentleman the slightest injustice,
Ind quote his languagehat :" he is willing to grant
ands to the States respectively from policy more than
Ipon principle, for works Of great national character
such the railroad from Cincinnati through the very
of the nation to the southern seaboard at Charles
on the road under way from New York, through
The valley of Virginia and Tennessee to New Orleans
These truly national in their character and although
being constructed rapidly by States and individuals they
night be encouraged by Government" Now sir, / claim
he vote Of the honorable gentleman for these grants of
and which the new States Of the West ask and which
ioubt Tennessee would ask if she had any public
within her limits, "upon policy;" for can the
gentleman that the roads projected in the West
truly national the roads to which he alludes They
ian be INDICATED either upon principle policy.
Mr.. BEALE May ask the gentleman q question?
wish ask whether the constitutional government Of
1889 did, by the fundamental law, the practice of
government of 1884, in relation to the public
lands?
Mr.. PORTER. l will answer that question The State
Of Virginia party to the convention by which the
Constitution formed and with the rest of the States
ratified it, and bound by its provisions, each and
every Of them That Constitution gave the Congress Of
the United States the power dispose of the public do
man without limitation restriction that then, sir
any limitation restriction which might have existed
der the Articles of Confederation completely abro-
gated and annuled Her being party to the federal
compact commits her, well the rest of the States
TO the unconditional grant fpower Congress dispose
Of the territory belonging to the United States What
might have been her rights under the ARTICLES Of Con-
If the Constitution had been formed
adopted docs not at all affect the question The
parties to any contract agreement have undoubted
right to alter abrogate it at pleasure.
Mr.. BEALE With the genteman's permission ] should
like put another question.
Mr.. PORTER. No, SIR cannot consent cannot yield
the floor for further nterrogatore my hour srapidy
passing away. hold, sir the policy and propriety Of
this disposition of the public domain is unquesonable-
not less than is the constitutional power to make this
hons Of public land to the States to aid them IN
the construction Of important and feasible public works
is not new in history but established policy tested
by the touchstone Of experience II pretended that
the General Government has lost any thing by tins pocy
Grants upon this principle made to ONO ana lnd
ana to aid in completing their canals Behold the result
Not only has The rcdue becn sold for more than the whole
would have been sold for If those grants had been with
held upon any the plausible prences upon which some
honorable gentlemen this hoor seem inclined TO With
hold the grants now asked but ready sale has been eff
fected precisely these grants expedited they
did not effect the construction Of these important works
There now remain in the State of Ohio only about 900
Of public land and only about 900 900 acres in In
diana Il is most manifest that the General Government
has been greatly benefited, by Of these grants by