The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-23

which they stand is The national uses that may be
n0e OF he roads when constructed execute
Tue powers and objects OF the government
instead OF placing these bills upon national basis lhey
are supported instruments TO aid the government
n Peddng, and specializing, aud selling lis lands at
higher prices Thus ayaree becomes The basis Of our
ieglslaon and our high duties under the military naval
commercial, and post office powers of the government
furnish no motives and confer authority to aid in the
construction OF improvements except as subsidiary and
subordinate TO making good barg ia the sale Of snds
| Now, SIR, think there is not much in the argument
which exclusively places the right and the power aid
an constructing roads and canals in the States upon
our ownershlp OF large quantities OF land within their
borders But il there is anything 10 it, why cannot YOU
make railroad from Newport nmy State. down 10
port and at Memphis Such a road might run by Louis
VILE and Nashville, and strike the Mississippi at most
desirable point You have hayward at Memphis. end
you have barracks at Newport All the old States have
lands IN them belonging TO the United States. They are
lands ceded to the United States by and with the
heretofore shown that the lands held ia all the
land States were held for national purposes And If
the mere fact Of increasing the value Of the lands the
new States few cents will be sufficient JUS
THY you IN building railroad within their limits why
would not the fact Of increasing the value Of your
nails, YARDS and depos justify like Improvement
in the old Sales Yoa may have 10 sell them at some
time or other and why would not this rise ia value avail
m the old States as well as in the There way
except by saying that the United States great deal
Of property in the States, and very little in the old
u thai be The es lben depends upon The quantity Of
property hold in the de ent States. Who ever heard
OF such argument II the argument be true them az
the powers Of the government depend upon cons
rational provisions. bu, upon quantities OF land held in
different localities Unnecessarily follows that the powers
Of the to make roads and canals must dwn
die away as The quantity Of land decreases and when
all the lands sold the power OF the government
pires, and thenceonh and forever aid no other
improvement II we own great deal OF property in
State. then we may cons,ituonaly make any amount of
improvements. Ii we have very little, none, then
cannot improve by constructing public work matter
how useful TO the in other respects because
there is no public land to be increased in value.
wish 10 put all these arguments upon record 80 that
admirtng poser,fy may know in future age, when
il is asked why this government ceased to make railroads
and canals that 1t was because the public lands gave
out, and after that there longer any constu-
onal power 10 do Mr. President II the proprietary
argument is worth cent i is just as good to establish
the right and power OF government TO make road
kentucky and Tennessee in order 10 get from your pub
lic lands in Illinois to your public lands in Mississippi
and Alabama as il is TO prove that you rghtfully
and cons,uonally force passage through the private
propery,he farms and plantations of private citizens
in any OF the new land States. with view to unite
and connect any two districts OF your public land by
railroad As proprietor, suppose conceded that
you had rgnt to improve your property, does it
improve mine ALSO and that, too, contrary my willl
Poprietors must confne themselves their own prop
erty and not NEEDLE with that OF other people All but
may be said, the citizens OF the States willing
to give The United States the right OF way through their
private landed estates, induce the construction OF the
railroads SO beneficial to them Admit it Does that
build railroad through the private estates Of the ci,i
zens Of illinois and Iowa, TO accept donation the
right OF way from such citzensi To make the consti
tutonal power OF this government depend upon the
whms and caprices OF the citizens of the States in
giving or refusing the right of way is II possible
than putting It upon the quantity OF public land in State
therefore demand OF gentlemen who support these bHs
exclusively upon the right OF proprietor tell me- how
is that the proprietary rights of government are greater
an the proprietary rights of citizens private prop
etyl How does the owning OF land in State by this
government, whether the quantity be large small
aIa and uasf IN fba r.fs
take by paying for it, the right OF way over the lands of
individuals Sir, 1 think gentleman prove the
eowe, 70 make railroad over private property in new
be properly done IN old Slate But will pursue the
question OF power no further.
My friend from Iowa Mr.. DoDoEl brings forward
again the objection OF sovereign holding property
within the jurisdiction OF another and he has warned
that the anureniism Of New York and great many
other mschies may grow out OF IT, have already said
TO this Senate and the country that the State of Kentucky
can buy much public land IL peases and when il
pleases. Nobody has denied that argument. We
pass law directing governor, any other agent
to purchase for millions Of Ii the States choose
to speculate in the public lands, they can the laws
exist, do II would be wise TO alarm ourselves
the possible evils which may result from the present
capacity OF the States to acquire lands within other
sovereignes, by paying for them. as TO make our
selves unhappy by anticipating abuses and evils in
they should acquire few millions of under dona-
tions from this government Will the evils result which
the gentleman mentions No, sir il we hold lands by
donation IRON this government as we can do to any
extent by purchase, there is possible, conceivable
power which the State OF Kentucky could exercises as a
sovereign 10 any shape way within the limits OF the
new State in which the lands may be located Kentucky
would hold the lands just like private individual holds
his private property.
! had motive in presenting my amendment in it's pres
en form, instead OF attempting 10 carry out the propos
ton made by Mr. Allen, OF Kentucky, some years ago 10
the House of Representative and which the gentlem
from Iowa has though, proper TO read MIR. Allen pro.
posed that The lands should be reserved by the United
States for the OF the States, to prevent their being
taxed by the new States Now, wish the new States
to have the privilege OF taxing them wish to bill their
Golfers have said again and again, that my desire Is
TO shower upon them more and more blessings III this
government should gfaut lands 10 Kentucky, according
to my amendment then the rational uses and purposes
for which the lands held under The constitution
OF the United States will and the State 10 which
they are situated will bave the legal right to tax them
private property. Kentucky will not be able 10 exercise
The powers Of sovereign these lands, in the
States or Territories where they may be situated, any
more than a private individual could II the lands had
been granted 10 him All that Kentucky could do would
be 10 SELL TO lease, and 10 pay IL her tenants
should become tainted with the doctrines of anti rsntism
as the gentleman suggests, she would be the only suf-
ferer Bu proiiing by the suggestion, think, il we get
the lands, shall enter upon system OF leasing
and renting, but sell them possible. There Is
much danger that anti renisn may grow out OF the
conduct Of these great railroad propretors and con-
tractors who will 10 themselves by such contracts
that mentioned by the from Georgia the o'her
day. all the lands we grant to the new States
Bot Mr. President, wish 10 refer TO other cases 70
prove by past experience there no danger se 70 ase
from State holding property 10 another NO one mas
attempted To answer the have already mentioned.
gave the case of Kentucky owning lands in Tennessee
the other eay Now wish 10 refer you 10 the Virginia
military ra.ervation between the Scota and Little Miami