The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-03

west Of the fifth principal meridian ne wit tho alter
seven, nne eleven, hirteen heen seventeen, ninstee
twenty ,weny-,h twenty five twen-seyen, swen'
y-nine, thirty one, thirty three. and lhry-hvo,"
The portion OF this proclamation to which wish 10
call the special attention OF the Senate this the
alternate sections each township numbered one three
i've, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen. fifteen. seventeen
| nineteen. twenty one. twenty-three," &c.
Over large portion OF Missouri and the southern
part OF Illinois, the policy Of selling the public lands by
alternate sections was adopted. And it was done upon
the principle that the settlement and cultivation OF the
sections sold would enhance the value Of those re-
served. Thus did the government seek TO profit by the
labor enterprise, and capital OF lis own citizens.
These facts are within the knowledge Of the senator
from Missouri. now IN my eye, tMr. GEYrRI He
and $50 per remember very distinctly that
lands were also sold in Wisconsin, Chen Mchgan,) at
offered BY Th ps Money.
in Iowa. was referred to yesterday by the senator
from Georgia tMr D1wsosl with quite, a flourish of
rumpets and he read a section from the law making
the grant Sir for that the only grant OF land we have
ever received for internal improvements am thankful
But J, Is due ,o truth and myself to say that il coupled
this bill should not have accepted nor dared to accept
it, The senator sudiousy avoided TO read notice this
Of the farms OF settlers allude, Mr. President to
this increase OF price frequently and warmly, because of
its Importance ia twood point OF view upon this ques
tion First cir, II violates what with me has been
cherished pncpe-the reduction OF the price OF the pub
lie lands and, second has been the of the great
new States " Il Is The Welding Of this principle on the the
part Of the people OF the public land States, that has in
duced the belief that get grant for any road
leading through the public lands, il will take it upon
the onerous conditions contained in this bill As before
remarked should never have supported or advocated
any OF these which double the price of the re-
served sections, except obedience the commands OF
those for whom act
Mr. President. every little grant Of land. such the
10th section, which you made unasked by the western
people-ade by you for your own purposes, and which
were 10 settle your waste and wild domain-are now pa
raded before the Senate and the country to display the
n1od IF sbo rlA Cfatns
ness and graspng pfopenses Of the new. Sir, from
the spirit which this subject has been treated a the
Of h. is pso Of the West for
their infant, struggling and noble railroad enterprises
are 10 be dashed to the ground as for more than quar-
ter Of century, have been their hopes Of liberal pre-
empton, graduation. reduction, and donation law for the
INDECENT and landless- disappointed yet always appa.
ren!ly on the point Of realization ~ s
has spoke for bill with enlightened liberalty,
which thought emnently proper in representative
ton) which may be said to be the terminus OF
OF our roads. and which (save New York; is in fact.
more interested in them than even we are-has drawn
matcs, and wrath OF the senators from Kentucky and
Virginia [Messrs HUNTER and UNDERwooDl
Ii is not purpose to vindicate the senator from
Massachusetts, 10 undertake The vain task of adding
anything TO his able argument. enriched was by the
appropriate manner and eloquent language in which il
was made. He wants aid from any one, and least OF
any could afford it, however grateful feel to him for
his splendid defence Of our BILL But why these furious
ment. the new States had equitable claim to some
equivalent for that portion OF their sovereignty which
they wit the right to tax the public lands
within their limits Sir. there be nothing in this equi
table claim but poetry, as has been alleged why il it mat
formal demand has been made upon each Of the new
States, as condition precedent to its admission, 70 sur
render this right to tax the public domain Why 10 il
that in your various acts OF Congress you sosmnly
se that you will give sixteenth section and per
centage upon the proceeds OF the sales of your lands
within our borders, and other palry considerations if
we will pass an ordinance irrevocabe, except by the
consent OF the United States. that we will not tax
the public ands believe it is true that the Cum
berland road had its origin in this idea OF giving the
western States an indirect equivalent for the taxing pow
whSn 'heX wes oIcsd 70 .uIspsS:, .. stay oG. o.
situated. and entitled to the sympathy and active aid
OF all the friends OF State rights in their efforts to
those States. No one who is not in and OF them can
fully realize the Disadvantages under which they suffer
The Free sovereign and ndepeaden State of Iowa de-
pved Of Of the highest attributes OF sovereignty
long as another government owns the eminent domain
within her limits for Il is scarcely possible that she
make road OF any considerable length without running
it over portion OF the public lands know OF
proposed that would not do and thus be liable TO be
stopped in lis progress by any fotyacre tract through
which might pass unless you choose TO grant the
right OF way There very few, il any OF our county
tribunals which do not especially in the distant
ties. commit lrespass on the lands Of the United
States whenever they order county roads 10 be laid
OUT and, ii the laws executed. they may at any
time be when nirused 10 spiteul revengeiul fede-
raj ofcer our constituted authorities are liable to be
Mr. President, is IL desirable that even this state of
things should long exist in the Staiesi think not
But how incomparaby IL would become under the
proposition OF the senator from Kentucky, (Mr UkDKR-
woop.l "Words. indeed, would be things." were that
to be adopted and what Interpretation, ask you, to
attach the language used in the act for admission
when says that admitted with the rights OF
sopersignty, freedom, and independence, the other
States Sir, II the States, coming into the Union,
have the same rights OF sovereignty az the " other
States have, where do you find your power TO give all
the land in Iowa to those States whose equal she de-
clared 10 be Old States, sverse, a. all OF them are, to
losing their population might bold up their lands IN
new State at price high as TO forever prevent the
new State from becoming settled.
Mr. President in the elaborate speech which the sena-
tor from Kentucky made introducing bis proposition,
be mentioned pointed fcrms and than once, the
swamp lands which were ceded TO the States in which
they are situated, AT the long session OF is4e-30, ~
new States II in vain that the senator from Arkan-
sas INT BoRIAsp endeavored to represent that however
desirable that the States should have those lands
for the purpose OF recaiming them in their present
condition they OF very great value to the United
States The senator from Kentucky thinks otherwise,
and deeply TO lament that the federal government
had retained them, and entered on the work Of
claiming them itself And here, Mr. President allow
me do ACT OF Justice the senator from Arkansas,
Mr.. BoRLAHD1 1t is to say that, in my opinion, the
States are indebted TO him more than to any other
man for the industry and talent with which he under
took this matter and pressed IL TO successful oonsumma
ton. For than quarter OF century II had occu
pied the attention of the members from Missouri and Ar
kansasmen indefagable, untring, and OF no ordinary
abiliy-who sought io every way possible to invoke