The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-05

he poor Where do the people reside whose sympa-
hies should induce them To provide Tor the poor They
are usually found in the county where the poor reside
We live, sir, IN sympathetic Time hearts burst
with sympathetic emotions for fhibfsring patriots; and
yet those emotions cannot induce 10 support the poor
OF counties in the States without consider.
ing equitable TO tax the lands of the United States TO
raise money with which TO supply their wants What
right what equity can there be in making difference
between the poor OF kentucky and The poor OF Iowa.
favor OF the latter Sir, such system of inequality
would destroy this government have shown you that
for all Stale purposes the gentemans calculation by
tens OF millions; and hence he brings forward county
taxation for the maintenance of paupeTs for school
houses, court houses, jails and bridges
When the bill was introduced the other day proposing
grant OF lands for plank road in Michigan senator
near me said in his seat !" What in Heavens name will
they wantnext eve see all the wants OF the States
in the senator's speech. They not only want oil the
public domain enough 10 support their State governments,
but also enough 10 defray all county charges. In my
opinion, things which are 10 be enjoyed exclusively by
the people who live in the countythngs IN which this
government has no concern and very remote interest
If any al allshoud be paid for by the people OF the
county Alone and furnish no foundation whatever upon
which 10 ask iavors from the government OF the United
States II the passage OF the United States mail over
county bridge road be sufficient ground on which to
ask favors OF this government then the counties OF
the old States having roads and bridges, and
mails are therefore, entitled to more favors than those
of the States. am glad that the gentleman has in
troduced county taxation the basis OF an equity against
the United States There is the celebrated Miss Dix for
whom have sympathy | am married man, sir !;
but when that ladywho is one OF the benefactresses OF
her racesocits aid for charitable purposes when
acting under the inspiration OF Heaven she calls our at
tenon to the poor lunatc, snen of God. deprived of
his reason for nscrutable purposes, which we cannot
falhom when she asks Tor small pance OF our bound
less domain TO provide Tor those children oil misfortune
SO her heart wish it remembered that county tax
alton support paupers is ingredient in the equitable
claim of the new States now preferred against US.
hope you will open your hearts when Miss Dx's bill
comes up for consideration
Mr. DOWNS. We dad SO last session. If the gentle
man will allow me one moment, ! wish to make sug
hiatt hana h.
counties in Kentucky may be very materially different in
the States, where there public lands Il happens
that some OF the largest expenditures made IN the States
where there public lands do not accrue TO the benefit
OF the inhabitants of the country altogether, but also TO
the United States, because she is oil the largest land
propfetos, and whatever facilities oil Intercourse i'm
prove the country add greatly TO the value oil her prop
erty. And will mention most remarkable instance OF
in my State and there papers upon your table
to show that more than 100000 acres OF land have
been sold by the United States that reclaimed by the
State So that these parish charges in the land States
nure greatly the benefit Of the United States, but could
no, KG1ky Sea9se she has M no public lands
benefits the United States derives from county Stale
governmens-and which can be shown by making out a
fair account am willing TO pay was for draining
these public lands and making the work part OF our
business as the proprietor. saw-and years ago
stated TO Congress-what could be made out of them ;
but Congress would act. Indeed. sir we are becom
ing inefficient that we do nothing in season We have
compensated my friend from Louisiana most amply for
any past drainage by giving 10 his State the whole of
them the whole, and made one clean sweep But, sir,
the senator's statement does not alter the force of my
arguments II the benefits derived by the United States
from these local county improvements sufficient 10
constitute the basis OF valid and equitable claim, 10 be
paid by grant OF land 10 the new States, may we not
settle IL by paying money instead OF land And not
such improvements if paid for by in money, made, in
substance, by this government The gentlemen have
found out at last how 10 make local county improve
ments charge upon the national treasury. When wings
rise this floor and ask for appropriations construct
improvements. q 10
build railroads canals for the benefit of the hole peo
pie OF the United States your strict construction tight
laced gentlemen say There is power il cannot be
constutonay done - But when il is necessary 10 fur
nlsh some pretext-some reason-for granting lands TO
the new States my friend from Louisiana (Mr. Dowssl
throws in his idea OF the benefits derived by this gov
eminent from local county Improvements to help sustain
the totierng arguments OF his coaduior from hassachu
sets Sir If thus government cannot make Improvements
Tor itself il cannot pay in land or money for local I'M
provements in counties OF thirty miles square-such
schoohouses, las, court houses bridges, and little mill
roads, made BY The population OF The county -,
Mr.. President, hope | have shown the utter futility
OF all these preiences But suppose the gentleman from
Massachusetts mir. SUMSERl is right, and that he has
convinced the Senate that the new States are our just
creditors 10 amount exceeding S72 900 00O then the
next inquiry is has any OF il been paid! Have we any
just counter-caims TO set OIL Now, chancelor-one
Of those great men whose decisions you and profes-
sionally read, sir, [Mr BADGER in the charl-
would state the account on both sides. The honorable
senator from Massachusetts has credited the amount of
donations heretofore made the new States but there are
low, when | bring them before him chancellor. He
deducs only S25 900 900 the value OF the donations or
grants have made, leaving the balance az ainst us
more than $40 600 900. Now put IL to him, when he
the proprey of deductng the value OF these grants
whether little interest ought not 10 have been allowed
upon that value. When advanced fund Of S25 OO0
600. and when he the equity OF allowing for that
was there not an equity in allowing interest upon il
alsop
Mr.. SUMNER. | am perfectly willing 10 answer that
question, If the senator desires it, certainly should have
placed interest upon that side IL had placed interest upon
the other side. IT, in estimating the value OF the lmmu.
nifty from taxation, had calculated interest upon il,
would have allowed interest on these donations | did
not take interest into account upon either side.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD The suggestion strikes the mind
OF the senator al that would be proper allow
interest," as have claimed il, upon the advance But he
says he did not calculate interest upon the other side
Why sir, what there 10 calculate interest upon on
the other side The taxes all payable in lump,
in sufficient 10 pay the expenses Of government for.
ever They only became due from year TO year, they
were needed.
Mr. SUMNER. | would ask the senator il any land
owner, in estimating the value OF his land fails TO take
into account the interest upon the original cost, well
the interest upon the taxes paid annually
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. We are dealing with equities alto.
geher, and with legal rights The gentleman admits
the receipt OF S25 900 900. Now, suppose a be-
tween individuals place into the hands OF my friend
the sum Of S25,OOO 900, which he has the Of After
he has had the of il for number OF years, he
10 me and says have equitable claim against You
Tor taxes, which could annually have demanded but
released you from their payment by compact | think,
however in equity, should overhaul these old mat
ers and you ought now 10 account with and pay me
what | unadvsedly surrendered" +" Very we'll" re-
ply, will pay the taxes bat you ought to allow the
.I, al a.