The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-29


expended reached some hye six millions OF dollars
Besides this. in the bill OF 1884, which assisted in
passing. and Tor which. therefore, take my share OF
responsibility only allowed this five per to
80 % TIE new States, but we gave them ten per cent
upon The salesthus making fifteen per cent This was
continued until that law was repealed and am not
tain whether that provision OF the law has been repealed
on not. hope il has been But while IL in force
they got The benefit OF the five per aRd the ten per
cent. besides ask gentlemen from the new States,
when they consider thai they have already received five
millions Of than my amendment proposes TO
grant 70 the Old states-when they reflect that in the
legislation OF the past and present CoDgress they are
going to receive for themselves about much as my
amendment proposes TO give 10 the old Sates-wheher
there is not something reasonable in the proposition
which make to give to the non landholding States
some benefit from the public lands
Mr.. President, | think this suitable occasion 10 say
AZ the commencement OF this Congress- ii ever intend
that The old States shall have any benefit from this great
fund.- Is time that the members OF Congress should indi.
cate how that benefit is TO be obtained II you do not
intend that the old States shall receive a dollar
arising from the sales OF the public lands, say So My
amendment does not propose to give them half what they
are entitled TO- II you will dispense the blessing
TO them which you have TO the States they would
receive great deal more than my amendment proposes
Il is time that we should determination
upon inns subject wish some determination, because
have been placed upon the Committee Public Lands
u this amendment shall be rejected and be shown that
Congress does not intend TO provide for the old States
shall know how 10 perform my duties in the station
10 which have been assigned, and shall set up no
claim hereafter for the old States but shall go and
deavor TO make the best distribution | among the
80"
ess Of the whole
But i have omitted one thing which ought not 10
omit had like TO have forgotten the grant OF the
flowed and swamp lands If you take into consideration
the swamp lands which were granted by the last Con-
gress 10 the States you will that those grants
have amounted 10 nearly double the quantity of lands
which my amendment proposes grant the old States
There Is table in document before me showing the
amount OF these overfowed and swamp lands according
70 the reports OF the surveyors. who required.
making the surveys, to report TO the General Land Office
the quality and character of the land surveyed believe
that those reports make out the quantity Of swamp and
overhowed lands to be about eight millions Of but
there's avery remarkable and astonishing fact in
nexion with this subject. According to the reports made
by the surveyors, in pursuance Of law the Commits
sioner OF the General Land Office, Louisiana had be-
tween two and three millions Of swamp lands and ATkan
sas perhaps about much The Secretary OF the Interior
through the Commissioner of the General Land Office,
sent an agent TO Louisiana to agree about the selection OF
the overfowed aud swamp lands granted to that State
He came back and reported that everything had been
sfactoy adjusted and, according his settlement, the
swamp and overlooked andsgranted 10 Louisiana amount
ed TO between six and seven millions OF How much
The State of Arkansas got under the grant TO that State
do not know, for believe ii has yet been denvey
adjusted suspect however, that there will be little
more granted than the amount set down in the reports oil
tue surveyors TO the General Land Office How much
Michigan, that land OF lakes, will get do not know So
that when you add what has been voluntarily surren-
dcred to the States, by the overlooked and swamp
land laws OF the last Congress, and what has been
granted for internal improvements, for education, for
building State houses, and making canals. you find that
the grants proposed in my amendment for The old States
are but third or fourth part OF what the States have
already received
Mr.. BORLAND desire 10 call the attention OF the
senator 10 the fact, OF which he il well aware, for
brought 10 his notice BEFORE that the foundation OF the
grants to the States Of the overlooked and swamp lands
was, that The lands IN that condition were not only worth
less 70 the general government because they could not
be sold at any price, but seriously deprecated the value
OF other public lands on account OF their vicinity. An
other ground was that in their condition ovefowed
lands they made the country extremely sickly, and pre-
vented IFS settlement that the government has granted
nothing that is valuable If those lands shall be made
valuable hereafter, il only be of labor be
slowed on them by the State to which they have been
granted Such lands cannot therefore, be fairly put in the
estimate OF valuable lands granted for purposes OF inter-
Mr. UNDERWOOD | have thought great deal on
that subject, and expressed OF those thoughts in
this hall some years ago said at that time that though
these lands total vaueess unless reclaimed the
government could render them ye5y yx4lHaef I'd FIJI
Der Ihem valuable; bu, said then. as say now,
that if the general government will not make such
improvements, we ought TO allow the States TO do
70. know, from what acquaintance | have had
with the subject that when these lands shall be re-
claimed 1and IN my Judgment they can be ecaimed they
will be the most valuable lands IN this country have
doubt that they will be immensely valuable in the
course Of tme and glory in it behalf OF younger
SISTER States | have no doubt tina, the States which
have received these lands will by their abors and sys
tens OF levylng and draining bring them into the
and make an immense profit out of them. hope they
may. And the government OF the United States could
have done precisely the same thing These lands were
not granted 10 the States because they not valuable,
and tould not be made valuable, but they granted on
was necessary TO reclaim them whereas the States might
do it, and thus render the lands valuable.
have only mentioned this show that this govern
mcnt has been liberal in the extreme 10 the new States
Besides this, have doubled the usual quantity of
school lands in the territory which have recently ac
qured in Oregon called the attention OF the Senate 10
that matter when the territorial bills up and the
yeas and nays taken the question but by vote
OF three four TO one voted down, and the guam
tity OF school lands doubled Whenever any OF the
older oil the land States 10 and suggest that The
sxleenh section, granted for school purposes has been
located upon swamp barren sterile lands, grant
them the privilege OF selecting the very best section in
the township OF going anywhere else in the State to
select that section. II is true there has been general
bill the subject; but the Individual applications have
been numerous, and The grants have invariably been
made. that they have nasse and ask for
general bill believe shall go for that general bill
in order supesede the necessity OF passing upon each
individual application. Let them have it. We have
granted almost everything they have asked 10 the new
States, and am disposed TO 60 far any can go
in aiding them But when ask that my State and the
other non Iandholdng States shall participate in The ben
fits resulting from the public lands, why will they not
accede TO ii leave my amendment TO DC disposed of
by The Senate.
La WIDTHsNow and for sale much css 0,an
IA the usual prices n, t5rU #.5
20 pieces medium lowpced "a table dsmast very
L. ~.