The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
Ia ths Senate, February II, 1852.

Ia the Senate, febfuay II, 1852.
The Senate having under consideration "a bill grant
log the right OF way and making grant OF land TO the
State eot Iowa ~ ard oi the consfucton OF certain fai
roads IN said Siate'
MIR. HUNTER said Mr. President, when this bin
was first called up, and when, supposed, II was
about to he acted upon, submitted few remarks ia re-
taion 10 II, not that thought of afesng lis passage
not with The design Of presenting Argument on the
questions which il involved but merely ior the purpose
OF dehnng my own position II seems TO me that must
have been unfortunate in those remarks for they have
drawn down upon criticisms not only from various,
bu, from very opposite quarters and have been assaied
Tor them, only by The friends, but by The foes OF the
measure Sir, said addressing myself 10 my demo-
cratic ffiends-that we had taken ground against a gem
cra system of internal improvements; and | put il to
them TO say il there was not danger in thus adopting
what would seem TO be partial system OF Internal i'm
pIovements, that we bad taken ground against gen
ea sysem OF the distribution of The public lands, and
that yet we were passing bills Of This character, which
would lead 10 a partial distribution OF these lands
amongst portion only OF the States.
TO this the senator from Illinois AIR, DoUGLAsl re-
pcd and he sad that II was no objection TO appo
ropriaon that It was partial in its character because
all appropriations must benefit some localities than
others say II Is an objection 10 class of appropra
tons II there be partaliy IN lhe system and the principle
upon which those appropriations are made take ihe
very Illustration he gives as instance Of the
o The rule which laid down. He said make
navy.yaIds on the seacoas and that of course those
places where the navy yards made benefited
than others That is true to extent but the de-
sign OF those navy yards is to maintain navy and that
general object in which the whole nalion is interest
Cd, lhls navy guards The commerce. not only OF the
Of the North, or OF the South alone bur also the
merce OF the West These appropriations general in
their character general IN their Objects and come, there
FORE within the legitimate sphere of action But
edned in the course OF my remarks. that there might
perhaps be an exception to the rule with reference TO
certain class OF internal mprovements-a certain class oil
railroads which pass through the public lands and that
regard to these railroads, the government stood in
somewhat different relation from that which it held TO
railroads which pass through the older States where the
government owns no lands. 1t is argument in favor
Of these railroads that they the wealth of the
country through which they pass and the capacity OF the
people there Tor bearing taxation; because The same
gumen would apply to railroads in the older States But
may be some argument when you come TO advert TO
The fact that the government benefited, only in
the general mode IN which 1t would be benefited any
where else by the establishment of railroad, but that
has peculiar and special interest. because its properly
as land owner, is improved in value by the conslruc
lon OF these improvements.
Bat said that il was admitted that the general system
safangerous one, and that should practice only
certain excepted cases, but that these exceptions ought
obe guarded within Iigid limits and by certain rules
order ioprevent abuses. | said too, that there was
other rule by which TO guard and define these excep
hons than this The United States was to be treated as
any other land owner and any other land owner when
he contributed money would expect TO have return
nhe shape OF stock. As additional precaution, |
suggested that the grants ought TO be confined the
tons which lie Immediately upon the line OF the road
because when you once depart from that ruewhen you
20 fifteen miles from the line OF the road the step
will be 10 80 thirty miles. and the next will be 10 appro-
paie lands anywhere within the confines OF the State
In order then, to prevent our being betrayed into gen
era and wasietnl system If we do practice upon these
tgcepons.it would seem that we ought 10 be guided by
some siict and certain rules and know OF none
certain and strict than this
Since made these remarks, which were uttered with
ou much consideration, and upon the spur OF the moment
have considered the question more maturely and
hnk see rule by which may accomplish all The
purposes OF justice. as between the United States and the
new States They say that the difference between these
railroads and any others is this thai by the construc
on Of these roads, sou give an additional value 10 the
aOds and therefore would be hard II The United States
should pay nothing in return tor this additional value i'm
parted 10 their property by the work OF The States To
hat reply, that am willing 10 sell TO the States the
ands the lines OF the railroads al the government
pnce-a such price they would bring il there were no
railroads And If there be additional value given by the
construction Of the railroad am willing the States should
posed 10 20 somewhat further There might be por-
tons OF those lands not worth the full government
pee, should be willing, then, 10 take such price
p they would bring without the railroads Having
one that, would leave them 10 the States 10 de.
e whatever additional value they could give to these
snds by The construction OF lheir roads. Would not,
a be tar Would not that sasy all the Jus, demands
The States They make railroads, or they ought 10
eE lhem, only upon the supposlion that they are 10
yum lhem iaif pTob-a profit composed, II may be,
entirely OF the income OF the road, or profit composed not
my Of the income OF the road, but OF the additional
s@ gwen 10 the lands by the construction OF the i'm
ovsmenL According 10 The proposition which make,
le States would derive the whole Of this profit; they
soad derive not only the income OF The road, but The
additional value which would be given to the lands: !
'ay hat II we TO practice upon such rule as this,
e would do all that was just and save ourselves from
eaangf OF being committed either TO general system
mIeihal improvements the hand, or from going
no partial aud unequal system on the other, and OF
w Woluelng IN either heart burnings and jealous
between different sections OF the county Who sir,
doubt but that deep and bitter Ieaousies would arise
oa partial and unequal distribution Of the benefits
hg lfom such appropriations OF the public property
10 be course OF the remarks which made when this
es'lon was up before said that The public lands had
zen squandered aud adverted TO the dangers 10 which
were exposed IRON an improper appropriation OF the
oIery OF The country. said they squandered,
OF by the land States, but BY Congress did not say
Nv ley were sluahdered whether IN bounty laws, or
appropriations TO lunalc asylums. in appropriations
ia'oaus ana canals but | adverled to The fact, and
aseu inc responsibility, II any there were. upon Con
nk'ess. y seems that this excited the sensibi,Y oil
stnalot from Massachusetts, Mr.. SUMNER ] The
a'ol ia away IRON Massachusetts, felt his sens,b
aroused At The injustice with which the new States
ven ueatedi and he his feet for the purpose
waxing then TO sense Of the wrongs upon which
y uaa oeen slunbeung so long. Under the very I'M
~ us OF Justice TO the land States he has Issued a
t1yi upon the subject OF The public lands-a
au'uoh IN which he has shown that the most barren
political arithmetic not inaccessible TO the
si s' ~ hls muse and that he make the duest do
,o' :" y prose vocal with his poetry. Blu, the
l uust mst permit me to say 10 him, that II he had not
~ hs ns1Ies OF speech lar better than he then used
- ~ W ~ arithmetic, he would never have enjoyed the
~ puslon which he deseTvedly possesses for an
NsA ana finished style. have looked into his cacu-
ns' ana must be permitted TO say that have never
Iips such specimen OF ciphering before. Whether
: ,I Poeueal arithmetic, or aritbmetca poetry, j
Ivy Know but think il may be fairly said that his
.,J Jalohs are highly metaphorical lie says we are
! IVY inoebed TO the land States for taxes Tor twenty
raj nf n nc a