The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-03
THE UNION: WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY MORNING MARCH 1852

general appropriations 81 500 1871 charged Ohio
two per cent fund $4,000 10 the fund OF Ohio, lnd
ana, and Illinois, s535,O0O
II thus appears that part Of he fund reserved under
the compacts with Indiana and Illinois TO be applied TO
the construction of road 10 those States was applied 10
road 10 Maryland, Pennsy lvania, and Virginia
The appropriations for the road west OF The Ohio
amount to S,36S,sl5 50 OF which there charged TO
the treasury generally $l50 00O TO the two per cent
fand Of Ohio Indiana, and Illinois, 81 263sl5 35 10 the
fund OF Ohio, Illinois. and Missouri 955 900 IL will be
perceived that in making these appropriations the terms OF
the compacts very little regarded. The fund OF Ohio,
which 10 have been applied 10 road oil the east oil
The Ohio IS appropriated TO road west OF that river,
through OHIO Indiana and llI'no's The fund OF Ind
applicable only 10 road leading 10 the State was
appropriated 10 road through her territory, and from
her western boundary through Illinois The reserved
fund OF Missouri was CHARGED with the expenses OF
structng road through Ohio and Indiana, and in lli-
nois, 10 her seat OF government.
The road commenced and carried forward. think,
upon fase principle and agree with the honorable
senator from Kentucky that the proceeding ended in
farce which, will add, will not bear repetition. Though
think the road has been oil greater beneht TO the county,
perhaps, than would have resulted from any other equal
expenditure OF money, cannot assent 10 The prime
which II was commenced, and to which trace It's un'
lucky termination IN what the senator calls farce.
Congress proceeded upon the idea that power 10
struct the work by appropriations IRON the treasury
nigh, be acquired by compact with lew OF The States
| separately They commenced under compact with
Ohio make the road through other States with their
assent, and then undertook TO extend The road westward
through Ohio under compact with Indiana, through In
diana under compact with Illinois. and through Illinois
under compact with Missouri. lns cad OF looking to
The constitution the OF power TO construct such
works, i was sought to obtain il by compact with int
vidua States; and though much good was accomplished
the whole proceeding was arrested, and the power OF
Congress set at defiance by resolution OF the legislature
| oil Illinois
| After millions had been expended in the construction
OF the road, Congress about extend the
of government of Missouri Two routes were surveyed
Illinois selected that which she preferred, crossing the
/ Mississippi at Alton, and forbade the United States 10
make the road within her territory, unless they would
follow the route chosen by her legislature The power
disappeared at the bidding OF Illinois, and the contln
uation OF the road was aban Toned The whole line Of
the road from Cumberland westward was put in good
condition at the expense OF the United States, and
rendered 10 the States respectively through which j,
passes The result is that The United States have made
road for Maryland, Pennsy vana, Virginia, Ohio, In
diana, aud illinois; and The people OF Missouri and
other States pay toll when they have occasion TO It,
Yet. if understand the honorable senator from Ken
i lucky, he conmends that system OF appropriations 10
construct roads and canals in order that they may be
controlled not by the United States but surrendered TO the
States TO have tolls levied upon his and mine
! Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Not at all. Tha, is not my
Mr.. GEYER The honorable senator corrects me- He
j wants TO have the roads free.
! Mr. UNDERWOOD. Except The cost OF superntend-
| ence.
MIR. GEYER. Well, it occurred TO me, at the momen,
that argument used, that it complete answer
10 the speech be had made. Ii il is expedient TO make
roads by appropriations from the treasury Of the United
States, which 10 be free, except much toll will
be su fcient 10 pay the cost OF superintendent, why
may not make roads which nothing to the treas
ury OF the United States, and nothing for superinend.
4 ence
There is, however, another matter connected with The
II five per cent. compact which think WILL when it il
brought 10 the minds OF senators, satisfy them that there
is nothing TO boast OF that do not know
but perhaps the honorable chairman OF the Committee on
Public Lands can tell mellow many OF military
bounty land have been and about TO be granted unde
different laws. understand that Is 600, 900
900 900 will be taken for bounty lands What, then
becomes oil the compact oil the five per cent the Is.
100000 20 100000 that to be located mill
fary thu IInfaI at t.affu n
disregard their contract' not complaining OF the
military bounty acts but do say that when the United
States thus defeats The rights oil the new States under
their compacts there is no reason for much Boosting ,o
the fayors that have been granted to the States
The next item in the account is the school and semi
nary lands for which the honorable senator proposes
charge the OF 81 25 per acre Sir before any
State formed out OF the territory OF the United States
in the very first act 1.-THE ordinance OF 1881 providing for
disposition oil the public lands, and every act oil
Congress since passed for the purpose provision
was made for these very grants, these very
tons rather OF school and seminary lands The object
is spparenthe reservations made TO be afterwards
granted nduceneni 10 persons 10 into the will
demess and make settlements. Il was TO promote the
sale and settlement OF the public landslide object con-
settlers OF every townships spot which 10 erect
school house and some aid in supporting school,
BY the irreyocabe compact contained in the ordinance
OF 1857 Congress pledged the United States 10 the en-
couragement Of education by declaring in the third ar.
tcle that "schools aud the' OF educaon shall be
forever encouraged" II not stipulation 10 be per.
formed by the people OF any Territory future State
for they deprived Of The means The obligation
assumed by the United States and is OF the
gagemens" solemy ratified by the constitution How
education be encouraged, in the opinion OF Con.
gress ascertain by the ordinance OF l7Sj and subse
II quent acts OF Congress.
! spprehend that Congress, before since the
adoption oil the constitution supposed that lands ap.
propIaed by them for the support OF schools and semi.
naries OF learning were TO DC charged TO the States in
Il which they lie al 81 20 per acre, at any price.
AS TO the seminary lands, would inquire OF the hon
orabe senator what is the value OF the power TO lease
them not exceeding ten years That the extent OF
the interest under The compact IL is true that in some
OF the States and believe in nearly all Of them, per.
mission has been granted TO make sale OF Them but upon
terms prescribed by Congress. The State is only a
trustee charged with the application OF the fund for the
endowment OF literary institution II be applied
no Other purpose The necessary land and buildings
be provided by the State and paid for out OF the
Stale treasury, before the endowment be made avail
able.
The policy OF appropriang lands TO the support OF edu-
cation which has been uniformly pursued by Congress
the States, adopted in respect 10 the lands
Stale in 1906 100000 appropriated for col
| leges, and Gao in every six miles square for
schools; and in the grant TO the same State, 1915,
40, 900 acres were appropriated to similar objects.
i believe have now disposed oil all the specifications
OF favor under the compact except the saline lands and
" allow the whole against the States, The of
81 20 acre, and add the 500 900 under the
OF 1Sii at the price, The States have an ex.
ceedingy bard bargain. Far better would IL have been
Tor them TO have reserved the power of taxation, ii
Eohing more. II would have been worth 10 them
than all the lands and proceeds OF lands they have ever
| received for themselves or in trust.
Iha laafs liam, he ,s.f NJ.