Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-05-20

numerous every adm that they foot
prints along the pathway OF the countrys history
will leave this branch OF the subject by saying that the
cnnstuonaty Of this class Of Legislation is sustained
by every mode which regard as authoritative.
Mr.. Chairman, opposition is made to these measures
upon the ground charged that they unequal and
unjust, and in violation Of that trust under which the
General Government holds the lands which ceded
by the States And to sustain this position gentlemen,
refer the several deeds by which the lands east OF the
Mississippi and north Of the Flordas were ceded TO the
United States in which were provisions that the lands
for the and benefit OF all the states.
And much placed upon the language found in
the Virginia and North Carolina deeds oil cession that
the lands ceded should considered common fund
for the use and benefit OF the United States according
their respective and usual proportions Of the general
charge and expenditure and shall be faithfully disposed
in the Virginia deed which made while the States
were held together under the "Artices Of Confedera
and be properly understood must be taken IN re-
atiou to the mode Of assessing aud imposing the gen
eraI CHARGE upon the several States Under the Ar
ces of Confederation the OF the General 0ov
eminent were collected directly from individuals, but
were assessed upon the several states In their proper
tons, and each State collected its proportion, and paid
il into the common treasuy To this charge upon the
several States the Virginia deed refers But under our
present revenue system the States not thus charged
but the revenues collected from Individuals by tax
upon that which they purchase from abroad. And I'M
der the Constitution this peculiar phraseology Of the
Virginia and North Carolina deeds, have pract
cal meaning aAd effect unless perhaps IN the event oil
resort TO Temptation other direct tax which (un-
der the CONSTITUTIONAL would be laid ia proportion TO the
census enumeration.
Mr.. Chairman, the first step taken to secure cession
Of their lands by the States to the General
was in 1880 Under the Articles Of Confederation the
General Government, as have said, could not impose
any tax directly upon the peoples and by reason oil the
general arrangement OF trade and commerce 10 the
country some Of the States unable and failed 10
furnish their proportion Of he general charge and
pendture." Congress thus greatly embarrassed in
raising means TO prosecute the war; and on the 9th oil
September 1880, passed a resolution recommending to
the States surrender their lands the United States
Further to induce this surrender the 10Th Of October
Of the year. by resolution OF Congress the States
assured that the lands should be disposed OF for
the common benefit Of the United States" Under this
call New York alone surrendered her lands. On the
18th Of April, 1893, Congress again appealed to the
States. assuring them Ihat to discharge the national
debt reliance had the prospect OF vacant ter
rtory in aid of other resources" Virginia then
rendered her lands But great was the soiciude OF
Congress to obtain the control Of the residue of the
vacant territory that in April 1874, the subject
again presented TO the attention oil the States and they
were urged to consider that the being brought
happy termination by the personal services Of
soldiers the supplies of property by our citizens, and
loans of money from them as well as from foreigners,
these several creditors have right to expect that funds
shall be provided which they may rely for indemni6-
cation that Congress still consider vacant territory
important and that therefore the said States
earnestly Immediate and liberal
to forward these necessary ends and TO promote the har
mony of the Union" Upon this call, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, North and Soath Carolina, and Georgia
surrendered their lands to the General Government.
And si:, all these States, except Georgia,
had made their oessions, Congress, by law Of 1870,
pledged the lands in the Western Territory to the pay
ment Of the public debt.
For what purpose thea, sir these lands conveyed
to the United Statesf The gentleman from Maine DIR.
Fuerl says il not to pay any debt. Sir, do not
insist that il that purpose only. repudiate
the whole of the doctrine that that these lands were
held by the Government trust pay the public debt.
and after that for the benefit Of the several States and
out Of which grew the whole Of the land distribution
policy But the whole transaction by which these lands
were acquired by the United States and the pledge oil
them to creditors in $780, show that the great
sderation and nducement the part Of the States in
their surrender TO provide for the exgences of the
country during the war, and to discharge the public
debt afterwards; and, sir after these ends
plished, the Federal Government held these lands
specially in trust but she holds all her other property,
to be used and disposed Of by her. the representative
OF the whole people, for The public good And, sir is
upon this very doctrine Of the public good that advo
reduction of the price OF the public lands to the
settlers Now that the debts Of the Revolution and of
the war Of 1912, have been discharged deny that Con-
gress may rghtfuy speculate in the lands of Of the
settlers. IL is not for the public good In his message
of 1892, President Jackson says:
"Among the interests which merit the consideration
Of Congress after the payment Of the public debt
OF the most important my view il that OF the public
lands. Previous to the formation of present Con.
stitution il recommended by Congress that por-
ton Of the lands owned by the States, should be
ceded to the United States for the purposes Of general
harmony, and as fund TO meet the expenses Of the
The recommendation adopted; and at different
periods of time the States OF Massachusetts, Connec-
tout, New York. Virginia, North and South Carolina,
schch they Aad been asked. As lands may now be
considered relieved from this pledge, the object for
which they ceded having been accomplished il is
IN the discretion of Congress to dispose OF them in such
hast tn QOndup fO he 0uIat harm andU
eral interest of the American people,"
Again. in the Same message, he says:
1T seems to to be true policy that the public,
land shall case practicable to be a source
OF revenue and that they shall be sold to settlers in limit
ed parcels at price barely sufficient to reimburse to the
United States the expenses Of the present system and The
cost arising under our Indian conpacfs"
II these lands held under strict trust, and
may not be diverted for any purpose, as gentlemen
tend, then / ask how camo the numerous grants TO
schools, academies and works Of internal Improvement
at every period OF the countrys hstoryf Did Washing
ton Jefferson, Madison Monroe, Adams, and Jackson
violate sacred trust in signing the numerous bills
making the grans1
But, Mr.. Chairman, lest be misunderstood, | will
say, that do advocate and will support all of
the bills making grants of lands for railroads before
Congress. Many of them will oppose I will only
support such believe be Of general interest and
Importance Irrational in their character" The bill in
Iroduced BY my colleague Mr.. DAusl will support.
That bill proposes to give to the States Of Indi. |
and Illinois, to aid in the construction OF railroad
from Terre Haute, in the State Of Indiana to Spring.
ied in tbs State Of Illinois, the alternate sections OF the
public lands for six sections in width each side of said
road. Now sir, how can the Government, any por.
lion Of the country sus ain any loss by this grant Un
Ter it, about 81 900 will be given to these States
upon the condition that the railroad But
inder the provisions Of the bill the 81 900 reserved
the Government required be sold for 50 so per
,cre and thus upon the construction of the road the
eserved lands will bring much into the public Treas
Try as the whole would have brought without the road