The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-24
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
THURSDAY, JANUARY %, 1852.


,vav and making grant OF land to the State of Iowa
aid OF The construction oil certain railroads in said
Mr. FELCH proposed some verbal amendments to the
bill, which Were agreed To-
Mr. ATCHlSON. II the senator from Iowa does not
object will move 10 strike out from the 4h section all
alter The word " States" in the 9th ns being the words
free from toll other charge for the transportation OF
anv property or troops OF the United States" make this
motion because believe that il would be wrong In itself
thai il would be imposition upon this road that should
not be required There rs no equivalent in this bill for
should be very glad TO have the chairman OF the Com.
miee on Public Lands or some other gentleman point
out the equivalent.
II Is well known that large quantity OF government
stores in the Quaermasiers department and in the Com
mssarys department IS now transported by the Missouri
river and the western frontier Of the State of Missouri
and olowa for the supply OF the army not only OF the
frontier OF Missouri and OF Iowa, but upon the upper
Platte, and upon the whole route TO Oregon and Caot
na ana also S % New Mexso The supply Of the quar-.
Mexico now transported by the Missouri river as high
Fort Leavenworth, or some other point the
frontier, and then across the plains to New Mexico.
From Fort Leavenworh Council Bluffs, or some other
point high up the Missouri river. all the military
are SENT not only Tor the force upon the Platte river, but
also Tor the f0rce IN Oregon and California They can
receive no military stores from any other quarter Such
immense amount OF transportation would be serious
imposition upon this road without any equivalent what
ever.
Mr.. DODGE. OF Iowa appreciate the motives which
hsve actuaed my friend from Missouri, and which have
induced him to submit the amendment he has offered
with him in every word he has said in respect
the oppressveness OF that provision in the bill But, sir
am exceedingly anxious for the passage OF this bill
We have been working for 1t for two years in State
we have held convention after convention and legis
aiure has instructed upon this subject. feel un
willing to agree TO any thing which might leopard its pas
Mr.. ATCHISON Then. MIR. President, withdraw
the amendment
Mr. DAWSON regret that the senator from Missouri
has withdrawn that proposition; but will reply TO The
suggestions which he has made in connexion with the
subject upon which we are about to act II is first laid
favor upon the State OF Iowa, and but for the moral
influence which arises out of the disposition of the land
The gvngo ,s0O 900 acres OF land TO the State OF Iowa
Mr. ATCHlSON. | said no such thing, sir.
Mf. DAW SON That understood to be The PROPOSE
ion-lhat i was OF no advantage. Now want place
ms lhing fay before the country The principle upon
which the bill proceeds is this that giving away alter
nate sections Increases the value of the other sections
acre. If the government lands would be enhanced in
value 10 that extent OF the lands we give to the
State would have their value enhanced TO equal ex
tent The $780, 900 of public lands given away
10 this road. will then be WORTH al 81 so per acre. four
and hall millions oil dollars For il the government is
TO be reimbursed by the adjacent sections Of the
railroad company is reimbursed in the same way; and
hence they get four and half millions OF dollars by that
bill The question propose, then. is this Is not this
decided benefit TO the Safe of lowa9 Will not the ciii
zens OF Iowa receive an appropriation equal to four and
ahaf millions, and have two railroads built, OF them
from keokuk 10 Dubuque' The result arises that the
State OF Iowa, out of the proceeds of the public lands,
will receive revenue annually after all the proceeds for
that road equal TO the necessary expense OF support
ing Aer government; and the people OF Iowa, by the
be exempt from State taxation And object to appro-
pratng the proceeds Of the public lands-gving them 10
one State SO as 10 relieve that State from taxation, while
the other States are left with no aid whatever
But gentlemen say this; and we are merely throwing
ourselves upon principle without being controlled gov
ened BY i, for the principle cannot apply. From Keo
kuk TO Dubuque, in Iowa, is the finest section in the
State Of Iowa and nearly all the sections OF public lands
between the two points are taken up. As the senator
from Missouri says, already in anticipation Of this rail-
road being constructed The public lands upon the great
routes which have been surveyed have already been
taken up by the citizens. Now this bill is discussed
upon The idea that the whole lands between those two
extremes belong TO the public, and that in order TO in
crease the value OF the public lands you will give away
The alternate sections when not section remains unds-
posed oil IN many parts o the country between the two
points What the next proposition that you will have AT
The next Congress Ii will be similar that made by the
senator from Illinois, Mr. DoueLAsl and made BY some
other senators here. They will say you intended TO
give us alternate sections all the way between the two
points but the public lands all taken up by military
roads and by purchases heretofore made We have got
only one-thrd onefourth OF the grant Of 1000
acres And now they have great railroad, and will call
upon Congress TO do precse what you did yesleday-to
State Of Iowa. in order to complete the 100000 Here
The principle abandoned. This will not increase the
value Of the public lands; and yet yon are TO get
iwohlds " not three. fourlhs OF these other lands,
distant from your railroad Does not, then, result in
lhs that In this very measure abandoning
NE great principle upon which these railroad approp
Ohs were ni mant, w CohsnucuhB the foahs tnfougn
The public landsl
am perfectly satisfied that this bill will pass have
been here long enough perfectly TO comprehend IT,
know that the public lands going 10 take exactly
the they always have, and with all the
OF rights and interests in other and different sections
OF the country cannot prevent IT, There is most
uaordlnary combination OF interests, which will always
control this question And what are they The repre-
seniaves from the States think they Justly enii-
tied TO the lands and they upon that impression
They will combine 10 dispose OF these lands, and TO be-
stow them upon the individual States And there is
another class who unwilling 10 your in
creased and your treasury filled from any other
than indirect taxation. The friends OF particular in
ierest IN this country will desire to diminish much
possible the amount OF money derived from the public
lands and placed in your treasury in order TO Justify them
throughout the United States These two interests will
combine TO do this very thing And what becomes Of the
public lands They go TO the new States, and they are
sold BY the States, and their prosperity advsnced
There are railroads all through that country There
no people in the land who going TO prosper more
ihan they. do not regret il but what say is this
Amidst their prosperity. while thus going finely, lei
Them remember that il is out OF the proceeds OF the pub
c lands and that these public lands belong every Stale
~ the Union. II act literally towards you, act be
rally towards II you determined thus 10 dispose
olhe public lands, do il but de not forget the principles
OF equity and justice.
There the old State OF North Carolina Every rail-
road she has built has been built OF her money
Although she has many thousand acres of barren land,
and her people sparsey scattered her State
and there enough travel from end Of il TO the
other TO carry your great mail facilities through, yet the
people OF North Carolina by hard labor have carried
iairoad for hundreds of miles through pine country and
Immediately in the neghborhood of the seashore. and
I'LL ~. - tIo