The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-03-30

and I suppose I can appeal Will
confidence to the Senators from tha
State whether the lands reserved t.
the United States we're not disposed
of afterwards readiy2
"Mr. Brccsc, Gin his scat. } Thou
sands of acres were disposed Of
which would otherwise never have
been sold.
"Mr. Calhoun. I have seldom
given vote the result of which
gratified me more than the vote which
[ gave on that occasion. I then
presided in that chair which you now
occupy, and gave the casting vote.
take to myself, therefore, somo
share in the credit ofthat magnificent
improvement. Indeed, I do not
think that there is a principle moro
perfectly clear from doubt than this
one is. 1t does not belong to the
category of internal improvements
at all. 1t is not a power claimed by
the Government as government.
1t belongs to the Government as a
landed proprietor. And l will add
that it is not only right, but a
duty, and an important duty. Now,
what has been considered an cquit-
able arrangement between the Gov
crnmcnt and The State which nay
undertake an improvement passing
through the public lands? Long
since it was agreed that the grant Of
alternate sections was q fair con
tribution Oh the part of the United
States, considered as proprietor,
and from which the United States
would be a very great gamer. 1t
appears to be an equitable arrange
mcnt; and l doubt whether in any
case, either Of a canal or railroad
passing through the public lands, tho
United States will not be gamer.
10 that extent l am prepared to go,
be the road long or short. If it be
long, YOU gain the more; if it be
-ssi:sse, you gain the less, atIH 1t i''s1St. WI
contrltutc ~ lHoloEiyn to Jour
gain" -r4E@s
That is one authority to which |
wish especially to call the attention
Of members from Tie old States, who
are disposed to raise constitutional
question against this bill. There is
another authority, which / think will
DC considered upon this side of the
llcusc [Dcmocratlc] a very high
one, from which ! viii read. Gen.
Cass, IN that lcbatc, in presenting
the reasons vhys l'c would support
the bill, said:
"This bill docs not touch the
question Of iptcrnal Improvement
at all. It asserts no right on the
part Of tins Government to lay out a
road, or toy regulate the construction
Of a road. The Federal Government
is q great lanl-holdcr; it possesses an
extensive public domain; and VIC
have the power, under the Constitu-
ton, to- dispose Of that domain; and
a yessH unlimited power it is. The
question is, what disposition
we Sf : make Of the public lands?
No one will contend for the doctrine
that nc cannot give them away to
a State. As the Senator from Ken.
tucky has said, every President has
signed bills asserting the principle
that these lands may be disposed of
by the General Government, withou.
restriction as to the purpose Of such
disposition. We may bcstow them
for school purposes, or VIC may
bestow a portion for the purpose Of
improving the value of the rest.
What right have you to sit still and
see your lands growing in value,
through the instrumcntality Of in
dividuals, without rendering any aid
in furthcrancc Of that object? 1t is
the scttlcmcn. Of the lands that
makes them valuable"
Gen. Cass subsequently,, in the
same debate, i'll reply to constitu-
tional issue made by the gentleman
from Alabama, Mr.. Bagby, in q
more pointed manner maintained the
constitutional power Of Congress to
dispose of portion Of tho public
domain to enhance the value of the
remaining portion. He said:
81 will answer the Senator. The
General Government has no power
to make amy railroad or canal
through any State; but the disposal
of a portion Of the public domain
to raise the value Of the rest, is
clearly within the power Of this Gov
crnment."
| find, Mr.. Speaker, in the 18th
volume of the Congressional Globe,
another debate upon the bill granting
alternate sections of the public lands
to the State of Michigan, in which a
number of senator's participated. I
Al