Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-11-27
REMARKS OF GEN. SAUNDERS,
OF WAKE.


slant, on the subject of the Public Lands, S-c.
Gen. Saunders said he desired to say few words
in regard the Public Lands, and as his opinion had
been thought to be of sufficient importance to be
quoted in the public prints he wished explain what
he had said previous day. whist ne shoula
be frank and explicit the subject, he had nothing
take back, but he should be more explicit and de-
finite the question. He said, as he now mad oeIore
him the resolutions adopted by the two National Con-
vsntons. which he had before referred, he begged
to read them:
The Democratic Convention
So ResoEped That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the powerto commence
and carry general system of Internal Improve
ments and that the proceeds of the public lands
ought be sacredly applied to the national objects
specified in the Constitution
And the Wing Convention
Resolved, That the Constitution vests in Con-
gress the power to open and repair har6ors, and re-
expedient that Congress shall exercise that power
whenever s1ch Improvements are necessary for the
common defence, for the protection and facility OF
commerce with foreign nations or among the States;
such Improvements being, in every instance, national
and general in their character
Here it would be seen, said Gen. s., that the
democratic resolutions affirmed negatively what Coz
gress could not do-whilst the Wing resolutions said
affirmatively what Congress could do. The former
declared that Congress had power under the Con-
sttuton appropriate the public money to general
system of Internal Improvement Nor had they any
power TO distribute the ''prOeeeds" of the public
applied to objects authorized by the Constitution.
The Wing resolutions say in Congress is vested the
power open and repair harbors and remove obstuc
lions from navigabeIivers, such Improvements being
every instance, national and general In their Char
acter.
Now, said Gen. S., it was not the exercise pow
er here claimed to which he objected, but it was
the abuse of the limitations. If the appropriations
should be made for objects strictly and bona hde
connected with the foreign commerce of the country,
even between the States, Of natlonal, and not
of State character, he was prepared TO approve of
them. At present he did not intend TO 60 fully into
the argument, but merely to state his position. So
as to the democratic resolutions he prepared to
plant himself on the principles as laid down in Gen.
Jackson's celebrated Maysvi veto message; the
highest pillar as he conceived in Gen. Jackson's
Executive communications. He read from the mes
sage in which it is stated, that the constitutional
power of the federal government to construct works
of internal improvement presents itself In two points
of view the first, in which jurisdiction over the
territory within the States is asserted the second,
asserting the simple right to appropriate money
from the national treasury in aid of such works. when
undertaken by State authority surrenderng the claims
of jurisdiction 'The frst,'' says Gen. Jackson,
" it does not in my opinion possess" AS to the
second point he says, that whenever money has
been raised by the general authority, and is to be ap
piled to particular measure, the question arises
whether the particular measure be within the emu.
merated authorities vested in Congress. If it be,
the money requisite for it, may be applied to it, if no
no such application can be made.''
Now, said Gen. S., he agreed with Gen. ]. in both
of these positions. He denied the power where urs-
diction was asserted-where it would become neces-
sary carry citizens before the federal Courts
and punish them for the violation of any works of
improvement within the State, Congress should
prosecute without the consent of the State. But
where the State had authorized the work had in
corporated company to carry it on, a subscription
the part of Congress then became, according to the
message question of expedency and not of power.
The resolution as to the public lands declares that
Congress has power to distribute these proceeds"
among the States. But what said our Western dem
ocratic friends, Cass and Douglas That whilst you
have not the power to distribute the proceeds you
have, that is Congress- the power to distribute and
appropriate the lands themselves, the grounds
that when the money from the sales goes into the
public treasury, you cannot distinguish the money
from that arising from imports any other of
revenue. But as Congress has the general power of
and controlling the public lands Congress
has the power of disposing of them al their discre-
ton by applying them to objects authorized by the
Constitution. Now, said Gen. s., it was to this
doctrine, this construction of platform resolutions
which he had referred, and what he had said was
this: That when Mr.. Senator Cass had proposed to
make large grant of the public lands, for the pur
pose of cutting ship channel at the Saut St. Mays,
instead of moving, Mr.. Badger had done, 10 strike
out the land and appropriate money to test the Con-
sti;utional questions he should have moved for an
appropriation of 500 900 acres OF the public lands In
order to the sincerity of those gentlemen for
the opening of Nag's Head : an object as national |
and directly connected with the foreign commerce
OF the country as mat OF the SE wary AHlS Is
what he had said. But he was prepared to 60 farth-
er and say, the public lands: If the resolution
Of the democratic Convention to be adhered to in
good faith-if President Pierce intended to stand by
and sustain it-then he, Gen. S., was prepared to
stand by and sustain him.. But if this system of |
giving away and squandering the public lands, eth
er by bestowing them>on actual settlers by grant
ing them by alternate sections particular States
and companies for Railroads prevailed, then he
onyprepared resist such land plumber he
prepared do justice to the old Staes either BIZ d.
vision of the lands themselves, by depositn heir
proceeds among the States, done under Gen. |
Jacksons administration, and to give the Legisla- |
of the States the power to invest the money in
railroad stocks otherwise. And should the money |
be called for, the deposit to be discharged by |
return of the stocks in which it had been invested
In answer 10 Mr. McNeill's question: whether
he would vote, at this time with the present debt
for such distribution and deposit? Gen. S. answered
most emphatcally, Yes. AS to the debt of 60 mil |
lions, President Pierce would pay that off by his e.
economical administration, he, Gen. S., should be
greatly disappointed and that without the aid of the
public lands And now said Gen. s., as he felt well
satisfied the next Congress would have decide this
question of the public lands, he himself should vote
for no one as Senator Representative who he be-
lieyed would not carry out these views, or pursue
such course to the old States their lust
share in these lands. Having said thus much. he
should here resthe subject until the land resolut ions
of the gentleman from Davidson should come Nd
when he should be prepared TO vote in accordabce
with the principles he had ayowed. e
RESOLUTIONS respecting the Public Lands, intro +
duced into the Housa of Commons H., n -, ID