The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-20


From this principal they deducted such an amount
as would pay the expense OF administering these lands ;
the enlIe value oil these aDdsabout one hundred and
sixty millions OF aees-was found by them TO be at that
iime F2oapo.ooo But Elf, they were not aware OF The
faol that they were undertaking their No
senator from Massachusetts had then appeared 10 inform
them as 10 The large OF the Indebtedness OF The
general government 10 them. After deducting for the
nne years The ~ 500 610 which lie Gays owed for
anon annually appeared that we were indebted to them
Sl342Q, or SS3l3 429 than the estimate OF the
them TO have been taxed at The rate OF two cents we
owel something like $50 100000 and il the rate of lax
aon was hxed al three cents per acre, owed them
between $4,000 900 and $l3o.ooo.ooo But, sir wish
10 make calculation Tor him upon data which will help
out his assumptions still more and 10 still greater
tent than that which is afforded by the esale made by
The gentlemen from the new States themselves,
hnd upon inquiry al the department. that the quantity
OF land unsod in The land States is fraction under two
hundred millions OF | find that for the last ten
years the average sale has been about one million eight
hundred thousand acres per annum lind sull further
by reference 10 the past history this subject that the
sales OF the public lands within the land States have not
increased in the number OF from year TO year, but
have generally fallen off, Such, at least is the history
of the sale OF public lands in Ohio given from the
Land Office But by way OF making The calculation as
much IN his favor as possible, with approximation to
the TRUTH will suppose the average amount OF sales TO
be increased and that they sell something like three mil
lions oil per annum in the land States, and that
the lands worth the full government, price, or s. 25
per acre, with deduction supposed to be necessary for
the administration and survey OF the lands, which is
something like twenty cents per acre This, be-
eve is the estimate OF the expense for purchase survey
and administrations made by the senator from Mich-
gan, Mr. FELcHl III report made in July, 1850, put
therefore, the highest income from the sale of the lands
at T3, 900 900 per annuman income which is probably
much beyond what may fairly be expected if estimate
upon the basis OF the present land sales. dessnedly
oyersta'e the amount TO satisfy the senator from Massa
chuse,is, we'll knowing that make calculations
which DO more than approximate the truth
Three millions OF acres per annum would exhaust The
2oooooooo OF acres in something less than sixtyseye
years. permanent annuity of three millions of dollars
for sixty years would be WORTH according the
tables, fraction over $4,000 ,000 and them
according to the estimates of the from Massachu
sets, something more than $60,00o 900, estimating the
taxation at one cent per and $50 900 900 3D.
49Oi75 at two cents per and more than $500 900
at three cents per debt which all the public lands
and all the customs likely be received would not
bic us 10 pay for long time The only thing which
saves us from utter bankruptcy is, that we did not
ton times much land happened to possess For
is very evident, from the genemans calculations, that
the more land we the larger will be our debt and
the poorer we shall become. Calculations like these
MIR. President, must be founded somewhere the
data upon which they rest must be false in respects
if the conclusions well drawn for the results
such as must staIle even The most common observer.
How does he propose to lay the axes At the rate OF
enc cent probably OF two three cents" per acre. and
on land that would not, alter the expense OF admnsa
uon average in value than dollar per This
would be one per cent every al two cents
acre would be two per cent? and at three cents
three per cent. Was such taxation heard OF in any
State IN this Unlon' In the senator's State, (ias
sachuselis,) which has small superficial extent and has
many large towns and much capital understand that the
tax does not exceed mills the dollar
tenths OF cent and yet he thinks just TO charge
one, two, three per cent lands many of which are
wild, and still IN possession OF the Indians and thinks
very unls towards The land States If refuse 10 allow
IT, Bat pray 10 know II the history OF the past does not
show that have compensated the land States for The
right OF taxation In the first place, sustained them
while they Territories at the public expense and
the honorable senator from Tennessee MIR BELL] very
well remarked we defended them from all dangers from
will hon nt foru We rave he
section thirty sixth part two and nnths
per cent of all the aHd within their limits and what is
more, we allowed them to make their own selections
Not only did give them six and quarter per cent OF
the entire capital ia public lands within Their borders, but
we put the residue down TO low price, low was
consistent with The ateresi OF the land Satesor could
show that il sell them lower price would effect
ea mischief in the States themselves last, too,
they sold. gave them five per cent OF The amount
received after deducng the expenses oi survey and sale
Nor is this all for according to The statement oil the hon
oable senator from Michigan, MI fEIcH,l who is gen
orally with regard to such matters we have gwen
them something ike ten or eleven millions oil acres io
purposes OF internal Improvements.
Now, is not this an abundant compensation ior the
REIMBURSEMENT OF the right OF taxation, II they ever had
ii Bu, the honorable senator from Michigan says they
equal 10 the other States, II they have not this
right and he rather to argue that they have on
account OF the eminent dotaan which, he says all SOW
ereign States possess Equal how Why, the States
are not all equal in point OF property, but they are equal
IN franchises and privileges These land States can do
whatever any other States in this conederacy do
H0 Siacs grant Charters BANKS or
and agree by contract, not 10 tax them Tor certain
time Are they unequal because they thus disable them
selves from taxing this species OF property How, then,
are the States who agree by compact with the Unled
States and upon fair and full consideration, not 10 tax
the public lands unequal in point ot dignity, power or
privilege 10 their conlederaes IL is mere property ar
Tanrement, made with their consent, and affecting
not their political rights. but their wealth. Let us sup
pose sir-wha might well hsppen-that the lands were
their own and sold TO companies OF individuals, Hpon
the condition that they 10 be exempt from taxation
for term Of years would that place them IN conduon
of iperiority as compared with the CO. States How,
then does vary their position, II thus compact be made
with The United States, and especially II u De made upon
considerations which yaluabIe IN moral, apocai
and a pecunary point of view IL IS TO be observed,
too a, the general government does not iorce them 10
come IN as States On the contrary It says; 80 long
as you choose 10 remain IN territorial condiuon,
will support your government, and You shali 'bs
al no expense but If you choose 10 come into the
Union a State, when you have population enough 10
entiile you TO representative IN the House. we
will admit you, with representative in the House
and two senators on this foor-in fact, with more
political privileges than majority OF the old States
possess and with tar lager share o the patronage
OF the general government; Tor on the frontiers the
larger portion of the army generally posted and there,
TOO large portion OF the machinery IS placed winch
is necessary Tor the disposition OF The Puohc lands
ueated with injustice They have nothing which ! am
unwilling they should have, and do not mention these
things with any view object 10 what they nave nao
hui rather 10 repe and epudae the charge that we nave
treated them with injustice, that IN particular would
sanction any course which Is unjust IN relation 10 tne
But MIR President, will not follow the senator from
Ma chusetts any further know that The honorable
senator from Kentucky [Mr UsprawooDl rs preparing
broadside OF mathematics laugh'erl ioT him from MAS
Nx GYNtx nd L