The daily union., 1852-03-16

ministration. The Post Office Department is made TO
support itself-so should the land department.
doubt whether human wisdom could devise one which
wenld thus far have worked better We must have gen
eral syste. Time and creumstances may demand mod:
i6caon Of The --ant one. We here make general
laws for the public good -nd the fewer they in nun,
Der the better All government ouia nave sone seieH
poicy. we cannot legisaie IN rega. p.u0aai oeas
rao,d ,as ms ssod same, properly or wisely Some
taiioad snoud run east, west, north, or sout.. A
| OF lhe oid Stales might want road 10 run wa
some another way Some people in the new States want
road TO run one way-some another Hence questions
are brought up not proper adjudication in Congress
Why should we provide Tor sale and settlement OF The
public lands ~ particular part OF State, and not
10 an oiher Lei any man give rational this
question if he can Every general law will operate IN
Jurously in particular cases, and therefore complaints
may seem 10 be Justly made bnt should be remembered
that is much easier 70 point to defects than 10 devise
remedies, TO touch bemishes than TO hem 10 de-
mosh an edihce than TO erect convenient substitute
II we should cede The public lands 10 The twelve
States in which they lie, we would still be Obliged 10
keep sP the band and Indian departments forhe Terrific
ries cession would not therefore much diminish the
expenses nor would II, in my opinion, much ben
eht the new States than TO graduate and reduce the price,
II the new States 10 take them, they would be
Besides one Stale would adopt one system and another
Stale another The good OF the country does not require
=. present 80 rash disruption Of The prssen, sysem
These twelve land States ask a cessi0n TO them OF
the public lands within their territorial limits. Some Of
the old States refuse and demand thathe proceeds oil the
sales thereof be divided among all Men sometimes dis
play great wisdom in making concessions the proper
lime. where principle is moi concerned. Charles had
no wisdom OF this sort and lost his head George iii
did not know when to yield little, and lost his colo
MES The manufacturers made great mistake in not
accepting McKay's tariff bill in 1914, for in lS46
passed far more Objectionable TO Them. II seems 10
that the representatives of the old States ought TO
agree 10 graduate and reduce the price OF the public
ands and the representatives OF the new States ought
give up these numerous railroad projects by means OF
which they expect TO get most OF the public lands and
break up The present land system.
The bill under consideration called ga bill granting
mak G n ora n
OF Iowa IN ad W Ne constitution Of certain railroads IN
said State" To the grant Of right Of way have no
States The real object of the bill is indicated in the
e-to wit 10 "aid in the construction OF railroads"
II will not do TO call plan TO aid in the construction Of
railroads measure 10 settle and improve the public
lands That is begging the question, and the assump-
on OF the main point in dispute That would be making
the incident greater Than the principal Those who
come here get these bills passed in order to have
them go into the hands OF corporations have surplus
love for the poor settlers. wish to call things by their
pie know what doing, II it is right for US to
build raroad or 10 aid in building one let do it at
once, not BY indrecton. These bills not looking directly
TO- and having for their primary object sale and settle
ment ofbe public ands iosws, matter Of course.
that they involve the federal government ina system of
internal improvement-op TO which has now be-
fundamental article in the creed OF the democratic
party. We all know when breach is once made in
s GI great ne no M 1s T aSa how
passed, and now fen or fifteen proposed asking fifteen
twenty millions OF acres. Next year the number will
double.
Every intelligent man who has witnessed The working
OF The federal government must see the tendency to
sohda.lon Inc States sec seem 70 be iasl becoming mere
port Congress is constantly besieged 10 oversep lis
legitimate powers. Annually hereafter grants OF land
will be asked, until all is exhausted in the States and
then applications will come from the Territories Where.
there is power there be disposition use
and abuse IL All admit that strict construction of the
constitutions orbearance 10 exercise any power except
where express grant for it be found in the const
tutonis necessary TO the preservation and perpeiuy Of
this government, and yet The restrictions and limitations
OF the constitution seem 10 be OF avail when ambition
prompts and interest leads the way We have govern
ment fomed of external and internal soveign,ies The
general and great purposes OF the Union protect
against foreign invasion TO defend us against commo-
tons and instructions, and to regulate intercourse
with foreign nations All other matters, with few excep
tons, IN the machinery OF our government left 10 the
States II this doctrine OF strict construction be
forced, Congress will no longer pe besieged by jobbers
contractors and SPECTATORS and people will cease 10
think that the world can be legisaled into the millennium
If dscod among the States, rebellion, and anarchy, shall
ever destroy this fair land ii will be because this govern
ment has assumed powers not granted by the constitution
II is said, however, in answer TO constitutional
scrupes that has been the practice OF the government
TO grant alternate sections 10 aid the construction OF
canals and the Improvement OF rivers Precedents are
ced and the aid OF great called in Sir, admit
the precedens, but deny their force Precedents Why
everything They rise up like Banquo's ghost Our evil
deeds live after US. We are not in Westminster Hall,
however where precedenis are considered binding.
Great names brought forward. Mr.. Cahoun's opn-
ion has been cited Upon what great question OF
sluiiona construction have not great statesmen been
about equally dvidedl-and OF them have been found
upon both sides OF the came question. Take the ques-
lions OF the bank, tariff, internal improvements sub
treasury, slavery, &c, and show the opinions of
statesmen equally eminent on both sides | therefore
read the constitution for myself; and am in doubt,
go the side which gives least power to the general
government, and most 10 the States. | confess that |
prefer the opinions expressed by Pesnent Polk in his
celebrated veto message OF the river and harbor bill TO
those of any other statesman upon the subject Of internal
improvements
The constitution gives Congress "power dispose OF
and make all needfui rules and regulations respecting the
territory and other property belonging 10 the United
States" The bills we are called upon to pass do not
purport 10 make any general "rues (and all rules We
make here should be genera respecting the public lands
Who will deny the of this propositoni II
authorize railroads through the different land States, and
chal re the price sometimes within i've and sometimes
within fifteen miles of the roads, every one must
that speculation, Injustice and endless confusion and lit
igaton must be the result If wegrant lands TO aid
railroad must make grants to aid all other projected
roads We make rues--in other words, make
laws-wh view 10 dispose OF the public ands-not
with a view 10 construct railroads and canals Be-
Sides what right have 10 make rules which will pro-
mote the sale and settlement OF the public lands in
section of State and not in anotberi Who will say
,ha, this question is not properly put Every man OF
experience, II TO must the confusion, BEN
ehcal only TO spectators, which such policy would
lead. And again Everybody knows that nearly all The
lands upon the line OF these roads have been cold Why
then, call il bill grating alternate sections, whenh "
well known that they will be obliged TO go on zen or
fifteen miles from The line OF the road 70 ge the required
quanly--to vii, five miles each side Oh tpe road
II has been said and intmated again and again, that
- .,t.I,, H..