Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-03-25

The House having taken up for consider
alton the bill, the Speaker said the gentle
man from Missouri (Mr. Miller,) was
entitled to the floor.
Mr.. MILLER said: Mr.. Speaker, before
the vote is taken upon the motion which has
been made by the honorable gentleman from
Tennessee, Mr.. Jones, to refer the bill
which was reported by the chairman of the
Committee on Public Lands, Mr. Hall,
my colleague, together with the amendments
which have been offered to that bill, | de-
sire to submit few remorks TO the House.
am fully aware that the subject of the dis
position of the public lands has been ably
discussed by some of our wisest statesmen;
and they have shed upon it the bright light
Of their own brilliant intellects. They have
so clearly pointed out the true policy of this
Government with regard to granting lands
TO the States for internal improvements
through our public domain, that but little is
left for me to say. But, sir, while this SUBJ
ject may be waiting in novelty to attract
and secure the attention Of this House, we
have attained far more in the entire and COM
pletc sccess of q no longer doubtful expert
ment. The wisdom of the policy has been
pointed out and fully established by the grants
of public lands heretofore made for works
of this character. Since the first acquisi-
ton of territory by this Government, down
to their present day, the question of the dis
position ofthe public lands has elected much
debate in the halls of Congress-debate in
which the strongest intellects have met in
I 4 -, IL.
ished shaft has been shivered, but by which
brighter page has been added TO the poll
teal history OF our country. Such, sir, was
the debate-without referring to others-ir
the other end of this Capitol in the year
1880, upon the celebrated resolution of Mr.
| Foote.
/ But while this subject has been thus dis.
cusscd, while men and statesmen have differ.
ed upon the best disposition which shoult
be made of these lands, believe there ha'
been very general concurrence of senti
ment among men of all parties, and from ev
cry section of the nation, in regard to thi'
policy Of appropriating or granting the pub
lie lands for works Of internal improvement
in opening roads and cutting cannals through
the public domain.
! here beg leave, before passing TO tin
merits of this bill, TO state that, though m,
own State, Missouri, has been somewha
tardy i'll the commencement of these grea
works of internal improvement, she has nev
er involved her credit; she has never sur
rounded herself with embarrassments am
difficulties by engaging in wild schemes @
internal improvement. And she does nc
now come to you TO ask as a charity you
aid in the construction Of work of loca
interest but she comes to you with con
sciousncss of the justness of her claim fo
q great national work, in which every sec
tion Of the nation is interested. She come
to you and asks that justice which you hav
meted out 10 others, may be awarded TO hel
Mr.. Speaker, this bill, which presum
has been laid upon the table ofevery men
o bcr Of the House proposes grant of land
I to two roads within the limits OF the State
/ Missouri. One of these roads commence
at the city of Hannibal, on the Mississippi ri,
- er, about one hundred and thirty miles abo,
the great city of St. Louis, and near TO Il
@ city of Quincy, in the State of Illinois,
From that point the road has been surveyt
to the city Of 81. Joseph, on the Mo. riv,
about five hundred, or five hundred and fl
ty miles above the city of St. Lonis. 1t W
be seen from this statement, that this road
$ intended TO connect the upper waters of Il
, Missouri river with the better navigab
streams of the upper Mississippi. This ro;
- by actual survey upon a straight line, is oil
hundred and seventy ght miles in lengt
MS but it may be found, upon the location of Il
road to be about two hundred miles in lengt
ID 1t will be found, further, if gentlemen W
81 81 take the trouble to refer to the map of Il
United States, that this road is upon the p
rallied of latitude which embraces the caE
- tails of some of the States east of Missou
1t is near the latitude of Springfield, India
ry apolis, Columbus, and of Philadelphia; a
r. BY the continuation of the road from the
ty of Quincy, which understand is alrea
in process Of construction, this road wall CO
h' moot ,,.;,b tho Yoad at ColrtnhuS in the Sts