The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-03

that 90 far as iayors can be estimated in money, the
balance is decidedly against the general government and
il the principles of government which have all pro-
tessed 10 cherish OF any value, the new States nave
been greatly the sufferers by the Terms imposed upon
them at The time OF their admission into the Union
have adyerted to the facts, Mir President not Tor the
purpose OF using them the foundation OF claim Tor
the passage Of these bills, but TO show how utterly des-
iiute oi any apology The oppobrious epilhets EN-
ployed by persons OF this chamber and somewhat
encouraged by the course Of remark wllhn II towards
the new States.
Mr. President before proceed in the line OF my aIgu-
ment which about 10 resume, II IS due TO The hon
orabe senator from Georgia Mr., DAwsoNl to take some
notice OF explanation which was given by HIM yes
erday evening OF portion OF his speech as published.
which quoted II seems that he did not design TO inli-
mate that had all the railroads mentioned by hun
already constructed at the expense oil The Uned Staes
but that his imagination reached forward 10 period
when they should be constructed and then he concludes
that they win have been built exclusively from the treas
uy OF the United States, without the cost OF single dol
lar 10 the people OF the States My apology Tor having
made the quotation is, that supposed that the honora-
BILE senator said what reported, and meant what nc
said. | accept the explanation, however and y now re
suits IN this, that he concurs with the honorable senator
from Kentucky [Mr UNpERwooDl in the general inter
pfetalion OF these bills which stated yeserdayname
y that they propose 10 give TO the new States without
any consideration equivalent quantity OF land, sut
cient construct their railroads aud then support their
governments by evyng tolls upon the citizens OF other
States That the proposition distinctly made by the
honorable senator from Kentucky, and which now APP
pears to have the approval OF The honorable senator from
Georgia
Ii shall be successful in making myself understood
hope 10 show that these bills, II they become laws, IN
stead o diminishing, will increase the receipts into The
treasury from the public lands affected by them and make
large reduction in the annual expenditures of the gov
eminent On this branch OF the subject address ms sell
more especially 10 the honorable chairman oil the Com
mee Finance, IMr. HUNTER,l wh1 appears to prei-
ieate his opposition 10 the bills manly on the assnmp-
lion that their effect will be TO diminish the receipts OF the
treasury. He regards The public lands only source
of revenue, fand 10 support and maintain the pub
lie credit and supposes they may be needed for one or
both these purposes at some future period.
| The public lands constitute fund undoubtedly, but a
| fund 10 BIZ administered other funds OF the United
Sates-to be applied to the beneficial execution of the
trusts conhied 10 The general government, and Tor the
promotion Of the ends Tor which the constitution was
ordained and established The power OF Congress
the lands is Extensive with their the public
moneythey under no particular obligation to dis
| pose OF them in any one mode rather than another.
| Whenever appropriation shall be needed for any
constitutional purpose may be made N lands or money!
or both as Congress shall deem expedienl:
In the OF my remarks yesterday, said that the
policy Of the government. from the beginning, had been
to survey and sell the public lands. They in
the Market and may be purchased at 81 25 per and
when that is obtained all is accomplished that is contem
plated by the law under the present land system
Any State, corporation, or persons. may purchase al
the minimum price, any quantity OF public land subject
entry and apply II TO any purpose at discretion Ii they
choose 10 construct railroad canal they may take
their lime, appropriate TO themselves all the profits
the land and make their bargains for the trans
poFtaon OF the mails troops, and property OF the general
goVernment.
Now, MIR President, there are in every township OF
six miles square thryve sections subject TO SALE (sec
at The minimum price township would produce $3.50
sold The bill proposes to grant the seventeen
numbered sections subject 10 sale in and OF The road and
double the price upon the eighteen odd numbered
tons reserved, which would yield TO the treasury
SIS, s0o-being $500 than the whole township
would produce IT sold in the ordinary mode Toe bal
affects Two townships for every six miles of the road
and road OF two hundred and iorly miles in length
(Which, believe, is the lensA--one proposed in Iowa
and in Mlssour) would yield Increased revenue
TO Say nothing of the other advantages secured to the
United Sa,es) OF S5i 900 submit IT to the honorable
this aud like bills will have the effect of .'squandering
away the public ands'to render them unavailable as
source OF revenue'whether, If The reserved lands
shall sell Tor the minimum price liked BY the BILL there il
a loss or gain 10 the treasury.
No who has taken par. in this debate has con-
tended offered anything like Argument TO show
that the reserved lands will not probably produce Sc 5c
per The honorable senator from Tennessee MIR
BELL is OF opinion that they will readily sell for s. OF
$40 per acre The honorable senator from Georgia Mr.
DAwsos assumes that the granted lands will bring 81 So
per al least but he does not TO think that the
reserved lands will sell for the price think, and
may well say here for all, that whatever prc,
may be obtained for the granted lands will be obtained
by the United States for the reserved lands and that
opinion, presume, will no, be seriously disputed.
The honorable senator from Kentucky appears 10 think
that the reserved sections will sell time for the
minimum price fixed by the bill but he objects 10 the bill
because OF the augmentation OF the price, which he says
will delay the sales and thus affect the revenue Delay
the sales how Mr. President can inform the honor
able senator that there lands in Missouri along the
line of the Pacific railroad called, in process OF
years under the existing system, and but for the location
OF the road would in all probability have been delayed
much longer; but the line OF the road
tablshed every OF the unsold land entered by
persons who made little inquiry TO the quality
OF the land, The 10 which II might be put and
now the same lands distant from 81. Louis from twenty
to forty miles, cannot be purchased at less than from IS
| 10 $40 per
II can scarcely be doubted, then, think, that there
will be augmentation OF the market value OF the
served lands TO The full extent supposed by the BILL and
Therefore the derived from the lands reserved
will exceed that which would be received under the gen.
eral land system Tor the whole OF the granted aud
served lands together The construction Of the foads
i will demand for and accelerate the sales oil
other lands that probably would be sold at all
der other circumstance. The Tor this given
by the honorable senator from Illinois, Mr. DOUGLAS
and shall not occupy the time oil the Senate BY repeat
ing it.
But the honorable senator from Kentucky amends to
him the old adage "tha hogs the best sacks carry
corn to market in" Where the people are living in
prairie Districts distant from timber. or from shipping
points, they the honorable senator's primitive
locomotives 10 carry their 10 market But how
they 10 get timber In the midst OF these pralresl How
| arc they 10 be accommodated with the means OF trans
porting the produce oil their farms 10 marketl Will be
sufficient inducemen 10 persons TO purchase lands
the prairie wilderness settle them, and open farms,
because, IN the opinion OF the senator, hogs the
! best sacks 10 carry corn 10 market in Z"
/ Mr.. President, the value OF that argument may be
tested by the proposition oil the himself He and
other senators content that they and their cons-
uenls should have other OF carrying produce
to market than that earnestly recommended to the set
Tiers on the prares. They ask an appropriation Of