The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-20

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siderable amount, that Ohio ever applied for any
grant of lands in aid of any Of her works of in
ternal improvement Unassisted, her people
bought their farms, feled the forest, built thei
log cabins, reared their school. houses construct
ed their churches Unassisted they Joined the
lake 10 the river by the Ohio canal, and thus
| completed the first internal waterway from the
Atlantic ocean TO the Gulf of Mexico. Amos,
unasslsled, tins people, energetic and intelligent
extended their system Of canals making AMONG
others, second canal from the river to the
lake, covered the surface of the State with q
network OF iurnpkes and railways; improved
Their watercourses; constructed their public
edllces among which they point as their chel
glory to the various asyums for those children
OF sorrow, the deaf, the dumb, the blind, and the
insane.
say almost unasisted, Ohio alone of all the
land States, except Tennessee, received no aid
IN the construction Of her public buildings.
Ohio, less than any other State, except Alabama
and less than Alabama if regard be had to the
proportion of population or OF unsold lands, has
participated IN the grants for internal improve.
ments. While she has received less, she has
as i have already stated, paid more to the gov.
ernmeat and the grantees Of the government
Than AZ other State. She has, besides, borne
her full proportion of the indirect taxation OF
the tarii, ana contributes, at this moment, nearly
one-tenth Of the national revenue. ...'
submit to the Senate that an irresistible case
has been made out for the grant of the residue
OF public lands in Ohio to the State. If any.
thing were wanting, might urge, in addition
the precedent Of the grant TO Tennessee in 1876
In that year Congress terminated federal owner.
snip in that State, by the act 10 surrender to
the State Of Tennessee all It'll. the United
States have TO lands in Tennessee, South and
West OF the line commonly called the Congress.
sonal Reservation Line" Indeed the act
went further than this. Ii released to the State
the proceeds OF lands already sold
But these case Of Ohio is even yet stronger
Had she received as much more than her sister
States as she has received less were there no
direct precedent rs the case of Tennessee to be
pleaded; there would still remain adequate, nay
controlling reasons for the grant,
SXty-hve years have elapsed since the com.
mencemcnt OF the sales of public lands within
the limits of Ohio-more than the period of two
generations of men. The unsold residue has
probably been in market for the average period
OF quarter Of a century. II does not, indeed
deserve the name of residue. Ii is n mere resi-.
dunn. IL very little exceeds in quantity two
hundred thousand acres. 1t is less than one
hundredth part the original domain. The cost
TO the general government, of two land Offices
IN the State, during the last year exceeded S..
600; and now that land warrants have been made
assignable and receivable for all lands, and
must, therefore, hereafter constitute the chief il
lot the sole currency in which payments must
be made for the public domain, il is not proba.
BILE that the receipts at these offices will defray
their cost. The unsod residue therefore, how.
ever valuable it may be TO the State, is not
worth keeping to the government
Besides, no statesman who has ever discussed
the subject of the public domain, has ever sug.
gested that the United States shall hold on 70
the lands with unreIaxing gripe until the sale OF
the last acre and the payment Of the last dollar
and quarter. Ga the contrary, all have con.
Cured in the opiuion that at the proper time the
land States should be relieved from the dispar.
agement Of their proper sovereignty by national
ownership Of untaxed and untenable lands within
their limits, by cessions of the unsold residue
II was the opinion of n distinguished Senator
from Missouri, not now metnter of this BODY
Mr. BEHToSl, that these cessions should in all
cases be made upon the reduction Of the guam.
tiy in any State to 100000 acres concur in
this opinion. Indeed, | should be better pleased
with an earlier termination Of federal ownership
But, whatever may be thought as to the proper
time, no one will question the propriety of such
a cession at some time, and no one will doubt,
think, that in the case of Ohio, at least, that
time has come.
lforbear TO enlarge upon these considerations
know the desire of the Senate TO proceed 10
other business, and ! cheerfuIIv submit this case
Of Ohio, believing it TO be impregnable, to the
liberality, 10 the wisdom, and above all, TO the
justice of my fellow Senators.
M. HUNTER. II is not so much the amount
proposed TO be given, by ceding these lands TO
the State of Ohio, to which object, as that il
seems to me that the bill proposes to establish
new principle--in other words, TO give to the
State Of Ohio two hundred and sixteen thousand
acres Of land. II is true, sir, that this land has
been exposed for sale for twenty or thirty years,
for 81 % per acre but 1t never has been
offered for less price. Now, ! should be will
ing to graduate these lands according to the
term Of years during which they have been in
/ market | believe that would even 90 further.
! | would allow the State TO come in as pre-.
emptor, for ! believe that il would be very
desirable thing TO terminate the ownership OF
this land by the government Of the United
States; but am afraid Of beginning this prin-
ciPle, which appears TO be involved in this bill
| The Senator from Ohio admoushes me that
he is anxious TO obtain a vote on the bill, and |
will therefore do no more than merely state that
have objections--that cannot vote for the