The daily union., 1852-03-18

strained by constitutional am afraid. therefore
as the senator asks what security we can oner- am
afraid that we offer none al all.
| Mr.. ATCHIS0N. Mr.. President, have but one
word to say do moi propose 10 offer any security Nor
do suppose that there solitary senator from OF
the land States upon this floor who proposes to offer any
not one. Now. sir, il has been said time and again. by
AL senators opposed TO this bill or opposed to anything
like justice in any form OF bill presented by the new
Sates-It has been declared. again and again, that we
giving away these lands Now, Mr. President, there
Is not bill upon the table of any senator presented at
this any former session. which has for its object the
giving away OF the public lands, either for the construc
ton OF railroads for other purposeoi internal i'm.
section of this bill that doubles the price OF the public
lands upon the alternate sections and them sir the
mainder will be donation, Il is thought There is no
! Mr.. DODGE. of Iowa, Tin his seat) There is the
onsr claare TS% apSoi the Transportation Of ,roop
the public lands Mr. President. II that senator can
show. that this bill, any other land bl be-
fore the Senate. gives away single cent, single
acre of land, or even fraction Of acre, to the new
States. then. sir am ready to abandon the whole sys
tenn. This, sir is expedient-l do not say that the
senator from Pennsylvania Mr. BRoDHEADl offered it as
expedient to defeat this billbu, sir it brought
up expedent to defeat these and all the other land
bills. Now, Mr.. President. tell that senator-and |
believe every other senator representing the new States
BILL and that prefer the graduation bill to almost any
kind OF land bill before the Senate. When this bill was
first taken up for discussion viewed il view il now,
that you are giving 10 the new States nothing; you are
conferring no direct favor upon the State of Missouri.
Iowa, by these grants II is the moral influence, and the
moral influence aone upon our own people, 10 encour
age them To step forward and advance their money for
the construction of these roads, and nothing else This
is all the effect it has We do not draw from the treas
ury OF the United States cent acre OF land.
except for which we pay an equivalent trust the gen.
tlemen will change their pnraseology somewhat from
that Of my friend from Virginia, when he speaks of
granting or OF donating" lands to the new States
L nj p a " runk
MI. ATCHiSoN. We'll, sir. to gran, or 10 give away
is all the thing That is the idea that they given
his pbraseology, else that he will demonstrate that it
| is gift.
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD obtained the floor, but gave way
| Mr.. BRODHEAD. One word, SIR My friend from
Tennessee asked what security we had that Congress
would not donate and give away these public lands if
we adopt the graduation policy. In answer TO that in
qury lhave only say that have this security:
deprive the advocates OF this bill OF the principal argu
ment which they advance in favor of it, They say they
desire to induce the sale and settlement Of the public
lands. Sir, we agree to that proposition. We adopt that
principle, and offer the graduation policy substitute
You cannot have both. As representative OF of the
old States, beg leave to say that cannot give them
both OF these measures cannot give them this railroad
bill giving some len or fifteen millions OF acres away,
this as compromse-the same measure that has been
urged upon Congress for years past-and ask them to
I M sH gsS to make
remark in reply 10 the gentleman from Missouri, [Mr
ATcHIsos1 | think it is amenlable, alter months of
should still be Numerically opposed with regard the
facts OF the II understand him rightly my friend
from Missouri says that if il can be shewn that these
lands are given away he is against the whole measure
Now, have over and again. stated that they
were given away and he denies il positively, The
question: then, s which OF us understands the bill cor
rectly Now, Mr. President e, me the again.
so that every one will il, and put il in such clear
light that nobody can conuovert it. This bill says that
the State shall be entitled TO every alternate section for
six miles on either side OF the whole road.
The grant, then to the State is equal TO six sections
p ss m sssons % SIX aef Tba,
is clear Nobody deny that Now sir, suppose, by
the private entries that have been made there is left only
two four sections out OF which the selection is to be
made, what would be the consequence of that state OF
things' Instead OF having your whole twelve sections
six miles on both sides-ou Of il you can get only half.
left. instead OF the whole twelve Then the bill Gays
you shall take up the deficiency than six miles from
the road You can get only half Of four or two sections,
and that is all you get OF the land which is left and
then there four sections to which you entitled,
and which you get more than six miles from the road.
NNY, sir, can the gentleman from Missouri Mr. ATcHI
SOM deny that these four sections which you take up,
than six miles from the road pure donation 10
the States without cents equivalent in re'urn Why,
sr II is mathematical demonstration that this is just
sothat these four sections than six miles from The
line oil The road are given away Tor which the United
States do not receive cent. Thee Is no doubling OF
the price for these four sections at ALL because you only
double the price upon hall of the four sections which
within ak miles. You double the price upon two sec
uOns, 0eng nall oil the sections oil
the road and there is nothing upon which you can
double the price OF the four sections which lie beyond SIX
miles from the road
MIR. DOWNS Suppose you sell two for one, would
not that double il
Mr. UNDERWOOD Well, Mr.. President, gentle.
say they want their dinner and dislike, upon the
eve OF voting. TO enter into a lengthy discussion When
there only four sections the government is entitled
to half, and the State entitled half. within miles
Of The line Of the road The government gets two Of the
sections, and the State gets two sections within
miles of the road and then the State makes four
tons beyond the distance OF six miles from the road To
the extent OF these four sections II is perfectly pure do
nation.
Now. sir a word or two for my constituents, and then
done, think, with the subject forever. want to
say 10 them because you thought me lberal--and az
think enlarged principle OF duty under the constitution
OF the country has carried for internal improvements
upon great national prncples-I think we have COM
pete control this subjects and although am not
sure bu the vote which | shall give in favor Of this
bill will subject 10 responsibilities al home,
have been accustomed to meat all these things and they
are dread 10 And, perhaps, might say, with
my friend from New Hampshire, Mr.. HALr, am down.
have no bright hopes or aspirations. retire to private
life; but intend 10 carry with me the appreciation OF
| be right.
have heretofore voted for all these measures upon
the high principles which have advocated before the
Senate. Seeing chance 10 get justice, as believe
ought 10 have had by the adoption OF the amendment
which have offered, and seeing prospect, from the
present of things, of getting that donation OF land
to which thought the States were entitled, equiv
alen in way, will not act the part of the dog in
the manger--l will not refuse 10 return good for evil
but will act upon the principle that the day is coming
when justice will animate the hearts OF the American
people act upon the principle that truth Is omnipolent