The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-05

Der 2eth 1851 appears that by including the balance
on hand the close Of the sca year Is found thai the
surplus IN the treasury the LIST OF July, 1881, after de-
Quoting the current expenses, was Sl0,9ll6l0 6s. 1t
appears further by the same report mat the ESTIMATED re-
cepls for the fiscal year 1892 VIII ne Sai soOOOo whilst
the expenditures are estimated al $i2,S92299 10, being
an excess of receipts expenditures Oh SS9Ub7OO 81
may inquire then under this state oil lacis IN the IAN
guage OF President Jackson,i il tis mol now paclca-
Bile" that the public lands should CEASE W oe source
of revenue Z"
Thathe period has arrived when they should cease to be
source OF revenue is not only indicated py Tue recent
legislation OF Congress, but that they viii not LOT Years
Weld revenue is acknowledged in the report OF the Sec
reary OF the Treasury, made by Mr. Cowtn 10 Congress
on the 18th OF December 1s50--Ex, Doc NO II, page
l2 In referring the OF revenue and Parueu-
ay 10 that portion heretofore derivable from The sales
of the public lands, the report sets forth that this
source OF revenue "shoud mol hereafter be relied upon
with any certainty to any considerable amount IN es-
tmatng the receipts OF the treasury"
furlher appears by the same report that by the va.
rlous acis OF Congress approprang he puolc Janus 70
objects which withdraw them IRON ordinary revenue
purposes il is quite certain that for several years TO come
the treasury must be mainly II not entirely dependent lof
its receipts upon duties derived from ioregn merchan'
disc" and that he law recently enacted, giving lands
TO those who served in the with Mexico, and, al
the last session. such had served IN former wars,
in addition grants TO States for internal improvements
will undoubtedly supply the market with the greater
portion OF the lands that VIII De required lot occupation
Tor many years 10 come"
The quantity of lands sold and taken from market by
virtue Of these warrants for the years ls47, ls4s and
ls49 742 40 the warrants yet 10 be pre-
scented under these will require 10 5l3 acresn
all 90 $50 2i54O acres and at the most liberal average
oyer sixteen years will be required to absorb and satisfy
the warrants yet be issued estimated under The sew
eral bounty land acts now in force" This exhibit pre-
sents state of things requiring the fullest consideration
of Congress- and speedy and radical change In The poi
icy and management OF our land system. What better
PLAN then be suggested than that proposed by the
bill now under consideration What more Just in lis
conceplion--more benevolent in lis objecls-more con-
ducve to a rigid political economy or more certain in Its
practical results, swell the aggregate OF the national
wealth. and advance the great commercial interests OF
the country a.#
The power OF Congress over the public domain cannot,
be questioned for il is contained in the constitution, and
is OF the broadcast kind The third section OF the fourth
article is in these words 1.-The Congress shall have
power to dispose of and make all needu rules and egua
lions respecting the territory other property belonging
TO the United States and nothing in this constitution shall
be so construed prejudice any claims OF the United
States or Of any particular State"
The power OF Congress over the public domain 10
make donations and grants is not only given by the con-
stilution, but it has been freely and literally exercised
from the foundation Of the government up 10 the present
time al all from Sd of March, 1909 to the Goth OF
September 1850, the date of the act granting about
O26 800 acres to the States of Alabama mississippi and
Illinois, 10 aid in the construction Of the Chicago and Mo-
bile railroad
For the purpose OF showing that the power has been
exercised and the extent which has been exercised
refer TO the exhibit of donations" and grants TO the
different States for the various purposes mentioned