The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-29

lands You cannot increase by that process the value
and price of those sections which offered al private
entry for sale 10 individuals and which not reserved
to be sold at double the minimum They remain, ~ all
time to come, at S 25 per II is not pretended by
more than 81 rs per acre Well il you double the price
oil the reserved sections and give away fof nothing as
much as you rean as lar as money is concerned, you
remain precisely where you stood before and you do not
enhance increase the value OF the land fund 10 the
national treasury one cent You cannot by any posi-;
bty by doubling the price OF the reserved sections and
leaving the sections already in the market as they are,
bring into the treasury OF the United States one cent
more OF money under these grants than you would II no
grant made. The thing ID mpossiblity. The
idea, them that we of the West TO exempt ourselves
from increased taxation, and that we are thus husband
ing the OF the land fund by making grants OF
this sort, is altogether allacious All that we accom-
pish by this kind of legislation is to make present 70
the States OF a large quantity OF land and then ndemn-
fly ourselves for the loss by requiring farmers and sell
tiers to pay double price for an equal quantity
Mr.. Presidents what do these grants do! If, accord
ing TO the old system which popular in this
country, the government itself used the land fund in
making Improvements for itself, and then, when the i'm
provements were made reduced The fare and tolls Tor
Transportation and travel down to nothing except the
would be saving to the West of taxation There
would then, indeed, De great esy5g Of taxation. bui
what s the course OF things now' Why II violation OF
the very principle which che senator from Illinois seems
to have had in view at the time he suggested this idea
OF saving us from taxation you make these grants to the
States and thus enable them with their own MEANS and
ion with corporation TO make the railroad or the canal,
and then through all time to come, you allow the States
and their associate corporations to tax transportation and
travel according to what rates OF toll they please This
is the system which now has become popular.
Sir, the government of the United States through its
money, through its and-for land in this aspect OF
the question Is moneyis made to furnish the means
whereby travel and commerce are TO be taxed without
limit and without end But this is not all. The time
was when popular TO avail ourselves Of the greater
economy and better management OF private individuals,
0f heir Oxvn N AMI
scribe stock In corporations, and thus TO accomplish, in
behalf OF the government Of the United States objects OF
internal improvement which seemed TO be necessary and
proper Under that view, in times past you subscribed
thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars 70 the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal; you subscribed thousands
of dollars to the Dismal Swamp canal; and you sub.
scrlbed thousands OF dollars to the Louisville and Port
land canal about which, hope in the progress of this
session, 10 say great deal to this Senate Tor it will be
shown that you have prohed by that subscription until
you are now about to become the sole owner OF the
whole property, and 10 have in your power 10 free the
commerce OF the Ohio river from oppressive tax All
this will have been accomplished by the operations OF the
compshed under old system, which has been glorious
and beneficial to the State OF Kentucky and the whole
Mississippi valley; also 10 this government which will
shortly own the entire work: Such an Improvement,
else within the limits of the United States and well does
II vindcate the wisdom OF that system which folly has
overturned Twas the Monroe doctrine that stock might
be constiluhonaly subscribed to aid corporations in
making roads and canals 1t was the doctrine
which obtained in the administration OF Mr.. Monroe,
one Of the revolutionary fathers. and one OF the most ad
mirabe Presidents that have had But you have
exploited that doctrine The people have been
1t was degrading TO the government to become partner
Lexington and MaysviIe re road bill What are % YOU doing
nows Why, in violation Of all past political profess
sons you are doing precisely the thing which was
condemned IN times past except that you do not do II In
person. but you do II by another. You are now putting
funds into the hands OF the States, and allowing the
States 10 associate with copoatons and by such asso
clauon, as partner with the corporation TO make i'm
provemenis that TO tax travel and commerce forever
IL you would use the funds OF the natlon as in times
pastif you wonld act in your national character, and
become the comptroller OF those corporations with which
you minge your funds or you take the funds and act
for yourselves. as you have done in the case o the Cum
berand road and when you have finished great work
surrender IT up TO the use oil the public, reserying ohly
such tolls as will keep the Improvement IN repair-if you
would do that, ii seems TO you would be acting upon
high national considerations When, however, you are
taking the which is proposed you are deprv-
yourselves OF the power and giving up TO the States
10 be used for their individual aggrandzement, and the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF their associate corporations, IN way
which the democracy have heretofore condemned SO
much for The senator's argument that he opposed 70 IN
creasng taxation, and is for outstanding the land fund
These beautiful words, but acts speak louder than
words" The votes aud acts OF the senator go TO tax
the travel and commerce OF the West and tins for the
benefit OF his State probably partner in private cor.
poraon his Jackson creed to the contrary noiwthsiand
ing No matter where live we must pay tribute Tor
ever for using improvements made with our own prop
cry. ne henluCkldn dAeu, anu MS IeflcseHdliNe
in Congress has no power TO relieve him. Our funds
control the roadal, all is surrendered to the
discretion OF the State, and that forever Such Is the
difference between whig and democratic policy The SEN
aior has voted and will voie in such way as TO pro-
duce taxation upon travel and upon commerce by State
authority would If could, reserve the right to con.
troll the funds OF the nation applied TO objects Of internal
improvement by Congress, believing they would be bet
ter and more literally administered for the interests o
the whole people
Mr. DAWSON. He wants to save his own State from
taxation.
Mr. UNDERWOOD Yes, sir my friend very well
remarks that II would have the effect oil saving the sena
tors State and other States to which these donations are
gven from taxation, and leave the taxation TO be ie bJ
my constituents and by yours, Mr.. President, Nr
BADGER in the char,] well as by the constituents o
the gentlemen who represent the States IN which these
roads located That is the effect OF IT, II you make
these works nation, and make them by the nationa
power and authority you then hold all the tolls received
Tor the benefit OF your constituents and mlne In common
with those OF every other senator. But the system upof
which we now acting is TO pass over all those ma
tional funds into the hands OF the States and then lie
them. either directly by themselves or through associa
tons with corporations, make these improvements, anc
then bring all the tolls into the State treasury thereb,
exemp,ing the citizens OF the State from taxation, ane
raising their revenue from those who use the works
That is the present OF things This governmew
builds railroads gratuitousy for Illinois and the othe
States in which the public lands are situated, and leaves
Kentucky and the old States build their railroads with
out help by their money and toll
This government il il had husbanded it's resources, and
had chosen to invest them with view oil receiving tolls
might have derived from the proper nvesimen
and management OF the land fund which would have
done 10 curta the amount OF the tariff than coult
have been done in any other mode have been sur
prised that the ultra ree-irade men, the ant-tarf poll
tcans, have not in times past seized the idea OF admin
sering the psblic lands in such to produce