The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-06

visions and the reason why said these lands might be
applied 10 internal improvements or TO education, at the
discretion OF the States aud made no provision for The
free use OF the improvements by this government was,
that the grants heretofore made of 500 900 TO each
OF The new States for internal improvements did not re-
qufe these States 10 give 10 the United States the free
use OF those improvements which might be constructed
with the land so granted. AS the States received
each 100000 acres, without restriction condition, as
an internal Improvement fund, thought like exemption
would only be Just TO the old States provided for in my
amendment The new States had been provided fof by
former legislation. both in regard 10 education and in
ternal improvements. literally than my amendment
provides Tor the old States. While providing little for
the old States. wished them TO have that discretion
which would place them on the footing with the
new States, both with respect TO education and internal
improvements. That is the whole object OF the amend
ment
Ia my humble apnion, the this subject is sfed.
the more It s looked into the more striking will be the
conviction that entitled, as eestut que trust, un
der the deed Of cesson from Virginia think we ought
TO put the public domain acquired since the formation OF
this government on the same footing with the original
domain The more think and reflect. the stronger
will appear the right OF the old States TO participate with
the new know that there cannot be exact. mathemal
cal justice but there may be approximation to it,
That s what have attempted TO accomplish. AS to ex-
act equality do not ask it, Perfect equality il not at
tanabe In the act distributing the proceeds OF the pub
c lands the new States get ten per cent in addition TO
the FIVE per cent There is advantage in favor of the
new States This advantage of ten per cent on sales
thereafter to be made allowed them for prospective
population, and not for the number OF townshis or
square miles, on which the gentleman from Michigan in
siss
Mr. GEYER Mr. President, desire, in al few words,
TO correct mistakes into which, think, the honora
BILE senator from Kentucky has fallen in reference 10 some
OF the remarks which had occasion to make. have
never contended that there was not constitutional power
to make disposition of the public lands in the mode
proposed by the honorable senator from Kentucky. All
that said that not bound TO do IL that is,
that there was obligation to make an equal dlstrbu
on, TO distribute the lands among the States as units
according to his idea You are at liberty TO do SO; and
aYD said rat Congress
over the lands OF the United States TO be commensurate
with their power oyer any other properly or money
from Missouri that did not intend to apply these re;
marks OF mine 10 him because, being whg, supposed
he was of my creed in matters of that sort
Mr.. GEYER In reference to the estimate OF taxation
upon the lands desire 10 say that the honorable senator
falls into mistake in endeavorng to fix upon the lands
OF Missouri valuation of the present day as having ex
commenced in 1915 and the country was then very
sparsely populated ST. Louis was village OF some
three or four thousand inhabitants. There two or
three other little villages in which all the lots could
have been bought for very small sum OF money The
lands acquired by purchase from the United States were
in the interior, and they had then been but recently set
lied There was very little Improvement on TEEN, and
estimated for purposes of assessment their value at
81 25 per The why adopted the dd uaioreH
system of taxation BECAUSE by the constitution Of
Missouri, that is the mode OF imposing taxation IN that
State
Mr. JONES, OF Iowa So il is in Illinois.
Mr.. GEYER. | believe that il is the rule in Illinois
also. have, therefore, made no error in that cacula
ton, except one, and that is, that put the rate OF taxa
ton at quarter OF per cent which was ior State
puposes but the taxation for county purposes would be
quite large that for State purposes. | made the
statement in order 10 show what the resources OF
the Stale means OF supporting its government, in
consequences OF the compact OF the hard terms called
them, which had been exacted from her Not that in
tended, by presenting these terms and exposing hem to
ask that now they should be repudiated. Although
think the United States have broken their contract do
not think it is becoming in the States TO insist
on their being released nor do predicate any demand
for this grant upon the advantages which obtained
by that compact on the part of the United States. My
object merely 10 show, by the state oil desution to
which they reduced, by the necessity of supporting
with the small means they had of levying taxes, they
reduced TO the necessity OF accedng 10 almost any
Terms that might be required from them This is all
have TO say upon that subject.