The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-13

/ MT. WELLER. L desire 10 tlat sndll VOle loi
the amendment OF the senator from Wisconsin, with The
distinct understanding that unless there shall be pfovsa
subsequently added TO it, excepting those mineral lands
shall vote against the whole OF IT. because il would be
unreasonable to give hundred and Sky acres OF MN
eal lands in California to any individual.
! Mr.. GWlN. | understand that if the amendment 10
the amendment Is agreed to, II can be amended aef-
The PRESIDING OFFICER Certainly.
Mr. CASS There is one question wish 10 ask ask
There are one or two points 10 this amendment o. lhe
honorable senator from Wisconsin which do not eXacy
understand This road is TO run 10 the Paclbc or 10 the
western line oil the State of California leaving the mat
ter undetermined. II commences ~ The valley OF ihe
Mississippi Do understand that these two ponls-to
will the cement and termination OF ihls roauae
TO depend exclusively upon this location without the ac-
| ton either OF the President or of Congress
| Mr. RUSK. There was modification which quall-
fled that matter, but, unfortunately il not being under
stood that il accepted il was not printed as modlhed
The modification was that these routes were to be SUI
veyed, the made 10 The President and he was TO
select from them the he considered best II was IN
these words: The said routes for the road roads
herein provided for 10 be selected by the President from
among these surveys he having due regard 10 the ex-
pense, grades, intercourse, commerce, and military de-
fence and protection Of the whole country !"
| Mr. CASS Mr.. President, desire 10 say lew words
on The question Immediately before the Senate The
subject OF the homestead b-,ha bill equally polite
and just which proposes TO grant land to those who are
destule-has been brought into discussion, though con-
nected rather incidentally than directly with the matter
now pending. have than expressed in the
Senate my sentiments in favor OF that great measure
|
raised for taking it into consideration, and shall
continue to do until the object is accomplished. do
not however, propose now to repeat what nave before
said shall content myself with remarking that the
is called Tor by the very highest consideration
which influence the action OF the national Legislature.
know OF no step can take better suited TO the nature
of Institutions to the condition OF country, and
TO the wants of society," than the granting of moderate
portions OF our remote immense domain much OF which
must remain unoccuped tor ages, TO persons unable TO
purchase but who willing to emigrale there and set
tie upon and improve the lands. 1t will relieve from
want and depression and stimulate 10 increased activity
and exeron large portion OF our populaion by hold
ing to them the prospect, the certainty indeed, OF an
honorable competence for themselves and their families.
The measure will add to the strength OF the country, TO
the resources OF the country to the roducuveness OF the
country, and TO all the other elements OF national power
and prosperity 1t would not be less important by lis
example abroad than by its effects at home 1t would Of
fer to the other nations OF the world glorious example
which would do for the cause of rational liberty
than any other event IN our history IL would exhibit
care and consideration for struggling millions rarely
found in the progress OF human Instead OF
wringng from industry It's hadeaned reward, II would
be giving 10 industry the means OF advancement and an
incentive TO greater exertons And 1t would accomplish
its great work al very small sacrifice for must pass
away before those immense regions will yield TO human
enterprise unless this mode OF disposng OF them il
adopted, and in the time they remain desert
waste, useless and valueless.
With respect 10 the amendment OF the senator from
| Wisconsin, Mr. WMKER,l ] cannot vote for 1t, ioI
reasons which TO me are entirely satisfactory II does
propose grant land those who have none but 10
all rich or destitute landlords or andess who choose
TO go there Not only so but there s no restriction for
a may make location this year. and another next
year. and TILL the end of his life The term OF set
ement is too snort One year is not enough nor will IT
insure Improvement eGough TO secure The residence OF the
settler, which is an important object sought to be obtain
ed Better for his family that the term should be longer
for they will be thus placed for years beyond the
chances OF mprovdence But there is still stronger
objection TO this measure. The moment the road is To-
Gated the right OF selection commences, and every sena
tor knows that along the route there will be many val
liable positions which will be first sought and who will
obtain them Nolthe poor man; Tor be must take time
and travel slowly TO get there, and especially II be has
family. Not so with the Spectators. They will explore
the country the road goes on, and find out the sites
fo towns. the good land for FARMS and indeed, all the
valuable tracts along the route and they will employ
men occupy these, and at the end OF the year they
will procure conveyances for them for it will be OBJ
served that there is no guard thrown around this matter
at ALL oath OF settlement, as IN many OF the pre.emp
ton laws And | have known great deal OF fraud
pracsed in OF that nature, much better pro-
tected than this is by the provisions OF this bill
There is great want OF detail in the provision
il strikes me very loose. And besides, If under
stand the proposition, il holds ou, pledge the par
OF the government Tor the construction OF this road The
settler is induced TO go into that region in consequence
OF the prospect offered TO him OF his tract becoming val
liable by means OF this great Improvement and there
cannot be doub, that should be required by gooC
faith TO fulfil this obligation. Now, sir, though wan
the road, want TO know all the terms and conditions
connected with before commit the government 10 IN,
work want TO know how much OF is to run through
various States and how much will be within the Tern
tories And want TO be that the former will b,
constructed ageeaby 10 my views OF our constitutions
power by the authority Of the States themselves and By
grants OF public lands, and not by money from the
ury II will be observed that the terminus o
The road is the eastern boundary OF California Sar
Francisco hundred miles beyond, and the
terminus is equally indefinite for 1t may be anywhere ia
the valley of the Mississippi upon the bank OF that river
or hundreds OF miles west OF IT, Now, am not disposed tc
grant such latitude Of discretion to any officer whatever
Il is not necessary, and should not be done
Mr.. DOUGLAS. do not see the force OF The ebec-
tons urged by the senator from Michigan Mr. CAssl tc
this amendment II simply proposes tina, these alternate
sections OF land shall be reserved for the construction OF
the road, and authorizes the President OF the United
States TO make survey, 10 ascertain the best line for ts
location IL leaves to failure legislation to devise the
mode in which that road is TO be made II does in
volve the question now whether any money IS 10 be
propraled or not The presumptions rather against
the appropriation OF money becasse there land enough
set apart TO make the works. And VI u within the
limits OF State, II does not involve any OF the obec
ons which the senator from Michigan entertans for il
is only the appropriation OF land for the purpose and he
has always been and is advocate OF the system
OF appropriation OF ands in AID ot public works IN State,
where the land is situated Hence ii involves one oil
The objections urged. II leaves free to devise the
plan, the mode, and means by which the road shall be
built 1t only guarantees the application of the alternate
sections in hereafter to be provided for, to the
making OF the road.
Then again, the senator objects that the amendment
is specific enough to the limitations TO be made
upon the settlers the alternate sections and he ap-
prehends that speculaors Will send on young men who
will settle for them the most eligible SITES | did not
suppose that any who had ever lived in the West
would believe that specuators would ever employ men
TO 20 and settle on the lands, and make the requisite
Improvement order to TO themselves the right
when they could buy the land for onefourth the sum
that II would cost TO hire man to make the requisite oc-
eupaton and improvements upon II. Every man who
sbnuld len ami or aQen