The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-24


to the government for the purposes of cultivation and only
valuable TO il far il be converted into money is
disposed of by sale In order 10 effect its sale II is proper
to encourage settlements With view TO its speedy set
uemen and the realization of its money value it becomes
necessary TO grant portions Of 1t TO local objects just as an
individual proprietor of large tract of wild land who
had not power TO cultivate and wished TO sell it. would
give portion upon assurance of indemnity in the sale Of
the remainder the effect of the grant be to hasten the
sale and settlement of the country and enhance its value
to the full extent OF the grant and such be the intention
with which is made it . in accordance with the spirit Of
the constitutions il is disposng OF the land for It's money
value
Upon this principle voted and can vote to grant al
ternate sections to the States within which they lie for
railroads. in consideration of doubling the price Of the
naming sections Upon the same principle can approve
the grants which have been Systematically made to the
States their admission into the Union of sixteen
for common schools and ofother sections for colleges
and seats of government They made upon ample
considerations the disclaimer by those States OF right
title 10 the waste and nnappreprated lands within their
limits the surrender of the disposition Of them to the Uni
ted States and their exemption from taxation by the States
long they remained the property Of the United States
and for five years after they should be Sold.
The object and effect of all such grants is to protect and
preserve the land fund to enhance the value of
lands and to attract and secure purchasers at
prices which could not be obtained unless such induce
mcnts were offered Such grants are properly character
zed in the language Of the President apparent Donations
for they not gratuitous but bestowed for valuable
consideration. They do not impair the land fund.- dimn-
sh the aggregate money proceeds of the public domain
duce the revenue Of the government impose any addition
al tax upon the people or nue the interests OF the United
States of either Of the States On the contrary such
grants make valuable and salable lands which, without
them would be valneles and unstable increase the ag
egate proceeds of the public lands add to the federal
enue moderate the demands for taxation and result in the
common benefit OF all the States of the Union. a ~
Upon the principle which those grants made
Congress might dispose of the other property of the United
States If government feet laden with public stores
the public money should be stranded snnk Congress
might give ship its contents in consideration of bring
ing the remainder into port whereby the value of the
property might be realized If a gold mine should be
q (Oup mi piy nnrto of
Its yield to any company that would work and develop its
resources In either case as IN granting alternate
tons TO build railroads. Congress achieves the purpose of
its trust by making the best disposition of the proper
ty for the benefit Of its principals.
Congress might, presume consistently with its power
over the territory and other property Of the United States
have expended the public money in draining and reclaim
ing the swamp lands and rendering them valuable But
they not only vaueess TO the United States but
impaired the value of their adjoining and cultyabe lands
and experience in other works ted
the belief that it would the United States than
they would be worth after reclamation it was better dis
charge Of its duties trustee TO give them to the States
condition of their reclamation In all those grants
the new States the intention of Congress, apprehend
was not to foster their internal local nterestsno
struc roads establish schoosbut to promote the set
temen and sale of the lands realize their money value
and thereby effect the purpose for which power dispose
of the public lands was conferred They grants
to carry out its power to dispose Of the public lands
| for their money value.
Now the supporters of this bin do intend or expect
to promote the settlement and sale of the public domain
passage On the contrary, IL win divert from tho treasury
proceeds Of ten millions of acres of land equivalent to
ten millions of dollars for object purely local within
1 the States-the care of the insane.
II must be conceded that if Congress may provide for
this class may for every other class of the unfortunate
and afflicted, and may assume, in aid behalf Of the
States the supervision and of all their internal and
domestic interests If Congress have such power coupled
with the ample of unlimited discretion IN dsposing
of the public property, know of government Of any
cvilzedand Christian nation endowed with sovereign
unlimited and irresponsible power than that Of the United
States Invested with untold and boundess wealth. treas
ury oyerhowng and perpeuay refllng domain broader
and richer than that past present with
resources unmensured and undeyeoped there end il
not achieve however sectional unjust antrepuh
or tyrannous II may the patronage OF States
counties or cities OF corporations professions trades Of
/ agriculture manufactures internal improvements II
give the lands in Alabama to New York be invested
in banking building railroads. manufacturing broad
cloth within that State And IL il be objected that the
constitution does confer on Congress power 10 esab
lish banks build roads, engage in manufacturer il viii
be enough 10 answer In the language Of the advocates Of
this bill that its power TO dispose of the property Of the
United States absolute and unlimited save by the posi-
tive prohibitions OF that instrument and these not
among them BY virtue Of this discretionary power
the public lands and the absence of express prohibit
ton in the constitution might violate that principle of
non-ntervenon In the Territories Just established Ia the
Kansas and Nebraska BILL by granting alternate sections
or townships Of their lands abolition societies upon con-
dition on colonzng them with free blacks applying the
proceeds Of the sale Of the lands the OF eancpa
ton Or on the other hand, might make them slave
Territories by granting the lands to settlers upon cond
ton Of cultvating them with slave labor Thg under
this clause Of the constitution every power possessed by
the States over persons property within them may be
absorbed by the general government and It's character
wholly transformed from strictly federal into pure
y national And by strained and atitudnous construc
ton Of single clause may defeat all the labored pre-
cautions Of the trainers Of the federal constitution and
vert IL from panopy Of defence into weapon Of destruc
| ton to State rights and popular sovereignty.
Such think is the inevitable consequence Of the doc
trines conterded for by the advocates Of this bill
They admit that Congress has erprcss authority or
warrant TO make provision for eleemoyna purpose
within the States and do pretend Il Is necessary TO
power to attain any purpose named In The constitution
but maintain that we may dispose of the territory for
purpose not named and not prohibited III this be
have the strangest most unique and anomalous govern
ment ever fashioned by menone Of limited powers but
unlimited choice and use Of for their execution
Of defined purposes but indefinite discretion OF good pro-
fssons but evil policy The trainers Of the constitution
incapable Of the folly oexecutnc charter tanning
principles irreconcabe and comforting powers so anti
parallel Such Is the method Of madness not Of enlightened
They did not intend 20 government
cd Of means TO defeat the end Of is institution yhoy did not
convey the property Of the Union any portion of Il to
trustees without expressing the purpose Of the trust That
purpose Is ao6ared IN the end for which the government
created; which is exhibited only in the whole face
but in every feature Of the constitution and likewise in the
articles Of confederation and the history Of our revolution
That waged 90 defend and establish the ripbt of
the coonss 10 egsate for their internal and local inter-
estsas have heard often repeated In the discussion
of another dpliHg this Congress The coloniss
conceded tie right Of England to legsate for their exter
nal interests such war peace, and The Eng
sh Parliament maintained that the powers conceded inn
piled the right Of using oil tho Il deemed necessary
and proper execute those powers and among ueaus
the enactment OF several internal laws The ooloniss