The daily union., 1854-02-14


the bens6t OF ,bs Improvement but the other half
enhanced ia value, selling for than the whole
would have sold before comes into market, and the pro-
ceeds are brought into the public treasury and there
pended for The benefit Of the whole Unonthe old States
- wsil ~ the new.
/. for one. SIR not alarmed at this ouicry Of 100
instead of l06 wish they could be multiplied Though
the whole extent OF the West and over every part OF
the country where the govenmen lands II this
system 0t railroads could be scattered throughout the
Whols West. If lands could be brought into cultivation
by being brought into market by this SYSTEM il hardy
indusrous population could be spread these lands,
Aey would Then be source OF wealth not only 10 the
Sletec wherein they e but TO the whole natonto the
constituency represented by the senator from Delaware
ths s:nssor from Georgia as well as the res, Of The peo
grsatsr than can be obtained by any other system you
devise One hundred and six railroad bills before
Congress- we are told calling Tor lands yalaed in the
greGas n $685.. ,o00 According my judgment, the
proper way OF stating the proposition would be- 100
railroads providing for increasing The wealth Of the country
V the :1sn M ,sa o. we divide that quantity
psiaon 10 be source OF public wealth instead OF being
squanderng Of the public funds believe, with the SEN
modem times By which The increase Of wealth and pros
peTy OF this country has been well SECURED by this
system Of giving portions of the public lands for pur
poses OF internal Improvements.
Sir did not intend 10 say word upon this bill. but
think the whole principle has been msapped, and--l
was going 10 say-has been misunderstood; but can
not suppose that TO be The case with senators expe
yisnced and Distinguished az those who have spoken
But really ii is true principle. has been stated that
this 10 10 be considered 10 the light of appropriation
ol the public money. II 10 not nj all 10 be compared to
of Improvement OF harbors and rivers where the
government s bound TO spend The money OF the whole
people. distinction is to be made, as stated IN the
outset, between the government as political body gov
erning the country, and The government as the holder
OF part Of the land through which those improvements
are 70 pass II is the government as landowner and
land-holder joining with other land owners and land
holders in aiding these works OF public improvement
Mr.. BROWN had no intention OF entering into this
discussion. Il is true that little experience is some
times better than great deal OF theory, and where expe
rence in this matter of approprang the public lands to
improvements of this kind has been had, it has been to
o s - .g that there s not s only danger
IN the proceeding but that must result benefciay to
the lands OF the country.
railroad the district which had the honor to represent
in the other House of Congress included. And |
speak from absolute experience when say that land
which had remained in market for than forty years
without finding purchaser at dollar and quarter
scss il now eagerly sought alter al two dollars and
halt and this government refuses TO sell it al that
prce. know that hundreds OF settlers have sought the
right OF prescription upon these reserved sections, and
have petiioned Congress time and again TO grant them
this right but Congress- has refused because the lands
could be sold at higher price. speak what know to
Be when say that lands have been sold in that
land district twelve moRths succeeding that grant than
had been sold Tor twenty years preceding It, aud that
even ai the advanced price OF two dollars and hall an
The honorable and distinguished senator from Dsla-
speaks Of the downward tendency OF things, which
he exceedingly anxious 10 arrest trust he does not
consider this proposition OF downward tendency
Il strikes me it has upward tendency; aud instead OF
.ir,sting proceeding OF this kind Il ins senator IS
ought rather promote this measure. Ii the results
shall be the elsewhere that they have been in Mis-
sissppi ana in Illinois, and in other States where these
erAn have been made then is the senator from Louis
ana BENJAMIN. right when he says that these grants
will odd to the wealth and not TO the depletion OF the
pabic treasury You absolutely make money in the sale
k1f N Ii Mi n
rvs from bringing the lands INTO cultivation thereby add
ng TO the aggregate wealth and general prosperity OF the
wkoss country | agree perfectly with my friend from
Louisiana who says he wishes instead OF there be-
ng hundred and six OF these bills there were one
th0osand and six for Just N proportion, IN my udg-
snt. you multiply these bills. just IN that proportion
do you multiply the prosperity OF The country Why
shoald this government desire 10 hold 10 wild lands in
habtsd BY nobody but wild beastsi Why not encourage
hardy settlers 20 there and cultivate the soil Yet
they will 20 unless you give some means OF carry
ing away the products OF their labor Do you expect
IRON the old States, or from the new TO penetrate
the heart Of the forest, fell timber, prepare the soil for
cultivation, and expend upon II their labor when they
have no OF getting their harvest TO market Pro-
vide market, and they will 90 upon the lands and pur-
Chase them al double the minimum price, and bring them
into 6ne state OF cultivation, thereby benehung your
whole country.
Bo, will not 20 into this discussion. had supposed
that after the action OF the Senate three times upon
the bill granting Wisconsin public lands Tor this pur-
pose, and after its action upon or two other PROPOSE
,oss Of this so we were to have 90 debate upon ,he
taken BY surprise in this debate II there be purpose
agan to investigate this question which has been often
investigated in both houses OF Congessand certainly
most elaborate discussion in the other House-then trust
il will be fixed, in accordance with the suggestion oil
senator this morning, upon some certain day, when
may be prepared to come up 10 the work. do not
bsaisve-perhaps results from my having heard more
OF this Discussion in the other end OF the Capitol than
has taken place hereI do not believe that discussion If
at all necessary The plain, stubborn fact which expe-
Yence has taught u.s. the value oil the public lands
10 more than doubled by these improvemens--ihai ihe
reserved belonging 10 the government are worth
more than twice much alter the grant as they were
before-woud seem 10 me to justify every senator m
voting for this bill II the road is not built, as was well
sad BY the senator from Texas, tMr. RusK,l you DC
not part with your land because you only grant the land
upon condition that ii shall be built. II II is built
then the sections which you reserve 10 yourself are
worth more than double the price you ask for them
and iust possible for this government 10 lose any
thing BY making this grant
Sir should not have said word upon Jhis question
bet notify the Senate that have tle bill for the
bsnsft OF Mississippi lying here, which at the proper
time shall ask The privilege OF calling up, and hope
there will be no opposition TO lis passage
MIR BU TIER. did not intend again 70 speak upon
this bill, bu, | wish 10 put some proposuons which
think will present this subject in very different hsh
from what il to have presented Itself 10 the honor
able senator from MssissIpp Mt BROWN and The sem
ator from Iowa. MIR DODGE and others who are IN
tesesied in these donations OF land.
Mr. DODGE, (in his seat,) Grants, not donations
Mr. BUTLER Well, then grants Suppose ! were
living upon stream. and any oneeher above or below
ms-should undertake 10 divert u now, might benen