The daily union., 1854-02-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1854.
SENATE. $


Mr. ADAMS II is 10, my purpose. Mr. President TO
potfacl this debate but desire TO OF the
suggestions which have been made by my friend from
North Carolina. Mr. BADGER II ls q lte singular
that not single individual who has opposed The passage
of this BILL and the kindred bills before the Senate has
attempted contSove the position taken by the senator
from louisiana by my COLLEAGUE and by other senator's
in reference to this question and that H. that gran, Of
this sort gilt no donahon but Is disposition Of
The public lands such manner as 10 secure their sale
at as large an the whole would sell Tor with
ont any grant of alternate sections Not senator has
disputed that positlon and yet each opponent OF The bill
when he speak OF it, treats It as donation, as
gift, as gratui.y 10 the new States.
| wish 10 call The attention Of my honorable friend
from North Carolina 10 what consider to be slight
msapprehenson on his part as 10 the object Of The Old
States and Of he federal government in The acquisition
OF The public lands My opnion has always been that
the object securing and purchasing lands by The fede
raj government not TO use them for purposes OF arec-
uaion He complains that The old States have not been
well treated in regard TO this matter say The old States
have no claim and above the restoration into the
treasury OF every dollar which The public lands have cost
The citizens oil the States the sons OF the ct
zens OF the old States You OF The old States raise more
people Than you can supply with lands, and you send
ihem out 10 the new States The people OF the ne W
States have gone from the old States, and by their
labor have made these lands valuable and have restored
TO the treasury every dollar which you paid for them,
with large ps ssaass cen az z ss aaaon n. msnGe &C. even .Gs
10 II ~ the States; but il has already been shown
that this is no gratuIty 10 all
The old States stand in very different position to-
wards the public lands than The States, admit that
they have claim, legitimate claim to require that such
disposition OF the lands shall be made will restore to
the treasury every dollar which their acquisition has
cost aad ali the incidental expenses connected with it
But, say il the policy and never can be the
policy, of ihs government, and the genenans constu
ents desire the federal government 10 turn laRd
specuator, with view of making money from it's citl.
zens by selling lands which il has purchased That
was moi the objec. Of The acquisition OF these lands
cannot suppose that my honorable friend from Geor-
gia will have any difficulty in answering the questions
which be pIopoupds. He says his constituents may re-
qure know OF him why these large grants, or dona.
iona as he calls them Hade 10 The new States and
nothing given the Old States. Now, let me say 10 him.
that the whole OF the State which have the honor IN
part to represent belonged 10 the State OF Georgia
she fixed price Tor II, and the government paid
that price. The government has made good specna-
uon BY that purchase. Millions millions OF dollars
have into The treasury from the sales OF land 10 the
people OF The State which ! have the honor in part TO
represent II the constituents Of The gentleman from
Georgia call upon him 10 knew why Congress appropr
ated alternate sections oil land to Mississippi be say
to them, "You have altea1y received your price for
that State, and you can expect 10 more"
But, air. is useless 10 consume time this subject
unless some gentleman show ths, the position
sumed by ,hs friends Of this measure is erroneous
one Unless that be shown, unless the report OF the
Secretary sf the Interor Is false report unless some.
thing can be shown ontract the statements OF
tors who have personal Knowledge OF the practical
effect Of these granls thevaiue OF The public lands,
the question 10 beyond dispute. That II ia reasonable,
that 10 right and proper that alternate sections should
be grah,ed in and lor the construction OF railroads. il
seems 10 me no can doubt Tor single moment,
when be looks practical effect on the country The
effect Of it 10 really 10 bring more money into The treas
ury from The public ands than would be received with
out such grants
My friend from Georgia has spoken OF The value Of The
LANDS which grant TOR these purposes. and he has
tmsted il 81 as an acre. do no, know how may be
in other States. but say 10 that senator that The
lands proposed to be granted TO Mississippi. by the bill
which has been introduced for that purpose put up
at public auction tomorrow. and sold alter any sort OF
notice which could be given, they would not bring, on
the average. i've cents acre and without The aid OF
L. al hnra fhpU
would never bring len cents an acre AS my coheague
has said much Of that land has been in market Tor forty
years. and will remain in market forever uniess an in
ducement be furnisAed for lie settlement by the consrnc-
lion of roads Therefore, say, the estimate oil senators
that large amount to be given 10 the States erro-
neous oil course, not Intentionally So or The senators
have not been in the new States and do not know the
real value OF these lands
Mr. WELLER Mr.. President, do not suppose we
shall bs able 10 close the discussion upon This bill to-day
althosgh thus far there have been no new points pre-.
seoied. believe the discussion now-l say With all
respsct-is only rehash OF what we have often had
upon thess bs heretofore and therefore, Tor The pur
pose OF enabling senators TO get their dinners, move
that the Senaie do now adjourn.
MIR STUART ask the senator 10 withdraw his mo
lion. hok we can take vote upon the bill IN very
Mr.. WELLER. have no objection 10 Withdrawing
the motion 10 adjourn, If now get vote upon
the question but II the discussion is TO be continued,
prefer my dinner to this rehash.
Mr STUART Ii the senator whdraws his motion
appeal ID the Senate 70 take the question now upon
the DILL III there 10 n0u.lHG new 10 DC sdd upon ~, AZ
need certainly excite no further discussion
Mr.. WELLER will withdraw the mohon to ad-
lourn.
Mr.. CASS | wish merely 10 say, that we have
Tough; this battle every winter since have been IN
Congress, and think nothing can be said at ths day 10
alter The vote of any senator present
Mr DAW SON. | merely wish to make a lew obser-
Va,ions in relation TO this
MI CLAYTON. will move an adjournment II tbe
senator desres II.
Nj DAW SON. No, sir Il do no, wish the Senate TO
adjourn my account DO no; want to delay this bill
at all.
Gentlemen speak Of the value OF these lands. They
say that in parts Of the country the public lands
are worth very litte. That il true but what IS the
OF IT. II s because there are more lands within
the limits of the United States owned by the genera gov
eminent than there il demand for Our population IS
not equal to the quantity OF lands which we have But
that ia not the point upon which wish 10 comment.
My friend from Iowa seemed to be somewhat excited
regard to the observations which made as TO there
being no report from the COMMITTEES on Public Lands IN
regard TO thie subject Now, AR, what sa,d and what
wh repeat order that the country may nndeFstand
is that, for all the propositions 10 appropriate The pub
hc lands which are now before the Two houses OF Con-
ress have not been able to lay my hand upon single
report setting forih the character OF proposed improve
Qied for or the character OF the country over which
railroad would 90.
asked, what would our constituents ssy 10 us, or
That could say them, when we were called upon
respond, why was this thing done desired report
hon toe Committee on Public Lands Ia accompany these
ns stating their necessity and The pubic advantage 10
result from them stating that they were appropriations
made 10 the States to control internal improvements "a
NE Sa,e But instead of thai, what position do we oc-