The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
TUESDAY. MARCH 7, 1854.
SENATE.


No 44beIng "a bill making grant Of public lands to
the seveal States and Territories OF the Union for the
benefit OF INDECENT insane persons
Mr.. ADAMS. Before the vote IS taken upon the pas
sage of the bill, wish to call the attention OF the Senate
for very few moments 10 IFS provisions According 10
the provisions OF this BILL ten millions OF acres OF the pub
lie lands 10 be distributed among The States, accord
ing to the ratio established by the bill When Stale
has lands within lis limits which, in The opinion OF
the governor OF that State are worth one dollar and a
quarter then the share OF the lands falling to that
State be located in other States and Territories
where there lands subject private entry And these
ten millions Of acres are be located, by the States
themselves, but according to the provisions OF this bill
by the assgnees Of The Saies ~ other words, by The
specualos, who may purchase from the States their
shares al not less than dollar per acre, Now
what will be the effect Of these provisions There will be
the hands of specuatos the best lands remaining unsold
in youISate Mr. PresideHt Mr.. WALKER, OF Wisconsin,
in the chair,] in Iowa, in Illinois, and IN Arkansas, ten
millions of acres You have been talking here about
giving homesleads to actual settlers Pass this bll and
IN those States have named-and those are the only
States know OF where the lands desIable-you Will
have lands left for homes,eads for The speculaoIs
will have all the good lands, and will hold them up until
they can sell them Tor S2 so or S5, or perhaps SO an
acre The homestead bill will not be worth button
you pass this bill If there any lands in your State
worth 81 20 per they w be taken by these specuia
tors have no uneasiness IN regard TO The Stale rep
resent for we have not in all the State OF Mississippi
that know Of single quarter section OF land subject 10
private entry that worth 81 rs an acre Therefore, The
portion 10 which Mississippi will De eniiled under this bill
will be taken most probably from the lands in Arkansas.
SO far as personally concerned, and SO lar as my
constituents concerned fse no interest IN the bill
But If resided in one oil those States where there
public lands which would thus be taken up and held BY
specuatoTs, would imporune this Senate TO lnlIc any
other evil upon the country rather than place these ten
millions of acres OF the best of public lands IN the
hands OF specula,ors, to be held by them and 10 be
peced and disposed OF by them 10 assgnees OF the
different, States. My Stale has interest in this bill
But would not for all that, however benevolent the OBJ
ject might be made 10 appea consent 10 impose such an
upon those States which have lands remaining unsold
subject 10 private entry
But this my only objection TO this bill, though
THE is sufficient for tor would not impose upon any
other Stale what ] would not impose upon my own
State But as has been remarked by tue honorable sen
from Virginia. MIR MASON, II the federal govern
ment can 90 into the different States, and examine INTO
the condition OF the poor OF the different States, and pro-
by law for their rehet should like to know where
we 10 sop! We all know that this government
like all other governments having power is disposed 10
exercise only The power conferred upon H. bu also 10
encroach upon The powers secured TO The States There
is IN other words, constant tendency towards the con-
solidatio OF all power n the hands oil the federal gov
enment It's prosperity lis importance, aad the facility
with which 1t step beyond the legitimate purposes or
which created have tendency 10 induce the ex.
ecIse oil powers not expressly deeg aled TO H. II is
tended, KNOW that The federal government holds the
public lands trustee, and has The right 10 dispose Of
ihem such way will best promote the interests OF
those for benefit they are held II Is said you
may dispose oi the lands IN this way, although you
could sell the lands collect aud dispose Of the pro-
ceeds OF the sale in thus way, Now, | confess that
cannot draw the distinction between appfopnatng The
public lands for the poor OF The different States, and sell
those collecting proceeds by oil
officers OF The government, and appioplalng the money
30 collected Tor that purpose That, TO my mind Is
distinction without a difference cannot understand A.
As before TemaTked when hsl stated my objections 10
lhs bill this mode muel more Objectionable than The
her Aud ii dispose OF The public lands 10 provide
lCr The necessities Ul he PoOmaIk you, Dy the pToyis
ioas OF this bill dollar s 10 be used Tor the
toG Of asylum for all The insane, not one dollar i 10
be used The benefit Of hose persons able 10 pay heir
expenses but II - oT The heneht OF The ndigen
insaue-vty eaBnOI aII TOWlauons be made out Of the
u Iuuh lie
Le different cities "a lbe States OF this Union Certain
~, sir the trainers Of toe constitution never conem-
plated tBa they cOhlrrng such powers upon The
| CougTess OF The United States,
These unfortunate persons, and my colleague IMr
BRownl truly remarked that any member oil this body
would take pleasure ~ voting lor this bill, II he could
DO 20 consistently with his obligations TO his country.
Bui however benevolent the object may be- seems 10
me that should look 10 the consequences OF esiab
lshrng this exercise OF power. These unfortunate ind
y-duas ate the objects IL State action, State anxiety aRd
STATE provision, and no, federal action ahxey, and pro-
4 vision.
il i said LoWeyer thai we have been in the habit Of
lmak ng appropriations O tie public lands for soldiers not
Las compensation, but gfauiiy, evidence oi The
gratrude OF The county have not % understood any
such appropriation, hy understanding has been, that
i IN The estimation Of Congress he amount ot compen-
salon awafted TO the soldiers 10 the Of the reFou-
ton, The war Of 1872 and the late war with Mexico,
did not compensate them tor he they rendered
TO ibe country aud these bounes were granted them
compensation and pay aud not grsulles And II has
been said thai have been in the habit OF approyriang
eges That trut; but they not appropriated
gfstuy Whether Congress has been right in that pfsc-
tce or not not prepared TO say But 80 far a.
olect, solitary appropriation Of the public lands has
been made except in the Sales where The land a.
ptopfiattd was siuaitd For what hey sppfop-
sled As graiuiiy TO the different States No, ST.
hes were appropriated upon the consideration that those
who there would develop the OF the
tfy would reclaim the lands and render them valuable,
and thereby render service 10 the country For that
consideration lands have been appropriated 10 The dder-
eni States tor schools colleges, &c. But ] have no
kbowecse Of single instance where lands have been
appropriated, except by tins bill by general distubu
ton 10 States IN which the lands situated II 1
am wrong 10 that. then am wrong n ny convictions 10
regard 90 this bill
I 4 have 10 disposition 10 throw difficulties in The y al
ol this hl Itis The OF the majority OF The SEN
ale that ths bii should pass, lei IL pass only thought
that Il pas due 10 my sell ~ The hrs TO object 10 This
measure, lha, should Stale little minGely what
those objections
II Mr BAYARD Mr President, as il will be impuss
BE for ule, with y Of The federal constitution, 10
give my vote for TIE bi before the Senate and al the
ebiec which appeals strongly 10 benevolent
feelings, cannot give, m justice 10 myself silent yole
agsltst the bill.
SIR have the proiouDdest respect aad the highest adj
mirauou (Uthout the pleasure Of personal aequsin-
ance) oT the lady whose eXerons IL is understood This
bill owes origin but mas, ~ reference 10 this meas
lure, Tor TIE yefy that u benehceH measure,
ard calculated appeal 10 best feelings look is
obec 10 ascertain whether ii comes within The powers
eonGded by The people OF the county 10 the federal gov
beneficial. il does not is within the powers delegated
10 The federal government, il s impossible shat with nv
views can support ll because believe that II theie be
any one thing more than another which ia 10 rem
der permanent the union OF these States, Il Is rigid ad
htrence 10 The principle OF the limited powers IN the
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