The daily union., 1854-02-22

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contract for service. Your statute book abounds with
acts approprang lands and money 10 local ana particular
objects. local and specific improvements, and local ns-
tutions within The Saies Tor schools academies, COL
egee and universities, to ray nothing oil your annual ap
proprations for your numerous marine and military asy
ums Ard IN addition 10 all these, there are now lying
your table bills by which IS proposed 10 invite The
landess o our own and other countries 10 go aud lake
possession each OF one hundred and slxy acres o
your public domain without money and Without price
la the iulaess OF your beray To all other classes, we
ask you 10 beslow this small pltance Tor The ree oil
those who are mentally and physically incapable OF
avaling themselves OF your Profered boon upon thai
condition, who unable 10 personally and take pos
session Of your land The only mode in which you can
benefit them by the bounty of the government in lis pub
lie lands, is in the manner proposed by this bill
Then, why should we hesitate 10 pass ~ Humanity,
public policy, impartial justice demand The passage OIL
this Pass this bill, and the sentiment OF the
whole country will respond 70 as one OF he most ns'
and, in my judgment, il will accomplish more substantial
and lasting good, il will alleviate more OF suffering and
sorrow, il will illumine with The rays 81 hope, more
dark and desoae places OF anguish and despair than an
equal appropriation OF your public lands in any other
form or for any other purpose.
Ii argument agains, this proposition 10 tell us that
1t the duty and proper business OF the States 10 take
and provide for their INDECENT insane This bill
does not propose sh from them their duty IN this re-
spec but on the contrary to AID them In The discharge
OF that duty.
Sir, it is late 10 make serious question OF the con
stutonal power oil Congress TO grant such aid II Con-
gress may give lands 10 the States TO aid in the consruc-
aeae and cssG
TO pave river banks. locate sites for court-housas
churches seminares, and the like il Congress may
grant lands for annntes PENSIONS and bounes to par
ticular persons and classes of persons we may en-
poy the ships Of the United States TO furnish provisions
the sufferers from earthquakes, fires, and famine in
foreign well as in our own land II we may give
township of land for the benefit OF local asylums IN
Connecticut and Kentucky; if we may give lands to
vigorous and robust enough to and lake possession
OF lhem we may do all this, ask. in the name Of
common justice. and humanity, give all The States in
equitable proportions, the well the old States,
lands enable them to make suitable provision Tor the
proper and treatment OF thirty thousand OF our TEL
low beings, who are in more helpless and deporahe
condition than any others upon whom your bounty has
been be bestowed.
II il be said that the government receives consdera
lion TOR these land grants Tor works OF internal improve
ment in the enhanced value OF its remaining !ands the
argument applies with equal force in the present case
You furnishing but another means, an additional
agency 10 encourage the settlement and occupation OF the
lands around thereby increasing the value OF your other
lands. The comes within the rule oil the most
strict consirnconst that the federal government as me
trustee OF the public lands may employ them or dispose
of them only in such manner proprietor would do
in the exercise OF a sound discretion
Mr. President, may be allowed to express the opn.
ion, this is The only measure which u likely to command
the favorable action OF Congress, by which the old
States of the Union TO receive any share or benefit
directly your pubic domain, the common property OF
all the States. am not complaining OF injustice TO the
non-landhoding States but with the record OF It's acts
before feel authorized TO say that Congress has al
least dealt literally with The landholding States and
hope thar the policy and of the government. will al
ways be characterized by spirit of liberalty towards
them. But now, er while the new States are asking
the representatives OF the Old Staes to grant them mil
lions OF OF tie public domain TO ard them IN the
construction of lines OF railroads, and for other purposes,
ask you. is vain or unreasonable expectation on our
part that the representatives oil the new States VIII most
cheeruy and cordially grant TO us this small portion
mat asked and called by the provisions of this BILL
10, an object worthy and commendable, and in which
they themselves are 10 ENJOY an equal participation
They who ask justice do justice, IS maxim OF poll
icy well az OF morality IN legislation and Is as ap-
pcable TO the old Sta es as TO he new States oil The
Union no, prepared TO believe that any one OF the
senators from the States will assume a position oil
demanding all for themselves, and denying everything
10 others. Indeed, gives pleasure TO bear my ies
mony, my personal testimony, TO tho ~ -, the new
aaQsIlQm 2 ihoss insmos e ruSc Lasds to-
wards this benehceni measure.
Mr. President, IT were needful or possible TO invest
the proposition before with any additional interest
aside from lis Intrinsic value and Rer II is found IA the
consideration OF It's origin. IL commented TO
attention and our regard IN the memorial OF accom-
plshed and gifted lady, the prime and energy OF whose
years have been devoted 10 the study and ameoraliou
OF the condition OF this most unfortunate and neglected
class OF humanity. She has visited in person nearly
every State OF this Union and made hersef acquainted
with the condition and personal history OF than
twenty hye thousand oil this class OF PERSONS most OF
whom were found TO be in lamentabe state oil destlu-
tion and neglect Fitted by endowments 10 have at
tanned public eminencs and applause in The higher and
more inviting departments o lie, TO have moved among
attractive and admired scenes OF its proudesl and gayest
circles her days and years and ample private fortune,
have been expended IN seeking and aevaing those
whom all the world had forsaken With vigilance and
a devotion of patron saint, che has sought out the
stricken aBiac as, in poor houses, in private cells
in gaets and IN dark dens, clad in rags and bound in
letters and administered TO his physical necessities and
poured the accents OF inspiring hope in his dark and
troubled spirit Like angel of mercy her visits
by day and by nigh, have been among the abodes
where poverty, and wretchedBess, aud wild de-
lirium dwell And this is but feeble tribute to the
purity and disnieesedness OF motive. The energy and
excellence Of purpose, The moral heQism and nobility
OF character OF her whose aver before you that
memoirs for the aid OF the government, in behalf of su
ierng humanity Look at the picture which that memo.
rial presents, Look at your over abundant means
Look at what you have done, and daily doing for
others Then lei those who can reject the prayer OF that
petitioner
word or two in reference TO the amendment offered
the other day by the honorable senator from Indiana,
Mr., rITTn,l not now in his seat, which proposes 10
limit this appropriation exclusively 10 the States in which
the public lands lie That amendment need not say is
incompatible with the whole object OF the bill, and IN.
consistent with its provisions II Is an adversary popo
siioD, and, such, perhaps may be considered as
coming within The parliamentary rules OF legitimate oppo
son TO the bill, with view TO defeat its passage II
the Senate agree to that amendment defeats the bill II
they reject H. the may be taken indication OF
the judgment OF the Senate in favor OF the bill. am
therefore willing, entirely willing that the issue should
be made by the proposed amendment, a8d that the bill
should be tested by that vote
am reminded that the hour OF one O'Clock has arrived
and move that the further consideration OF the subject
be postponed TIL tomorrow morning at half past twelve
o'clock
The motion sgresd to-
ADJOURNMENT TILL THURSDAY.
Mr. BAYARD MIR President before the special or