The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-20

grant OF two townships of land State when ad-
mted into the Union for the support Of institution of
learning; and the gentleman has paraded them in his
speech as three different objects
The is the in regard to the grants for internal
improvements and he them for different OBJ
jectsas for roads, for river improvements internal n-
provemen for canals and for railroads Well the truth
Is that all of them grants for internal improvements
and Injured directly and Immediately to the enhancement
OF the pecunay value Of the domain owned by the govern
ment
He talks also of grants indviduas to corporations
and to companies. There never such grant made
since we have been governmenhais is, grant without
consideration The government has sold lands to ind
yiduals it has sold them TO companies it has sold them
TO corporations but in all these it has been for
deraton In every case before the title has passed from
the government the parties have paid full consideration
IN dollars ana cents IN money the regular recognised
legal money OF the country And the gentleman speaks
Of these purchases upon the part Of corporations and COM
panies grants gifts upon the part Of the government
Is IT not marvellous repeat that there such
grant made since have been government; grant
70 individuals or except where they have paid
for them But will detan the committee by going
further upon the point II is not important that should
have spoken ofthese compacts with tho States Allow
me to call the attention Of the committee to these compacts
one of which have before me- in the fifth volume Of the
statutes mean the for the admission OF the State Of
Michigan into the Union That there may be nisun-
dcrsandng about It, repent again that there has
been grant there has been gift upon the part Of
the Of the United States any State In this
Union, any individual any corporation or any other
party for the benefit of any college, university seminary
Of learning unless i was BY virtue Of compact made
But to the act of which spoke Here it is:
That the following propositions be, and the ars
hereby offered to the legislature of the State of Michigan for
their acceptance or rejection" &c.--
First Selection of lands use Of schools lieu OF sec
on sixteen where has been sold otherwise disposed
OF
Second Two townships of land for support Of uni
versty.
Third Five sections of land for completing certain pub
lie buildings
Fourth Not exceeding sevepy-two sections Of land
Fifth Five per cent Of proceeds of sales of public lands
within said State for making roads and canals.
And here comes the consideration for these grants
condition that the legislature Of The sad State shall prevd
By ordinance without the consent Of the United
primary right. Of the soil within the By the United
States nor with any regulations Congress may hnd neoss
chasers thereof and that no tax shall imposed
the property United States and that shall
that the bounty lands granted hereafter to be granted
for military services during the late shall whilst they
laid BY authority o the
State whether for State county township or any other
for the term OF three from and after the date
Of the patents, respectively ely, ;,
"Approved June 2S, 1885,"
These have been somewhat varied in reference to
the different Sates but the general character of the terms
the in regard to all of them The general gov
have by compact by virtue of agreement OBJ
tanned orbearance from the taxation Of its lands and in
the orbearance extended for five after the
lands have gone into the hands of individual propetors
Now sir let gentlemen for moment turn their attention
taxation perpetuy equal the whole value Of tho
The general government not only got from the States
exemption from taxation while held these lands though
be in perpetuy but it further and stipulated
and required of the States to exempt these same lands om
taxation for five years after they should have been aenated
and passed into the hands Of individual propretorshp and
ownership thus of course enhancing the value of tho
lands in the hands of the purchasers because as is
ecy evident If purchaser could buy land from the gov
of the United States and coupled along with 1t the
privilege of exemption from taxation for five years the
land worth precisely that much more worth the
bonus in addition and has been shown In the particular
in Michigan they to be exempted not only from
State but from county township and all taxation OF To-
cal character Thus the general government not only pro-
cured from the States exemption from taxation on the
lands while it held them itself the and proprie
tor but also additional exemption for five years after
had aenated them Now contemplate the value Of this
grant But what did the general government give In
for t2 Why six sections contiguous to twelve salt
springs amounting TO seventytwo sections OF and, two
townships of land for college, binding itself TO make
section sixteen good where the had otherwise
sold it, had the propreorsbp of IT. amounting TO
but limited quantity At the most for, as have shown
off the government paid for 1t in the sale OF the
surrounding lands and for all these matters, amount
ing in the whole for all the States Of the Union
up to this time to million twenty-one thousand
three hundred and ninetyhvc of land embracing col
ese saline and all the grants of the government TO the
Satesnterna improvement grants alone excepted That
is In return for exemption from taxation in perpenity
for itself while It the proprietor and additional e1
law mas recently been changed in that rcpcctan sdd
onal exemption from taxation say for hve years after
the land the bands of individual proprc
tors Now s there any comparison between the consider
alton and the grant-any equality in the agreement'
Who got the hard end of the bargain II conceded by
all your courts that the eminent domain Is vested In the
States and that the general government holds its lands
within the limits of the States individual proprietor
and otherwiseon other condition and there s An
evident in the terms OF the act have quoted,
that Congress apprchensve that the States would set
up the right Of ownership of these lands and not come
here and ask you dole them out you have done In
snted quantities not sufficiently liberal to consult even
the pecunary interests Of the government ITSELF Congress
apprehensvc this and hence put In the act the spu
aon that they would not assert right as the popretors
and possosors Of the eminent domain that they would
not claim feesnpe and universal ownership OF these
| lands within their limits
But waivng that right there another question which
would advise gentlemen OF the old States not TO raise
aude 10 the right Of the States tax all ande within
their limits whether possessed and owned by the govern
mcnt or possessed and owned by individuals The gen
era government have conceded IL Congress con-
ceded il by the and spuations OF its acts LOOK
cases which have been brought before your Judicial t
bunals In the celebrated Of McCnioch--l speak
from memory for have not looked At the cascs for long
decision Of the court that the taxing power
of the State could be exerted becanse bank was part
of the functions Of the federal government and necessary
"a, its vitality necessary 10 the execution OF its powers
i That Is the essence Of those bank cases
/ But the case becomes entirely different when t
relates to the question of taxing real esateha which in
the abstract is not at all necessary to the execution Of the
powers of the government and hence you find in the tax
cases which have arisen within the last few years. in
Philadelphia and in the New England where
the States undertook to levy taxes the real estate Of the
Of the general government they carefully recognised the
of which have epokep the inference