The daily union., 1854-02-05

to tho merits OF the main proposition.
In considering Mr., Chairman, the policy of donating
alternate sections OF the public land for railroad purposes
question fts arises as 10 the power OF Congress 10
make such donations There are some who deny or
doubt this power but between the priacipal parties OF
the counlry this hall aud else where, believe there
material difference Of opinion AS 10 lis existence
those who coDstrue the constitution TO give Con-
Kress wide discretion in authorizing and in aiding in
ternal improvements, OF admitting and those
who bold Congress TO more rigid construction OF the
constitution, concedlag it derived from the right of
the government in its proprietary character take my
position with the latter and will offer single
sustain IT, II would be unnecessary elaborate Ques
ti0n which has been so much and so well discussed
hsetoioe BY clause Of the third section OF the fourth
article OF the constitution, Congress empowered to dis
pose Of the public lands. 1t is ihus:
The Congress shall have power dispose Of and make
al nsedfsl rules and regulations especng the territory
in this oon.ulion shall be 50 construed as 10
ANY ciams OF tho United States of particular State"
That, say, empowers Congress dispose of the ter
yitory, (mssniog The public lands. undoubtedly as
Of the other property Of The United States. L is true
that there 10 in this clause no restriction or limitation
upon The power II ID general and absolute but not
for this TO be exercised to any end ends that
Congress- in its arbitrary discretion. may prefer !!
can make disposition Of them except such will
serve the common interest. satisfy the common claims,
and fulfil the purposes Of all the States uni
tad in cOnfederacy. The very nature and objects
OF the government holding these lands. which gov
ernnent was brought in,O being by the constitution,
from which alone Congress derives any power, impose
the restrictions and limitations | have indicated. Con-
grssa is but member OF government. and that govern
ment but the common agent OF the States held and Inn
tied in s action 10 the general purposes OF It's lnstu
ions. And hence il do nothing by any all OF lis
members. unless specially authorized, which has not
reerence 10 those general purposes marked and de-
fined by that constitution.
This conclusion, sir, connected with the subject in
hand leads to the inquiry whether Congress, the per-
Torrance OF the general duties devolyed upon it, the
power 10 engage in general system OF Internal i'm
Provsnents. That question do moi propose DISCUSS
Il would lead yond the range of my subject II is
n
whom act politically hold that no such power is
given and proceeding on the assumption that they are
right, follows that il Congress has power 10 grant lands
in aid of railroads. must be found where place it.
Il must be found in the character of the government
proprietor sole manager and sole dsposer OF The public
domain. That such is its character affected by that
domain, proved by that clause OF the constitution
which have Just read.
But must not be forgonen-and here reiterate the
ideathat the exercise OF that poprietorship must
render its action subordinate TO the general purposes for
which the government instituted. as defined and
limited BY the constitution which created and fashioned
It, And this is true. sir, whether we speak OF lands OBJ
tanned BY cession fTem the States by acquisition from
foreign counres-lhe position to the iotmer being
confirmed and strengthened BY the fact that the deeds OF
cssson gave direction to these lands which Indicate pur
poses precisely those had in view in the formation OF the
federal government
Foregoing further remarks 10 the different sources
from which the power dervec let the fact that
the power itself s admitted by all parties am aware
thai there are gentlemen, even on this floor believe,
Standing a. individual EXCEPTIONS who entertain doubts
on The question can be so fortunate as to gain their
attention. shall undertake TO satisfy them that even The
srictest consIuctionis and the rigid guardian OF
the public lands be constrained 10 ackno wledge the
power. If it be shown that such grants have the ef-
feet 10 advance the legitimate ends for which the lands
ass held They Will admit that Congress has the power
10 "dispose of the public lands That is proved by the
clause Of the constitution 10 which have referred
They will admit that Congress is bound, in disposiDg o
thsm 20 to do il az that the government and our common
co1nSy shall realize the largest profit and the creates
benefit from them. No one will deny either OF these
propositions They are inyunerable; and, taking them
- The ground hold il II be proved that such
dioposiuon OF them increased yield OF the
eeeds Of the lands does no, cause dimnu,ion oil
thoes proceeds 10 at the time proved beyond the
most rigid queson that the power exists and proved aso
that the policy 10 SAFE sound, judicous, and wise
That proof will be The purpose OF such further remarks
as may have the honor 70 submit, TO adduce.
few years ago the policy OF which am speaking
Was enurely an open question. Sagac,ous statesmen
reasoning upon general principles thought they foresaw
that disposition OF the public lands that con
tsmpa,ed IN the bills of which / speaking woule
bring about happy results 10 the county They though
hat those parts OF The country where the lands
locked mp, and from which the industry and enerprs,
Of citizens excluded, should be brought into
more immediate connexon with the markets OF tb'
world, and with the general interests OF agriculture AM
commerce. They thought they gbt rely upon the tru
im. that proportion you bring lands into proximity
to market you Increase their value and Likewise increas
the demand for them; and that such a disposition a
they proposed would no, only benefit the particular oca
ton. but would also benefit the government and III
whole country.
Now cir, have only to refer 10 the rssss-iesed bu
for q very short time, II is true-to results which hav
already startled cosiounded those who oppose ibi
policy, 10 justify IL upon the grounds where place
II reer again TO the report OF The Commissioner OF hi
General Land Office, find facts which, in the amples
manner, justify this policy The Secretary OF the Int
rior and the Commissoner no longer dealing IN men
speculation both refer these facts, showing the opera
ton Of such grants we ask, and proving the position
assumed reference TO them. They show that wba
was bat theory and bope OF yesterday lsnow demon
srated trnib that what was but dreamed OF Is now
thing realized
The manner OF reasoning On this subject adopted ol
these functonares ought satsfy every mind and an
that the father OF the inducuvs philosophy, LoFt
Bacon himself IL be here 10 test the conclusions Il
which the strong array of facts they present have leS
them, he could escape the conviction OF Their cor
rectnese.
The Commissioner takes dieren, sections OF country
whore grants have been made aid OF railroads. he in
quires whether there has been any change the de-
mand for the public lands and any Increase oil sales since
the giants made and be hnds the remarkable re-
sul that although his inquiry relates TO points Tar re-
moved from each other. divided and separated and there
t0re 10 be affected by separate and different causes ye
every instance the fact out that The demand and
sales have greatly increased, and hare thereby verified
The predictions which pot fonh IA reference to the
elects ot this policy. He takes easebai OF the
Sals Of lllinois-shere very large grant OF lands
made, and shows that lands which lying and
uncuitvasd notwithstanding their great fertility and in
herent value, because they lle accessible that
an entsrprisng people like those OF America did not
choose bury themselves thereon be shows that more
OF those lands lying along the railroads which have been
established under The operation Of these acts were dis
posed OF in year than sold altogether IN the fiscal
year preceding
He then takes another csseand hope the committee