The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-27

Mr.. BELL. There are, doubt, numerous cascs Of
that kind but taking brief and general view Of the
question, order extract # could answer espe-
ciay from the from Virginia the inquiry which
proposing. remember that five hundred thousand
Cleveland canal in Ohio. have heard ytng of that
improvement for long while Another appropriation Of
1--WE hundred thousand made for Alabama about
the period of time. The inquiry which about
proposing this what is that is proposed to check
What practice OF the government is IT, what past
H. that is much deprecated Aid why this degree Of
gatihcaon expressed at the Of this BILL appropratng
ten millions OF fer the benefit OF the every
State Of the Union, in equitable proportion each
u possible and practicable for legislation accomplish
complaint has been heretofore that the sixty seventy
millions Of which have alluded or including the
swamp ands hundred millions Of acres have been APP
proprated to objects exclusively within the States
The old States have felt Il to be grievance, injustice
wrong the Txacce Of the thus partially and
unequay to distribute this great national property which
belongs to all the States which purchased by the com
Of the country for the equal benefit OF all the
States NxM
Does the honorable senator from Virginia understand
that the principles Of this message will euaze the appopr
alton of The public domain hereafter as among all the States
and that this inequality which has been felt to DO great
and of which many complaints have been made TO be
corrected Is that the meaning of the honorable senator
from Virginia, in the vsry earnest and eloquent appeal
(which he has made the principles Of this
Are have another fifty millions or one hundred
millions of of public lands appropriated In the same
way hereaeri Or does he understand that the principles
tho message put end for the future to all such appro-
prialons or donations to the new Stacsi
question: whether that inequality justified upon the prin
cipe alluded to by the honorable senator from Georgia,
which to be satisfactory TO himself that these
grants the States nothing than what pru-
ent proprietor would do in making expenditure for the
Improvement of his estate do propose, now, 10 80
that inquiry and whether that be solid ground for
any distinction at ALL have myself, il is well known
voted generally for those appropriations on great public and
general considerations regarding them redoundng to the
benefit Of the whole country well to the advantage of
the individual States whom these appropriations
made; for hold that railroad can be constructed
throughout the extent of Illinois, Missouri Iowa, or
Arkansas which does not contribute to the general well
fare the Increase OF the general prosperity OF the whole
country But nevertheless when you come to the ques-
ton of the power of Congress thus to discriminate and
when the President himself the principle that when
appropriate land is the though appropriate
money the question becomes much more important one
We all know that the accumulated volume OF wealth that
flows into every part Of this Unon added by public
improvement made in any part of and yet we KNOW
that the considerable benefit derived to the lmne
da,e neghborhood locality or State or Territory in which
these made Does the honorable senator
from Virginia understand the principles Of this
being such WILL for the FUTURE that objection to
the mode which the public lands have heretofore been
unrqualy disposed Off
am not able TO state the fact from any careful examine
ton of my own told that all the moSeys received
into the treasury the United States from the public lands
taking Them aoeether have not remunera,ed the
treasury Of the country at least not more than remune
rated for the expense OF the purchase and OF
the public ands and fos the of surveying and selling
them without including the lands given the several
States This is fact which should have some influence
on
Now sir this question is becoming ore of mpor-
tance and requiring much graver consideration than
had supposed and wish ascertain If cam what is the
understanding of honorable senator's who perhaps have
comprehended the principles upon which the President has
proceeded, correctly than have In regard to IT,
presume that standing in the relation that the honorable
senator from Virginia docs to the public administration o.
message are and has not been dependent upon casual
reading Of the document to-day from the Secretary desk
for knowledge Of its contents that principles
been nd main nd he
them. What WISH If can get at II nov, Is to know
whether the understanding of that honorable senator
ner that has given rice TO so much complaint IN the Old
States should be pleased, also, hear from the honorable
senator from South Carolina this subject. make this
request with great confidence that not trespassng
any rule of propriey propoundng the question.
There has been great complaint the part OF the old
States of the magnitude and quaputy
OF the public domain given for purposes Of local improve
ment In the States in which the public land happens TO e
while not has been given TO the other States, who
are destitute of public lands, to aid 10 making their public
improvements The consequences is that the States,
though the junior the Union far in advance
OF some Of their older works Of Internal improve
men, because the old States have had this hbeay
tended to them by the general government have strict
right perhaps TO call the honorable senator from Viz
for TO my question, but after what has been
said, think II Is due to the country that should know
that honorable senator understands 10 be the extent of
tho prncPe or the limitation of the principle laid down by
the President.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. did not intend Mr.. President to en-
the general discussion of this question now there
seemed to be understanding the part Of the Senate
that II should be postponed TIL next Monday. hoped that
when that understanding arrived at the discussion
would have been entirely dropped until tina, mc thai
could have opportunity Of reading the message, and
could into the discussion after full prparson and with
thorough understanding of its principles But certain
things have been said by senator's here which deem
proper TO notice this Much has been said about
the exavugant, the wnseful disposition which has been
made OF the public lands the grants to the states.
The senator from Tennessee thinks that perhaps hum
dred millions oil have been appropriated for them and
that the rapid growth and Advancement Of those States
attributable 10 The bounty of the federal government
MIR. BELL. said nothing that subject. aaid that
IN consequences OF those appropriations OF land they
lar IN advance IN their syscms Of internal Improvement
MIR. DOUGLAS. The senator from Vermont talked
about unclean legislation, and railroad grants and land
monopolists and land spectators, there
thing dshonorablc and corrupt in that legislation for the
benefit of the States. Now, sir, that
the representatives Of the States advo-
Gated grants Of land to them upon any other principle than
that recognised in the Presidents message upon
your table that is upon the principle Of what andhod-
would do for he improvement and management OF has
estate My State has received very large gran,
Of land for railroad purposes 1t is true Every senator
will bear witness that based its advocacy that
ground, and upon other placed upon the ground
that you had lands there which you had offered for sale for
from twenty forty years 81 rs per acre. and could not
condition that should railroad would
able you to sell them at ~ SO Sir, the facts
that the prediction has been realized The lands have
readily and rapidly sold 81 So where yen could get
81 as for them before the grant
Mr.. BROWN. Viii my friend from Illinois allow mo a
wordl
Mr.. DOUGLAS Certainly.
| Mr.. BROWN. Does not the know tina, within
the last few weeks have passed bill authorizing
considerable quantity Of this land 10 be taken at 81 %