The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-17

case AS follows
Where them there any limitations upon this power
the lands II the United States political soye-
regnty property they undoubtedly have the 10
sell otherwise dispose of ito sell il for whatsoever they
please, and to give it to whomsoeyer they please"
Now, illustration is often better than argument I'M
der the liberal license Of the senator Congress may build
poorhouses and factories in the States with the proceeds
of the sales Of the public lands The power is unlimited
in his opinion and in the exercise of II may lavish lands
and money without let hndrance To state such prop
oston is efecualy to show its absurdity There lim
taon to the power and the most obtuse intellect
trace it Common has settled it, and the wise wr
tiers upon the constitution unanimous in restricting il
by the plain terms of the fundamental law If there
Imitation the philosophy of Mr. Badger would make
of the public lands of Generalization
unceasng fountain of speculation and Of wrong.
Senator Badger gives the old example of the land
holder and admits that that character gives power
to control the States in their local concerns That is
great point conceded But what does prudent land
holder doi Does he give away his lands Mr. Badger
contends that Congress should do? That he may do
it clear but when, like Congress- he becomes
for Others he is bound to consult the law under which
he holds and to follow and obey its Misunderstanding
further and hating just where they halt If he follows
Mr. Badgers example, and gives away, throws away
without consideration, that which has been placed in his
hands for the benefit of the owners 1.-THE States and the
people, is 1t not palpabe that he is reckless and dan
gerous agent and should be discharged for gross cu
pable neglect?
The practice of Congress has been unvarying with but
two exceptions No pabc lands with these exceptions
have been bestowed to the States except for consideration
In the language of Mr. Disney's mastery report:
CAS- landholder, the government may lcgtmatey bear
share of the burdens imposed to create improvement
which will enhance the value of its domain and contrib
ute to that end yet its aid must be limited within the extent
which does not require taxation to effect it, II may,
matter Of power right contribute portions of the public
lands to improve the value of the remainder but in
this sound policy and its duties towards the general welfare
will limit it to healthy and reasonable extent Reasonable
donations towards improvements which increased
value in the adjacent lands consonant with wise and
just administration the public domain Such donations in
and do not impair the value of the trust. but gift
which reduces the value of the public lands in violation Of
the benecarys rights The donation Of section sixteen for
the support of the township schools inducemen to
purchasers and enhanced the value Of the adjacent lands the
sale of which UNIDENTIFIED the for the donation
which it made. &c. the donation of the salines The
facilities for obtaining salt among the first objects of the
early settlers upon the public lands and the donation Of the
springs and adjacent land their being worked
powerful Involvement to the pioneers Of the West The
grants to the States upon their admission into the
Unon upon conditions which than Unidentified
the government The swampland grant justified, be-
cause u was remove nuisance pubic
and the the proprietor Of the adjacent lands
while the grants for internal improvements brought direct
pecuniary profit to the treasury"
Gentlemen who believe with Mr.. Badger in allowing to
Congress the ooest rein in the management of the public
lands often try justify themselves by citing the of
the Territories In the Territories you and do apply
and the public lands for the benefit Of the Territories
You vote money to the Territories to erect public build
ngs and TO do other necessary things But this
aous case and grows out of necessity THERE'S wide
difference between the powers exercised by Congress in
the Territories and that broad license claimed by Mr..
Badger in his argument against the veto, there is be-
tween that license and the power exercised in the District
of Columbia And because Congress puts up peniten-
ary in the District of Columbia and opens and improves
the avenues and regulates corporations grant bank
charters build als and level in the Stes2 1t
would be absurd TO contend that it could.
Mr. Badgers arguments delusive and plausible and
investigation proves this He belongs to the school
Of who believe in the consitutonay and
eesy of distributing the proceeds Of the sales of the pub
lie lands among the States and in order the
fully show that il is better that this should be DONE or
that the public lands should be gon ody TO local and 10
benevolent objects he undertakes to show that certain
States do not under the present system get their share
Of the proceeds Of the sales Of these lands Thus he
tells that in North Carolina there Is less public money
expended than in Delaware and hence of the pro-
prieors there is loss TO the former. lie therefore de-
mands proportionate and equitable distribution Of public
money or, what is the thing of public lands But
this idea Is allacous in the North Carolina is
bound contribute her share Of theexpenscs Of the gene
raj government The amount of the proceeds Of the sales
Of the public lands belonging to her. and retained in the
public treasury, dmnshes by that amount, exactly, the
necessary be raised by her for the support Of
the federal government IL these proceeds diminished
by giving away lands by millions Of acres TO various
benevolent and local projects returning to the propretors
consideration therefor then just in proportion they
are kept Of the treasury win North Carolina and the
other States be compelled to make up the deficit The
larger the proceeds of the sales of the public lands
fore the for the States for the payment Of these pro-
cecds into the public fund relieves each State by amount
equal her share from raising much money that would
otherwise of necessity be raised to support the general
government and is each direct credit to that
Mr. Badgers doctrine is full Of dangers If VIC may CIR,
array or squandcr the lands upon whatever object we
please under power which he calls absolute may also
give away squander TIC public money for the power is
similar in each and eminent domain has been
unhling source Of revenue, in peace and in No
evil has been eoqucny depored and denounced than
the loose and wanton expenditure Of the peoples money
and none grows apaco alnrmngy. Let us NOT add