Washington sentinel., 1854-03-07

| il is something more than donation for the con-
struction OF raliroad-ihat II is strong support,
an snectual means of restoring the credit OF the
State Of nLnois
But, in addition 10 all this, hold that we have
awritlen constitution and that II is our business
70 protect that written Constitution, and 10 carry
trout fairly according 10 the provisions contained
within y. But nearly every member who is in
favor OF these railroad grants, has contended that
the federal government ought not 10 be the owner
OF lands al all; that il ought not 10 be in the mar
ket selling these lands but that they should belong
10 the States In which they lie. That is the argu-
| ment, and that is the conclusion derived from il.
wen, SIR, IN carrying ouI this system OF internal
improvements, which is a general system tho
rough system, SO far as the new States are con-
cerned, they accomplish all their purposes by the
use OF these public lands.
Sir, what are the public lands belonging 10 the
government but the property OF the government!
what Is the money OF the government but the
property Of the government, occupying the same
relation towards il as do the public lands! The
nations wealth consists in part, in the money il
receives from the sale of the public lands. Then
can The government give away its property in
money Tor the construction OF railroads! II not
what right has to give away its property in these
public lands, which bear the same relation TO il as
money itself! The Constitution now reads: "that
Congress shall have power TO dispose of" and SO
iortn; but, aceording TO the new reading approved
py these gentlemen, ii ought 10 run THAT Con-
gress shall have power TO GIVE AWAY, and TO make
all needfni rules and regulations respecting the
territory and other properly OF the United States"
That rs the result of it, according to their construc
ton, when reduced TO practice. II means nothing
more, and IT means nothing less
Now look at all these projected railroads 10
which gentlemen are urging Congress to accord
lands to aid in their construction. the railroads
are OF any advantage to these States they ought
10 be willing al least to pay the price OF the lands
TO the government, and not establish precedent
here TO be plead, as II has been plead by the gem
tleman from Ohio, MIR. DIsNEY,l that Congress
has done so and so heretofore, and must go on
and do it hereafter.
But LEI me return to this Milwauk % railroad
The gentleman from Ohio tells us that the policy
Of the Committee on Public Lands is to equalize
the grants to all these States and to give them as
much as has been granted to the State of Illinois.
Now Illinois received for her Central railroad
2,593,000 acres, if my recollection is correct.
The State OF Wisconsin has already received
for internal improvements 949, 900 and odd acres
One million six hundred thousand acres are EN-
braced in this bill, as understand The gentleman
from Ohio. Then he tells us that the committee
have agreed upon another bill making donation
of land for road from Madison to Prairie du
Chen, and that bill embraces 300, 900 acres. That
makes 1900 900 acres, and with the 949, 900 already
received gives 2,900,00O and odd acres SO that If
this bill passes, they will have received 400, 900
acres more than Illinois has received. like TO be
accurate about these things, and will therefore
refer 10 the book. see il is set down here that the
lands sold in the State Of Wisconsin up TO June
80, 1858, amounted TO 5,045,242 acres lands do
mated for schools, universities and so FORTH 400
72S acres; and that the lands donated for internal
improvements amounted to 929, 1876 acres Now,
add TO that the 100000 acres embraced in this
bill, and you then have very nearly three millions
acres granted to the State OF Wisconsin.
Well, sir, by way of justifying this mode OF dis
posing Of the lands, the gentleman tells that
the President of the United States is for it that
the Secretary Of the Interior is for it; that the
Commissioners of the General Land Office is for
il and that inasmuch all these parties are for
II, II must be conclusive TO the propriety Of the
policy. Now, do not hold TO any such doctrine
that because a President or Secretary entertain
particular opinions, everybody else is 10 hold the
same opinions on the same subject. come here
10 represent district that entertains opinions
altogether different on this question-that maintains
that Congress has no right, either directly or ndi-
recty, TO appropriate the lands or money of the
Federal Government TO internal improvements.
Here is the platform adopted by the Democratic
State Convention held in Richmond in March,
1852:
Rssoe That Congress has no power to appropriate
lie lands or to grant, directly indirectly, the public
lands to the purpose Of internal improvement
stand on that platform. hold to that doctrine
in common with the Democratic party of my
State. believe TO be sound doctrine; and so
convictions because President Of the United
States, or a Secretsrysof the Interior, anybody
else occupying high hofficial position, entertains
a different opinion. As to the Secretary of the In
terror, can account for this opinion to some ex-
tent. He is man who has been living in a land
State which has profted largely by this mode of
disposng of the public lands. In his service in
Congress he was committed TO all these grants. /
can ascertain very well how association how po-
ltical interest controls the opinions of men; and
these influences may control his in this matter.
But, by way Of satisfying the House that this pol
icy is proper and constitutional, the gentleman
from Ohio says that under the influence of it pub
lands have been sold, and that they are now sell
ing with more rapidity than public lands have
been sold at any time heretofore in our history for
several years past.
Mr.. DISNEY. In the vicinity Of these roads.
Mr.. LETCHER. Very well then in the vicin-
ity of these roads. How many lands have been
sold | have statement here of the Sales from
1885 to 1853 Gnclusive) to which ask attention:
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