The daily union., 1854-02-15

small amount oil money Tor private clam, senators cal
for the reading OF the report to show The principle and
show the justice of The claim yet these wonderful APP
preparations made here daily without laying before
the county the facts upon which we act
Now, sir, repeat the question, II should vote Tor
this proposition, and asked why did H. where ar
the estimates, where the representations contained in
a report TO justify that vote, or TO satisfy the country
what answer should maker Hence il that did
say that waiting for general report from the Com
miltee on Public Lands will go, like my friend IRON
Delaware said he would go, down low 10 require
estimates from them And the Secretary OF the lnte-
or is the great manager of the internal affairs OF this
country, call upon hun, in relation TO every railroad
that shall be designated, 10 let us know the character
OF the public lands through which that road y 10 pass
the number OF 10 be granted Tor IT. and how the
lands be obtained. and what influence The grant
would have on the finances OF the country, and what
would be the sxeat Of ,he APPROXIMATION av o. laads con- a.
just! And will II be considered offensive on my paIts
when these appropriations OF mons OF acres OF The
public lands about being made that ask or such m
formation!
DO not ask senators TO Tse in their seats and tell me
about them, bu wish them TO tell me, as statesmen, in
such manner should control the conduct q senators
in the management OF the public affairs Where is The
report OF engineer where is the satemento the Sec
reary of the Interior, OF the Commissioner OF Pubic
Lands, giving to me the actual facts OF the case along
llae OF railroad three hundred miles in exient know
nothing but what my friend from louisiana Mr.. SLI-
DELI said in regard 10 the road in his State. do not
know the character OF the improvement; but he told me
that one hundred and seventy miles OF II were through
settled population where the whole OF the pubic lands
gone; yet IN that instance, according 10 The con-
struchon OF the senator from Maine we appropriated
land as he maintained and said TO my friend from ILL.,
nois section upon section, to the lines built and my
friend did not deny il.
Mr.. SLIDELL beg the pardon of the honorable
senator from Georgia. do not admit that that 10 the
correct construction OF the bill On the contrary, deny
tha, is; and if shall have opportunity, will ex-
plain the operation OF the bill.
Mr.. DAWSON. am very glad that the senator has
denied t for before his denial we stood IN the position
OF having that declaration OF my friend from Maine 60
ing out 10 the country without denial that we ale ap-
lopIiang the public lands to company that has
already constructed the road.
Mr. DODGE, OF Iowa. | am sure the gentleman from
Georgia does not desire to missla,e the facts.
Mr. DAWSON. Not al all
MIR DODGE, of Iowa And yet perhaps, il would no,
be proper Tor 10 interrupt him and SET him right
will therefore make my statement when he gets through
Mr. DAWSON prefer that the gentleman should
state whether the senator from Name was night or
wrong.
Mr DODGE, of Iowa cay this: We do not grant
an acre 10 any company on Gods ioo;stoo We grant
that land by tha, bill the sovereign State OF Louisiana,
upon the presumption thai her con-
stu,ed authories--are intelligent people, and know
what is best for their own interests much better than the
Senate Of the United States know. Now, has my
friend read all these bills will ask hm, in reference
10 this very BILL whether he has read It's provsionsl
Mr. DJDGE. NV friend from Georgia will recol-
lect HAT when the Iowa bill was under discussion
at the last Congress there was no provision in 1t such
what then occurred We have distinct question be-
fore US
MI JOHNSON. Will the senaior from Georgia al
low to make one suggestion
Mr.. DAWSON. Certainly.
Mr.. JOHNSON. Ia the senator aware what bill is
now before the body
is before US. speaking OF the general character
OF these measures.
Mr.. JOHN SON. I did not know whether the senator
was aware of the particular bill before the Senate.
Mr. q efsia
matter submit to them whether, il they were 10 the
s sature OF rkansae n The legislature OF Indiana,
or OF any other ia the Union, they would appropr-
the lands belong to the Stale such Information az
have before us to-day lnever knew OF an appro.
prialion of even $50 900 IN money being made on The
existence Of hike taie Of facts and yet am 10 be
considered as ibera and nnjns, towards The States
because cannot conscenousy say. IRON the facts be
fore me- that this measure ought TO be passed. You
avoid every means by which you can get correct ino
nation. For what have you your land agents .
For what purpose have we Commissioner OF The
Land Office For what purpose have we Secretary
OF the Interior Why have we these officers, II not for
the purpose OF sending to information on which we
can act understandipgiy | ask any senator on this
floor now favor OF these II the sole infoma-
ton he has derived about the matter s not from the bill
itself, and from speeches oil gentlemen II so. Now,
what presen, here just right for senator is,
that these bills like all oiner bills, shall be accompanied
by report stating the iscs OF The case so that can act
upon these measures properly towards the country and
towards myself
lrepea, again. Mr. President and do il with no unknd,
or ibera or upgenerous feelings, that this mode of dis
posing OF much OF the general treasure OF the coun
lry whether 1t be n land IN money, under such cifcum
stances these, is radically wrong lishows system
OF legislative proceeding without information well cal
cnated to creaie dsrus, IN the public mind, and 10 de-
stfoy that confidence which should be placed in our
legislative action. This is the reason why make this
objection.
As my friend from Iowa koows. ever since took a
this 1oor have stated my objections TO this mode
Of proceeding have stated that would be liberal
the liberal IN favor OF the younger States II the
lbem a mag napmous share. ! would give them ap-
preparation far above that which demand in Isvor Of
my State, Tor reasons which they have suggested
Bat they call upon me, and do they believe taa
honest ought 10 yield 10 then, when they tell
me 10 take their word, and give them what they ask
They wond not trust their agent In private trans
actions II acted voted IN that way. II were to act
upon such principles, they would look upon dam
gsrous man. whose hands their private rights should
mol be placed.
Mr. President, this is an important question. Il is a
great question. II is one which The American people
ought 10 understand am glad that the question which
propounded TO what should 10 our constitu-
gentleman from North Carolina. Mr. BaBcER,l who has
placed this question rightly before the country We
that there have been divisions 10 relation TO The
question of internal improvements. We know that our
d. mocra,ic friends are decidedly against internal im
proveinenis by the general government and II ~ known
thai have been inclined TO the same opinion myself, al
though have acted steadily with the party TO which
the very hing which deny The power of the govern
meni 10 do directly
Before conclude will put an inteuogaory 10 the SEN
a,or from louisiana which am requested to make. II
H. whether the from Maine put the proper
upon the bill granting lands TO the State OF Lou