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

time for school purposes sanctioned by the constitution,
according his construction Of i and yet sir, you may
read the instrument from end to the other, and find no
specific power make grants for school purposes II the
President will point the clause which authorizes grants
OF land colleges, will show him the clause which author
! iLes the grant proposed IN this bill
But says the Presidents If we legsale for the benefit of
the insane where we 10 sop Arewe TO carry our be-
novoence far legsate for the protection of all other
INDECENT unfortunate cnsses' This you will see al
ID argument which touch the question Of power,
but 1t simply al argument which reaches the question OF
the exercise of power you have authority to do bis II
follow that have the to do something else;
but it does follow ha because you do this you ought
therefore to do something else If you have the power 70
make appropriation of land for the protection and benefit
OF the INDECENT insane, may follow that yo have the power
to make an appropriation of land for the protection and BEN
eft of the INDECENT who insane But you
the power in the case does necessarily follow that
/ you must exercise it in the other. 4 a NM
The President seems think that this the States
will be brought bow the authority OF Congress. do
not think When my State and yours, MIR. President
BRGHr occupying the cha accepted donations OF land
for school purposes for schools and for schools OF
higher grade did enter into head mine that
our States thereby humliated and were bowms az
paupers, and beggars and meDdcanta, to the authority q
Congressi No, sir; felt that receiving part of
that which belonged that not beggars, but
that Congress giving its assent 10 our exercising excl-
sive jurisdiction part of that which belonged to us III
common with fellow citizens of all the States. -
The be appTehensve that we 60
egsatng in this way shall dry all the sources Of
nevoence the States and that the people of the States
stead of taking of their INDECENT insane their poor their
blind and their lame, will habuay look Congress for
the protection of those classes think not With as much
justice might that if receive land from The gov
cnmen for the education part of your children, this will
induce the States look Congress for the of edu
eating all the children Did enter into your mind
when Congress granted your State the sixteenth section
OF land IN each township for school purposes that by the
State accepting il you in danger OF becoming mendi-
begging Congress make appropriations for the edu-
cation Of all the children in your Slae arprehend there
danger of becoming beggas at the footstool
Congress for the support Of INDECENT insane, our indi-
blind and Of every class If we accept grant
of Congress educo all children, because, in days
gone by We aid from Congress to educate part OF
them.
But sir the President further tells us that this bill is in
violation of the public faith And why' Because the land
stands morgaged for the redemption of public debt
With all due respect for the President must say that this
argument does not strike my mind with great force. You
have money in the treasury than will satisfy all
the demands against It, Your Secretary Of the Treasury Ia
out in the Market constantly buying up at large premium,
the bonds of the government Instead OF being without
money, and being compelled good faith to keep the mort
gagged property until you discharge the obligations which
resting upon IT, you have more money than Will satisfy
all the demands against you. .sa
cannot conceive that the bill is violation Of the public
faith BECAUSE dsposing of the lands the bill proposes,
you putting yourselves IN condition to avoid or
to render dubious the payment OF your public debt
But, SIR when Congress passed bill granting millions upon
millions of of the public lands to your soldiers,
the public domain then under mortgage. The
same sort OF obligation rested upon then as now The
same thing occurred when you passed the swampand act
When you granted millions upon millions OF acres OF land
4 tor railroad purposes granted hnd winch was under
this same mortgage Il is true, an argument is made to
prove that you grant section for raroad he next is
doubled value, and nothing given, but suppose tie
mortgage does think and suppose does not turn
out so is the public faith vola,ed foe President intro
duces the prudent propetorshp argument TO justify grants
10 railroads. IL is which have frequently heard and
II always strikes me with great force
But, If Congress- prudent proprietor may grant land
for purpose, saying tins is would dispose of H.
where does the President get authority 10 say to that
pretor you shall not grant for another purpose, be
cause that purpose does strike being proper" II
prudent proprietor give land for school purposes for
railroad purposes for inernamproyement purposes and
for various other purposes, have done time and Time
again and II the same proprietor concludes that he may
give little for the protection and benefit of the INDECENT in
sane who shall dispute his right do resran him in
the exercise OF his Judgment The people the owners OF
the soil, and Think If their representatives say, their
name that this il just and proper disposal Of the land they
ought TO be allowed to appropriate It IN this way That Is
my judgment
One OF the grounds which the President justes
giving away The swamp lands 49, hat by doing, pro-
teced the public health He ismates that the lands
subject overflow and produced miasma and malaria and
exceedingly detrimental TO the public health. To get
clear of this nuisance, prudent disposition to give
the lands to the States that the States might drain them and
thus the public health This Is the argument
understand IT. Where, sir, do We get power to protect the
public heaih Is that 10 the constitution II We protect
the public health IN State, and do II constituuonaly
pray you, have the right protect The INDECENT in
State, under the clause I'M the constitution
If Congress may do anything towards protecting the public
health the State Of Arkanfas M sslsspp why, by the
same authority, may protect the INDECENT u
Delaware or Pennsylvania confess myself wholly un-
able how exercise the power and vet b,
constiiuionaly denied the right 10 exercise the other
should have thought, myself, OF such argument
but the President TO rely upon Il and, therefore,
for granted there be something in It more thar
have ..r
should not have said q word on the message this
umo, bat that wanted the country TO understand whor
they upon the investigation of this subject that after
mature discussion IA this body the bill has twice passed
the yeas and by majority Of moro than two TO
want that this point may be understood that calm, dis
passionate shsll when they to investigate Tho
subject take the fact that while the President
has felt constrained 10 this bill constitutions
grounds other gentlemen OF higher legal fame have aker
d.rept grounds that there arguments In fact on thu
other side Of the question rlght-mrded man, man q
thought ought in justice 10 the Senate and House
before he up mind examine and what the
arguments that justified the vote and then having aker
the pros and the having investigated both
sides Of the question give such Judgment as he feels h'
ought to render.
fyo,ed for this bill when IT before tho body and
upon hearing the read my convictions OF is
s,ituonsliy have not been all shaken. will read tn,
mossage and read il again have none of that sort Of
pride Of opinion that love Of consistency which viii induce
me still stand by the BILL IT, upon careful investigation
Of the Presidents arguments, shall be convinced that he
night and am wrong. Bot say that upon hearing the
message read from the Secresrys desk have not been &c
convinced The inclination of my mind u, and 1t 70
strongly so, that shall record my vote did before
trust, SIR, that will suppose thai IN submitting
these remarks, and IN taking this position am becoming
any degree the antagonist OF the President lie has his
constitutional opinions about this question have mine
He acts upon his convictions and shall act on mine
{ Will make attack upon hm far very far hom Vt.
have personal respect for the President great respect
for him pocien and head Of the great party to
which belong and he viii not take u amiss u
say that have yet much higher respect for the dstin-