The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-31
SPEECH of Hon. SOLOMON root

OF NouTstlNts
SPEECH Of Hon. SOLOMON FOOT
On The BIZ making grant Of Public
Lands to he screrai States and Ter
ritories Of the Uaioa for The bmem
Of hdigem Insane Persons; ia he
4. $. Senate. FEB 2l, 1854.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: The Committee on
Public Lands reported an amendment
to this bill, in the form Of a substitute
for the original bill which was intro
duced by myself, and referred to ,ha,
committee and 10 that amendment or
substitute there is now pending an
amendment offered by the Senator from
Indiana, (Mr. Pettit,) who is now not
IN ms seat.
Mr.. President, this bill, with but n
slight notification, has been pending
before Congress for the last five or six
years, and has passed each House by
decive majorities at different terms,
though unfortunately not at the same
term in concurrence. The object of the
bill and its provisions are doubtless well
understood by most, if not all the mem
bers of the Senate. Il has been very
fully and carefully considered by your
Committee on Public Lands, and we
think it well guarded in all its provis-
10 L.. ,nI
sary, therefore, TO enter upon any ex-
tended discussion at this time, with n
view to enforce its claim upon the ia
vorable consideration of the Senate.
BY the last census it appears there
are over thirty thousand persons In the
United States laboring under the most
fearful and terrible of all infections,
mental alienation or insanity; a very
large proportion of whom are in cir
cumstances of indigcnce and want, des-
ttute alike of the ordinary physical
comforts of life and OF that remedial
care and treatment which are afforded
only at well-endowed hospitals, devoted
exclusively to that purpose, and which
all observation and experience show to
be indispensable to their restoration.
The amelioration of the condition OF
this large and increasing class of oui
citizens, suffering under the most dire
ful calamity which can befall human
being to restore them, so far as it may
be done, to reason, TO usefulness, and ic
happiness, is no secondary object of pub
lie interest or of national concern. The
subject is one which appeals not TO oul
sympathes only, but il addresses irse
emphalically TO our regard as legislator
for the public veal. 1t seems hardly
possible 10 conceive Of any other or NOR,
practicable mode than the measure pro
posed by this bill, by which the Fedora
Government, not iranscending its con
stituiional powers, can more efiectuall,
contribute to the accomplishment Of thu
most benefcent and most desirable Oh
ject.
The bill proposes grant Of ten mil
lions Of acres from your immense pub
lie domain for this object, TO be appor
toned among all the States, new anC
old, according TO prescribed and equt
able ratio, in sections and parts Of sec
lions, after il shall have been surveyed
The States ia which there are no publ,
lands Of the value OF 81 ,2j per acre ar,
10 have their deslributiye shares select
ed from such lands. The States il
which there are no public lands Of tha
value are 10 receive the amount Of lheil
deslribuliye shares in acres IN land scrip
10 be sold by the Slates at "A price no
less than one dollar per acre. No Slal'
10 which scrip Is TO be issued is author
ICED TO locale il IN any other State o
Territory; bot their assignces may 10
cate their scrip upon any Of the unap
propriaied lands Of the United State
which shall then be subjec, 10 priyai,
chtfy NJ elf<O per acre
This provision will prevent the loca
ton Of ihi. scrip upon any Of the publi'
lands along the lines Of proposed rail
roads, hose minimum value shall have
been fixed Al the duplicate price, or .
any price above sl,2j per acre Th'
expenses Of these proceedings are 10 b
borne by the several States respective
ly. The moneys realized from the sail
of lhe lands and from the sale Of scriI
are 10 be invested Ia the United State
stocks or other stocks yielding not lee
Than five per ceni. upon their par sslue
aud this j. 10 constitute perpetual fund
the interest Of vhiei, shall be applied Il
making prosision lor and 10 the supPor
and maintenance Of the indigeni insan