The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-08-05

- w SlI, tic 1ltlIllDcr OF llnnl-
grants who came into this country some years
ago, even as far back as 1919, think, was
about 800, 600 in one year, but l understand
that the number is increasing, and that du.
ring the last four years about | 500 900 for
cisn passengers have arrived in the United
States.
Now, | can very well comprehend why n
State, feeble, small in population, without
military resources, in danger. from enemies
who are near it, might seek to build up rap
idly its population and strength by extraor-
binary inducements to foreign Immigrants
even by giving them lands free Of cost; but
that Is Tot our case. 1t never was so. When
we were people Of but two and half or
three millions of souls, we maintained our
selves in vigorous and prosperous indepcn-
dence, and found it UNNECESSARY to throw
our country open to all the world by free
grants of land. 1t was not necessary for us
even then to have such an infusion of foreirn
population AS would overcome the native and
make that portion paTs mininan sui. Still
less is it necessary now. Nobody can doubt
that the progress this country in every clc-
ment OF national greatness is such, that it now
stands without the fear of an enemy any,
where. Indeed, sir, we are apt to say, in
that boastful spirit which fear charactcrizcs
us little too much, that We are confident
against the world in arms" and, cytlayagant
as it may seem, | do not know hut that it is
true.
This being the case, sir, I ask some one to
point out to nc the motive for departing from
the old established system under which We
have grown so great and been so prosperous,
and introducing this new principle, which is
new, l think, more especially in this: that it
seems to treat this great national domain, as
il 1t were r,lisaltce to be abatcd, or a bur-
den; not merely worthless thing, but posi-
tive burden, which we must cast off our
shoulders and throw down for whoever is
willing to take it up. Sir, desire in our
legislation here to facilitate the settlement of
the new States, but think they are settled
quite as fast as any reasonable desire on their
part could demanl. Seeing no reason why
we should depart from our old and well tried
policy, shall not give my vote for the bill
III Its present shape, or with any modfica-
ton which leaves the homestead principle
pure, or the hoitiestcad principle with sham
or nominal price affixed to the land.
While | would generally adhere to our
present system, there are certain portions of
the country in which, from peculiar circum-
stances, it may be polite and proper to grant
lands to setilcrs-as in New Mexico-whosc
sparse population and remote situation,
whose generally barren soil, containing only
spots Of land cultNable by irrigation; and
whose exposure to constant Indian forays
makes it most undesirable to the settler
There it may be for the benefit of the COM
mon treasury of the people, as well as the
particular interests of the inhabitants, to en-
courage such immigration as may give popu-
laton and strength enough to secure the peace
and protection of all But in the greater
portion of the public domain, all the perils Of
the pioneer life have passed away. Men no
longer have to plough with their guns slung
across their shoulders, as was the case with
the early Kentucky settlers. They break the
wilderness and subdue the forest in the con-
lidcncc of perfect safety.
do not mean to dctain the Senate much
longer, but there is one point to.which wish
TO call attention, and do so because am
iipwJl1ipr th,t t1n ,,thn,.l,, e
from Michigan, Mr.. CAss, should be given
TO legal principle, which consider entirely
unsound. In the course of debatc the other
day, the Senator from Alabama Mr.. CLAY
made an objection to the bill, that under its
provisions the land States might in certain
cases which he speci fed. be restrained from
exercising the taxing power as in other cases,
and that the period within which the parties
favored by this bill would be enabled to hold
the land. without being taxed, would he ex-
tended by its operation; and he relied upon
the compacts made between the United
States and the new States, and particularly
his own State, Alabama, which he mention
ed as preventing the State from taxing lands
while still held by the Government, and for
which no patent had issued. The Senator
from Michigan contested this principle lie
thought there were but two States in the I'm
ion which had made perfect compacts with
the Government of the United States, in re-
gard to the taxing power over the public
lands. -
Mr.. CASS I said fair compacts without
any extraneous force.
Mr.. PEARCE. Without any cxtraneous
force. Woll, sir, l understand that the OK
traneous force which was used was this:
Where the Congress of the United States
have passed an act authorising Territory to
form State government, with view of en-
tering into the Union, they have imposed upl
on them certain conditions. Among others, |
there was the condition that they should not |
tax the lands belonging to the United States
within the limits of those States These new
State governments have generally or always
been required to enter into such compact, / |