The daily union., 1854-02-05

must be Traced 10 source when i0fms new and iH-
porlant element in the history OF the subject TO which 1t
relates
bt Chairman do moi know that il is necessary 10
continue these remarks ior he purpose OF sabs,anlang
the position have taken. Unless these facts be
confoyerled, the policy has been fully vindcated, not
w,bsaDding the short time which has elapsed since The
system has. 70 any extent been adopted. The facts
which have been presented for consideration attest
It's soundness And these iaets prove--what! They
prove that where lands unealeabe and utterly
worthless for any purposes OF public utility, they have
become saleabe and not only saleabe but in great de-
mand that they have yielded, with the Increased price
which has been imposed them, greater amour. o reye
into the public treasury than they were yielding be-
fore, were likely 10 yield. submit whether this Is
mol sufficient 10 give sanction TO these grants Upon hs
proof though but loosely presented, We base our appca
lions Tor the continuance and enlargement OF this policy
have heard here and there, in. this House, objections
made 10 these grants because OF the fact that they seem
to be avors 10 particular States Some gentlemen seem
10 have the impression that when Congress makes a
grant OF this sort II is giving favor TO one State which
Is the lak ing away OF something that belongs to other
States The remarks have submitted 10 the commits
tee if they have proved nothing else, have proved at
least that ibis is not The effect When you strengthen
one section OF The conlederacy you at the same lime
strengthen The whole coniedeyacy Ia proportion you
give facilities TO the States 10 develop their and
encourage The industry OF their cxensthese things
being done OF course, with strict regard for the duties
OF this body under the constitution OF the United Sales
in that same proportion will you advance the common
interests OF The country
Ii becomes me now, sir--for will confess that my
main purpose in these remarks has been justify the
policy with reference grants which have asked for
the State have the honor to representto explain what
application propose TO make OF this policy to that State
The lines of railroad for which ask grants these
One from point the Atlantic coast, point
upon OF tue tributaries 10 the Atlantic, extending
ACROSS the peninsula 10 such point south OF the Suwan
ye as may be designated under the authority OF the
State.
Another extends from point the Georgia line far
east practicable in Middle Florida. through Middle and
West Florida TO Pensacola, with direct connexon be-
tween this and the former al such points will make
entire line through The State, constituting great central
railroad.
There Is another line for which have asked grant
from Moatg Alabama, 10 Pensacola in Florida
Now, state this committee, from my personal
knowledge, that the public lands along the lines ndl-
Gated are OF that character which can never be valuable
10 the government unless they made SO by improve
ments OF the kind the bills have submitted
to the House Those lands atboug
valuable chiefly for their timber and their turpenlne and
those who understand The business glowing Of these
very readily that where they mpari value and in
teest 10 particular locality, that value and interest
not be developed unless there a facility for getting
market Such heavy and unmanageable products must
be transported BY some other than The ordinary means OF
land carriage Other products OF transp0rla-
ton and which will remunerae the citizen for his labor
and capital, net subject 10 the necessity With
view 10 these, all the rich aud medium lands in Florida.
along the lines have mentioned have been already
taken up. The lands yet undisposed OF have been in
market for periods varying from five to thirty years;
on average, suppose OF about eighteen years.
There is in Florida much larger portion OF the public
lands remaining unsold than In any other State. And
why have they remained there idle, uncutvated. yield
ing nothing TO the treasury, and giving no benefit 10 the
State 10 the country generally Chiefly for the want
of those facilities which would give Temunefating value
to them II is true there have been other opera
ting in Flordaarily from The neglect OF this govern
mentwbich have retarded Ses and the progress OF that
Stale. refer particularly to the great neglect Of the
government in permitting the Seminole Indians 10 remain
so long in that Sale-a neglect which has bndered i'm
migration, crippled The energies OF our people, and pre-
vented thai increase OF population which her natural
sources would invite. This has been OF the
operating against the growth and advancement OF that
1 lands
have been long in market, and have not been sold
there sands the fact that in their present position.
considering their quality and their from trans
porting facilities, they In the nature 0f things unsafe
able. Unless they can be made salaabe By improve
nents OF the character Of which speak they will
remain so. The assertion may be made, aud do not
believe that the test OF time will contradict IL that these
lands be sod unless there railroads sstab
ished through ihe Safe that will give them value
which they do not Inherently possess,
Il All the rich and fertile lands OF the State having been
sold, and being bed By private nd viduals com
panss, we cannot expect to realize any large advantage
from that class by securing the grants ask OF TIN.
Congress We must take our chances with The poorer
lands, IA the hope that by new LIE through exer
tons impaired to them. they may value 10 ben
eht the as we'll ourselves The good lands
IN Florida scattered in such that is impossl'
bic TO concentrate population would desire 10 do
There cannot be The close imhodying OF the masses
which ia Necessary to give that strength TO the State al
the frontier State Of the Unon which II is important to
have her possess But yet contribute something
towards il by doing what this Congress asked TO do
by granting the State lands which will take nothing
from the federal treasury. which will do injury 10 any
OF her coniederaies the Union, and which will not take
one farhing from the pocket OF any man. from the
treasury oil any State.
We ask thai lands may be given MS, with view not
TO benefit merely-because ii did not believe
that they would at the benefit the country and
the federal government could not, The principles
upon which base my advocacy OF sech measures, pro-
pose them, anxoosly as my people desire i--bnt with
view TO the general benefit Believing that such will
be the effect believing that the results will be de-
veloped in connexion with The Florida lands which have
been developed IN Missouri in illinois, in Mississippi. and
IN other States mentioned BY the Commissioner OF The Gen
efal Land Uthce confidently ask that this Cosgr
looking not merely 10 Fouda single Slae, sepsra-
ted from the Others and having separate and distinct in-
terests but looking TO the common good OF the county,
and egslang for all our constituents shall pass tavofa.
by on The bills which have introduced.
There have been grants made different States OF ibis
Union and the trouble taken TO make lbe compafi-
son. Il would be ound that they exceed. in proportion to
territory, the grants proposed IN my bills Florida not.
withsandlng her apparent eebleness s IN extent OF ter
riory, larger than any OF the States, except Mis-
sou (o excluding Texas and California, because
the lands 10 bose States have not been brought into
nexon with any Of these quesous) say that Florida Is
the largest laDd Stale the Union excepting Missouri
Now, find that III Illinois, where such wonderful results
have been developed by grants heretofore made by Con-
afess, there three millions OF Of land less
than there in Florida; and find that besides grants
TO that State for Improvements similar to those made
the State OF Florida, there have been granted two
million Eve bundled thousand acres Tor railroads The
grant tor which ask extends along line altogether OF
about five hundred and fifty miles, and would reqpFe
about two millions OF acres, according to the estimate
with which have been furnished by the Commissioner
tioI Ian than Ia