Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-22

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ritory and other property Of the Unted
States" That is the result Of il, according
to their construction, when reduced to prac-
tice. It means nothing more, and it means
nothing less.
Now look at all these projected railroads
to which gentlemen are urging Congress 10
accord lands to aid in their construction
If the railroads are of any advantage to
these States, they ought to be willing al
least to pay the price Of the lands to the
government, and not establish precedent
here to be plead, as il has been plead BY
the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. DISNEY,
that Congress has done so and so hereto
fore, and must 60 on and do it hereafter.
But let me return to the Milwaukee rail-
road. The gentleman from Ohio tells us
that the policy OF the Committee on Public
Lands is to equalize the grants TO all these
States, and to give them as much as has
been granted to the State of Illinois. Now
Illinois received for her Central railroad
2,593. 900 acres, ifmy recollection is cor
rect.
The State Of Wisconsin has already re-
ceived for internal Improvements 949, 600
and odd acres. One million six hundred
thousand acres are embraced in this bill, ,as
I understand the gentleman from Ohio
Then he tells US that the committee have
agreed upon another bill making donation
Of land for road from Madison to Prairie
du Chen, and that bill embraces 100000
acres. That makes 1900, 900 acres, and
with the $4,000 already received, gives
1900, 600 and odd acres, so that if this bill
passes, they will have received 400, 900 a.
cres more than Illinois has received.
like to be accurate about these thing, and ]
will therefore refer to the book. see it
is set down here that the lands sold in the
State of Wisconsin up to June &c. 1853, a.
mounted to 5,O46, 242 acres; lands donated
for schools, universities and so forth, L.
400. 728 acres; and that the lands donated
for internal Improvements amounted to
929, 1856 acres. Now, add to that the L.
100000 acres embraced in this bill, and
you then have very nearly three millions
acres granted to the State Of Wisconsin.
Well, sir, by way of justifying this mode
of disposing of the lands, the gentleman
tells us that the President of the United
States is for it that the Secretary of the
Interior is for it that the Commissioner of
the General Land Office is for it; and that,
inasmuch as all these parties are for it, 1t
must be conclusive as to the propriety OF
the policy. Now, do not hold to any such
doctrine, that because President or Sec
retary entertain particular opinions, every
body else is to hold the same opinions on
that subject. come here to represent a
district that entertains opinions altogether
different on this question-that maintains
that Congress has no right either directly
or indirectly, to appropriate the lands or
money of the Federal Government to inter-
nal improvements. Here is the platform as
adopted by the Democratic State Conven-
ton held in Richmond in March, 1852:
Resolued, That Congress has no power TO ap
proprate, directly or indirectly, the proceeds Of
the sales of the public lands, or togrant, directly
or indirectly, the public lands to the purpose of
internal improvement"
stand on that platform. hold to that
doctrine in common with the Democratic
party of my State. believe it to be sound
doctrine and so believing, do not come
here to surrender my convictions because
President of the United States, or Sec
retary of the Interior, or anybody else oc-
cupying high official position, entertalns
different opinion. As to the Secretary of
the Interior, can account for this opinion
to some extent. He is man who has been
living in a land State which has profted
largely by this mode of disposing OF the
public lands. In his service in Congress
he was committed to all these grants. can
ascertain very well how association. how
political interest controls the opinions Of
men; and these influences may control his
in this matter. But by way of satisfying
the House that this policy is proper and
constitutional, the gentleman from Ohio
says that under the influence of it public
lands have been sold, and that they are now
selling, with more rapidity than public
lands have been sold at any time heretofore
in our history for several years past.
Mr.. DISNEY. In the vicinity of these
roads.
Mr.. LETCHER. Very well; then in
the vicinity of these roads. How many
lands have been sold? have statement
here of the sales, from 1885 to 1853 (inclu-
sive) to which l ask attention:
Lands sold in 1895 sl5ss9y ysoa II