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

should be- made bv some department Of the government to
arrest IL know whether VIII be arrested or not
bur hone IL will do believe the subject ever has
been discussed should be in this body IN the other
house, and when shall full discussion from those
who hone silly differ regard the doctrine involved IN the
shall abide by The decison but have never been
SAT- fea with the apparent Judgment which has been pro-
nounced by either branch Of Congress this
Mr. DIXON MIR President, II 10 not my purpose TO
enter into any Of tho principles embraced in the
message has Just been read the Sepate but rise
that its further consideration be postponed until
The PRESIDING OFFICER There is a motion TO
print thousand eopes and that be frs. disposed Of
MIR. DIXON. As am up, will remark that do not
The expressed by the President, or the ea
gwen by him for Withholding his signature to the b
shall take occason before the question dsposed Of
give the Senate and country tho reasons why
do not The President has taken the ground Congress
has constitutional power give the public lands to the
Snies for benevolent purposes and contends that II Com
gess has the power do il for purpose may for
other and all such donations usurpaons Of the fed
era government oil the rights of the States The power of
Congress dispose Of the public lands given by
the constitution. may dispose OF, and make all needfo
rules and regulations respecting the territory other prop
ey belonging the United States" How the territories
or other belonging 10 the United States are 70 be dis
posed or and FOR what purposes the constitution does not
say The territories lands Of the United States are held
by the federal 10 trust for the benefit Of the
States and for all the people Of the United Sates and
donation Of them which the general benefit only
strictly in conformity with the purposes Of the trust but I'M
qesonaby within the powers granted to Congress under
the consusion cannot perceive how II II that the donating
the public lands the States for purposes wise and benevo
lent be considered by the President usupaon OF the
rights Of the States TO usup is to upon something
wronGuly which belongs another but when the bill
poses 10 give 70 the States and to take from them am
wholly at loss understand how and upon what principle
the President rcconces the dea Of the federal govern
ent usurpng the rights of the sovereign Sates have yet
to learn that Congress has to egsae for the BEN
ct OF the people, that all donations OF lands or money Tor
their benefit violation of State rights and OF the fed
eral constitution. There this floor who will
60 further maintain the rights of the States reserved TO
them by the federal constitution, than Will but 70 mann
that he CopUrea M OWer n
power receive such donations as are con-
tcmpated in the bill which President has returned with
his objections the Senate is in my Judgment uphold
ing the rights Of the States with Vengeance am no
latudnaran in the construction Of the federal constitu
ton, and perhaps would 60 far as any senator on TINS
floor in maintaining the constitutional rights OF the States
and Of keeping separate and apart the which proper
y belong to the federal government and those justly sppe
tanning to the States But understand how 1t is
that If the federal government exercise the constitutional
power of making grant of lands for benevolent OBJECT
may no. do il for another II has appropriated lands for
roads and CANALS has donated effect large amount OF
the public lands State paying of her public deb
II has approp lands educational purposes IN the
States which the lands lie il has given them 70 States
within which they do lie for smilar purposes IT has APP
propFiaed large Of money the building OF marine
hospitals different Statss minister TO the wants and
comforts Of the unfortunate and wetched class OF citizens
described in the different making The appropriations Il
has given time and again. large of money, and large
portions of the public lands for other purposes some be-
nevolent and speculative and all without any
grant OF power under the federal constitutions and now
when about away thousands and thousands
acres OF the puofC CONAN all sucn Setue
te whether they be citizens foreigners gravey
told by the President that grant by Congress OF portion
OF public domain, foe object the most humane
and benevolent, and which appeals most strongly TO
the symahes of every heart abe Of feeling for the mis-
fortunes Of tae most unhappy of mankind nerdced BY
the spirit Of constitutions and violation of the rights and
an encroachtneo on the sovereignty of the States!
adi, ct proper time, take present to the
Senate the reasocs Why IN my opinion the bill which has
not received the sanction of the President strictly in
formiiy with the aonstuon Of the country and strictly
harmony with the uniform legislation of Congress think
shall be able TO demonstrate is, least nope TO be able
do and TO show that this BILL benevolent its pur
poses strictly conformity with the principles which
this government has heretofore acted and strictly
fon,ty with he great principles upon which IT should
under constitution United States But, before
remarked II y at my purpose discuss the question:
merely wis se 70 dehns my position IN relation to H. as II
10 press. ed to the Senate. Asl.as
Mr.. BILL Mr. President, very great qualification has
been expressed by two three honorable senators upon
this aud u has been said that may have
some Of bringing this government within the pate and
hnt OF the constitution disposng Of this common
faad, the public domain of country. One honorable
beheys alluded what have often heard stated
upon this fpoe by senator's that appropr
Of t~ public heretofore has been wasteu Either the
aooher has said to-day that il had been
upon principle. The from Virginia
graulaea the Senate and the country that TO have
hs question mode upon great moral principle TO bring
back Of the powers OF this government ia rea
on to n,s gs naons fund within the limits Of the
suosinn, ami IA conformity with its principles Now,
wish of those honorable tell in what
has CONSISTED this great irregular unconstitutional waste Of
the ubic apds; and upon what do they found this
binary gneon this the prospect Of having
change for Isuppose from what has been said that they
propose change the practice Of the IN res
lion TO hs approf rIation Of the public lands
10 cite the occasional appropriations which
have be heretofore made Of the public lands with
to rely upon them such, for example the township Of
land Connect found institution for the insruc-
ton Of the deaf aud dumb in $780, and similar uppropa
ton TO kentucky a subsequent, PERIOD IN 1926 Take
out all these occasional appropriations exclude them en-
trey from the Urgumen throw them aside as being irregu
lar, and whit do ndi may here, in passing hat
appoprittons these constitute very small, and
almost lnviblc fraction Of the Of the
pubic lard which has been appropriated. have not ex
amue1 the reports public document from The depart
rrtif1n the subject, IN, know is snid that
hundred millions Of Of the public lands have hereto
fore hesa approprted-no soldsnd the money paid into
tho tretsury but this Large qusny has been given the
States ~ whc the lands lie for the purposes Of educaon
and for the purpose Of aiding them in the construction OF
works Of internal Improvement II only scw years
ago, you know SIR that appropriated hundred
ana y thousand Of land scarcely any debate
controversy the Senate for the Of canal
around the fails al the Saut ST. Maryto OBJ
sructons IN the strai between Lake Huron and Lake
Superior
The eat mass Of these appropriations has boon for the
support ~ Internal impfov and for laying the founda
tons of system Of schools and education in the
States fnen again. they have received large grants Of
swamp ands bot take thcm out of regard Them
not consnliifg OF the items about which the old
States should complains suppose they should amount to
renty OF thirty millions Of acres sli there would
sixty ~ evenly i've millions OF which have been voted
away for the general purposes which have enumersted
for internal Improvements and educational purposes
Sstrs.
saw that taking out Of the calculation altogether the
on