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

DC allowed TO think st that james Madison had some
knowledge Ut the constitutowbst powers conferred
on Congress, restrictions and that
knew oloraby well what he about when he signed
my appropriation bill for Venezuela
inclined 10 think STILL that James Monroe John Quincy
Adams had ateast looked the and learned
something of the powers and duties imposed upon Con-
lie lands for the benefit Of asyus for the deaf dumb
10 Connecticut and Kentucky. shall venture, still to pre-
sumo that the early Presidents the sold fogesn who had
hand getting up constitution understood its inn
port and were as reliable interpreters Of that
our pfescai h0Qored Chief Magistrate Now ask again.
what objocAn y stated in that message this bill which
does not apply with equal orce and with greater
to the bills of like character which they have
not been able TO IL trlc observation that il 10
easier 10 raise objections than il them And
was not altogether insignificant remark once heard that
IT was very fortunate for peope that had con-
ataion; they would know what objections
70 make If the remark is susceptible Of personal app
Gallon, leave TO the dsccrnmcn OF Others 10 make
Mr. President there any ground Of complaint on ac~
count Of our policy in rcfeence tho public lands
that has been partial 10 some Of the Statosa. grants Of
lands have been almost exclusively confined To the
SiaesthAt the old Sntes have been amost entirely
looked. have complaint make that the new States
have received much, but may be permitted insist
that this old States be allowed and share very
small portion with them refrain from rcmarkDg
here that unfortunate, if not singular and strange
indeed that the denial Of constitutional authority should be
sprung upon bill which does small Of justice to
those States which have hitherto shared Directly the
benefits Of the lands which conceded be the
property of all the StaIes and of oil people, This bill
a bad selection for the veto. i#a1 at'A8
Sir, if the President would reform what many
regard as wild and exayngant system Of legislation in ref
ecnce 10 the public lands he strike different
measure from this Ii he would be sustained by the public
sentiment Of the country let him strike with bold hand and
with fearless independence at the of gluted and
lody speculators who like the harpes of ancient fable
gather in clouds about your CAPITOL and beset your path
way every STEP with concerted schemes Of public
plumbers let him strike these the pampered and purse
proud land obbers and land monoposts who would gam
bic upon your public domain and " atten upon the drip
pings of uncean legislation" let him strike these rather
than at the poor the helpless the wretchcd insane of the
country, whom is the object Of this little bill help and
to ABusstf halse Fa s8ss&a g33
Mr. President we have been accustomed to hear great
deal about the limited powers of this federal government
and of the reserved powers of the State
the danger of cnagDg the ore and Of encroachng
the other-of the beauty and harmony OF the sysem pro-
sphere Of action and great deal about the injustice of
casting burdens upon portion of the people for the
benefit OF the other and all that of learned twadde
though had bearing upon this question, though
somebody had denied the truth Of these and thread
worn axioms | am not that anybody proposes,
just enlarge the delegated powers Of the federal gov
crnmt to cncroach upon the reserved powers of the State
governments And, surely, this BILL far from imposing
any burdens upon portion of the people for the benefit
of another is tho only land bill passed by Congress which
eectualy extends benefits alike all and relieves the
burdens OF all alike by equitable and general disrhu
,ion., Ea rf# Eit aaessssH9
The power dispose of the public lands given Con-
ress by the express of the constitution Its language
1.-The Congress shall have power 10 dispose Of and make
all needfu rules and regulations respecting, the territory
other property belonging the United Satesn This lam
guage clear and unmisakabe that outside Of
luna,c asylum need misinerpret it. Ii gives full power
TO Congress dispose of the territory other properly
belonging to the United Staes,n as, the exercise Of
sound discretion and with due regard to the public IN
teres may think best. The power general ind
limited in dposing of the territory public lands par
enlar States particular purposes No more and
comprehensive could have been employed The
are as absolute and unqualified they unequvocal.
They give the power the disposition of the
ory Of the other property belonging United States
States Under this grant of power Congress may dispose
Of the public lands such manner and for such purpose
for any consideration Of public benefit it may deem
proper Then repeat MORE that the disposal Of the
pubic lands by Congress is question Of power, but
solely question Of policy Of propriey, Of pub utility
70 the manner of their disposal The constitution does no,
undertake prescribe the mode the object the
the consideration of your grants Of the public lands Tina,
is all len with Congress, to whom is committed the right of
disposal.
This is sufficient answer the common objection sug-
gesed the message that Congress has power give
lands money for ceemosynary charitable purposes
that Congress be the amoner Of the govern
bounty, the dispenser of public charities. Or il
Congress has this power, insisted that ought not to
be exercised for such purposes that the precedent would
be dangerous that the example would be contagious that
If you give object you another II you
give to the INDECENT nsane you must give to the and
the needy generally and that applications will multiply
and be pressed upon Congress for all Of
purposes But SIR, ought be forgotten that these
applications always have been and always will be made
The have named examples of this The
objection however, based upon the assumption that Con-
gress upon whom the constitution eoners the jurisdiction
will properly discriminate between meritouous appca-
and those which unworthy Of favor; ergo, Con-
gross has the power This all there IL of this obec-
Congress may misiudge, and doubtless often does, in
relation the object Of bounty; but what other safer
depository of this you namel IL Congress
capable of discriminating properly than the President
would huvbecn for instance the only answer to be given
IT, that the trainers Of the constitution made mistake in
comforting upon this power--the power Of dspoang
the public snds The objection amounts TO this impuatcn
and nothing Congcss may abuse its and
by fsng do what the public interest deman6send
for which there corrective by the vetothsn by doing
what is hostile 10 the public interest But neither
does u imply want OF power although in both, II may
mpy want Of Judgment.
Mr. President after Congress has granted the very hand
some outfit Of hundred and twcntyhree millions OF
acres of the public domain part OF the States and Ter
rtores and for almost every imaginable purpose and
one OF the other States for any purpose,
would be rather atc in tho day deny the expo
dioney tho proprety, tho oopsutonay of granting
proposed in this bill for equal distribution among all the
States object which commends itself to the favor
and appreciation Of everybody
The argument that the government holds the public lands
in trust for the benefit Of all the States, does not at all
initiate against the authority Of Congress dispose Of the
lands n proposed by this BILL bot the rather in
favor H. unless be violation of the TO give back
10 The people, and the whole people, portion Of Whist sctu
ally belongs Them portion OF their property The
people Of the United States the ee "a, ts,tbe party
for whose benefit the trust property " held When, there
fore the trustee-the federal governmenthas so admin
stered the trust-propory when the trustpropery
any portion has been disposed Of to nure tho
bcncf of the eesni qu, trithe people If the United
Sta,est is in pursuance Of and faithful execution OF the
trust. The bin does oxacdy that thing.
1 n Al ~