The daily union., 1854-07-19
CON CIR ESSION AL.
SPEECH OF HON. M. C. TROUT,

state of the Union
Mr. TROUT said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN Although the "bll to organize the Terri
tories of Nebraska and Kansas under consdera
on shall say but little that subject further than to
remark that long this bill contains repeal Of the
Missouri Compromise it never receive my support 1t
will be sufficient for at present to say that shall use
my endeavors to have it amended TO be accepa
bic the whole North and especially TO the people
of my own district eavng the discussion to those
able and experienced and tniling in this shall content
myself by using all honorable means 10 deeat IT. ana vote
against it TO the last
My present object in obtaining the floor is to offer some
remarks on the subject to the proprety of Congress
granting lands aid in the construction of railroads
eray and to make illusions in particular to the Nblli
granting portion of the public lands to the State OF Wis
consin to aid in the construction Of railroad and branch
road in that State which is neither more nor less than
copy of all similar bills before this body.
iwould not now trouble the committee with any broken
nad disoated remarks they must necessarily be, did
not deem II my duty to 90 Viewing this bill as do
containing and establishing principle unjust, unwise
unequal and dangerous in its operations could not suffer
il to pass without raising my voice and entering my pro-
test against its passage The public lands have been for
many years past bone of contention and of great
mischief both in and out of Congress- and appears me
that these greatly on the increase at this time The
public land sir is public property belonging alike to all
No State section, individual justly claim excln-
sye right to portion of it. The poorest in the
community just much OF it as the richest He who
tolls in the field in the Workshop the public high
way has Just much title in this land and has the same
right to claim exclusive proetorship he who rolls in
wealth, has his millions at command, or welds the onnip-
otent power of corporation These propositions self
the eternal principles of right and justice they also
on the great republican principle of universal equality
Yet Notwithstanding this there have been certain men
in our country calling themselves republicans calling
themselves democratswho have for more than twenty
years been devsng ways and means to appropriate these
lands their proceeds to themselves or to favored few
to the exclusion Of all others
This doctrine sprung up Immediately the death the
old United States Bank which had for many been the
great controlling and corruptng power among us; and
when it went down this system of land punder sprung up
in its places and it does appear to that the last evil bids
fair to prove than the first When the proposition
first up to divide the proceeds OF the public lands
among the States and thus relieve the people from taxa
on many who had not examined the subject adopted it ut
once from the simple fact that it proposed to relieve them
from paying At the period speak Of the people
groanng under their taxes not that they were so high but
that money scarce and labor and produce so low
both of which had been effected by the operations of this
United States Bank for it will be recollccted that
that old serpent died hard The people told You
taxed to support State governments these taxes
collected from you and paid into the treasury and
again paid out the debts and expenses of the State The
income from these lands very large and the general gov
ernment has no use for the money Now why not divide
the proceeds of these public lands among the States
pensh your State treasury from this source instead Of
sorting to the pockets of the people and thus your
taxes entirely? 1t is not strange that doctrine of this
sort would meet with favor at first from the unsuspecting
for all dislike to pay money away, unless see
what We are getting for it.
But sir the sober second thought of the people is AL
ways right and when they to examine this "abom
ination OF denominations" they repudiated it, cer
tain they will this when they come to understand it as
fully they do the ether That scheme, although plaus
be its face decetnl above all things, and des
peraey wicked Although it proposed to benefit all
classes without doing injury to it found to be an
ingenious device to fill the Golfers Of those already rich out
of the common Inheritance while it left the poor further
down in the scale than they were before and unless am
greatly mistaken in the view have taken OF the matter
this doctrine Of giving the public lands will in the
end operate in the way Under the operation Of d
ydng the proceeds of the public lands among the States
the day-Iaborer who owned only cow and had but dime
of taxes to pay, (but who owned just much Of the
public land MS the millionaire, whose taxes would be
five thousand d0lars,) got but ten cents OF these
proceeds sum barely sufficient to buy him pipe
and paper of tobacco--whie he who already |
rich would get his thousands for it is evident that if
has to pay ten cents taxes and another FIVE
thousand dollars and the proceeds of these lands would
pay all the taxes that give to the first but ten cents
while you give to the other five thousand dollars; yet
these exactly equal quantities of this land, and
supposed TO be equally mertoous The masses of the
people honest and desire to do equal right and justice
to all and when they that this doctrine would operate
thus unequally they cast it from them they would vi
per; and have doubt that when the doctrine contain
ed in this bill becomes ns well understood by the people,
will meet the fate The great danger however is
that too much mischief will be done before the remedy
be applied and the very fact of the friends of this bill
string to put it Immediately on its passage looks to as
though they did not want its principles and merits nvest
gated This sir is the only apology have to make to the
committee for hrusting my views before hc occupy
had better able and of more experience than my
SELF TO have done
Iama friend Of the administration and desire to sup
port its and sustain its officers far can
consistently with duty but differ entirely with the Sec
retary of the Interior in his conclusions this subject
that liberal grants should be made for those great high
ways, which, to certain extent be considered local
in their character &C. and that the principle of grant
ing alternate sections and selling those reserved at double
the ordinary price has been found by experience be
salutaryn
single glance at this doctrine is sufficient in my opin
ion to show its injustice AS his first propositions that
liberal grants should be made for those great highways
which, to certain extent may lie considered local in their
character only necessary say that these lands be-
ing the common property of all ntic purchased by the
blood and treasure of every portion of cou
Try and owned alike by the rich and the poor that would
work the highest injustice to give them to the States
aicne to make their improvements, and comfel the old
States to make theirs without such aid.
ne second proposition that the principle granting
alternate sections and selling those reserved at double
PRICE Is truly monsrous II the government desires TO
MAKE speculation out of this matter and the building Of
'nssc roho VIII enhance the value of the land so much
Why ho' give The road the and keep the land III
c argument good, could get double price for all The
nd instead OF the alternate sections and what is more
u,s money winch Is lying useless in the treasury would
o.s 'o ,ie general circulating medium of the country
ana everybody would stand chance for it. while these
lands are Kept by these companies as matter of
III Is well known that hay nearly $40 400 600 in be
treasury winch is doing nobody good and that if this
money was 70 be given to aid in building railroads We
snouid nave great deal more money in circulation Yes
II 'he mere Iact OF gam TO the government and fsc-
ues TO our citizens TO be looked at and the ARGUMENTS
OF the friends of these bills worth ANYTHING GIVING
money 10 these companies has two arguments in its favor
WINE giving the land has but By giving tho monev
you donpie the value of all The kaad instead of Haf( of
u you give large circulation of money the country
e giving the land, at best only doubles the value
s REMAINING secnons But TO claim the money for this
IS uiy explained it not more so than giving Tho Land
again! this system of giving alternate soo,;o,s ,rd