The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-19

and with lighter grades than any other road hitherto
constructed between the waters of the lakes and those o
the ocean This road is OF as much national importance
as any other TO which the government has en its
aid-connsctng. as have already stated. Philadephis
WIN Ene. and the Atlantic with the lakes The ma
nised BY officers connected with the Typographical Blu
feau Colonel Albert, in his report TO the Secretary oil
War; on the 9th OF November, 1885, says: This rail.
road Will furnish communication between Erie and
Philadelphia and cannot OF itself fail TO give 10 the
harbors OF Erie considerations of great national i'm
portance"
The bill next provides that SO much of the remaining
hall OF the lands granted TO the State OF az
shall be necessary for the purpose, shall be appropriated
BY the legislature OF the State establishing and endow-
ing normal school, suitable place. for the gra-
tultous education Of female teachers and the residue if
any, to be applied in aid OF such works Of internal i'm
proyaments as the legislature may think proper.
Whatever may have been formerly thought OF grant
ing lands to aid IN the construction of works OF internal
Improvement within the Sstes the policy Of such grants
has been recognised by OF practices and the appro-
priaton OF many millions OF of the public lands
The lands granted for this purpose it is true have been
generally contiguous to the roads they were intended to
aid, and always within the limits of the States through
which the roads were located But although within the
States these lands were much the property of the Uni
ted States as they had been outside of the State bound
ares and the members OF the corporations which they
have been granted frequently the residents of other
States than those through which the improvements pass
am aware Mr. President, that distinction has been
attempted to be drawn in favor OF the grants improve
ments in the States, But this distinction has no
foundation, either in justice or equity. The distinction
the United States not only lose nothing by granting, as
they do the alternate sections for purposes OF improve
men within the States. but thai, the contrary. they
become gamers by the Increased facility OF selling
reserved sectone and the appreciation which takes place
In their price This plausible but there is something
sopbistical in the argument II these improvements for
whose benefit the lands are granted constructed by
the companies which own them from their resour
ces. the lands contiguous to them would rise in price,
and trade and commerce receive all the stimulating ef
ecs tha, are eroneousy supposed to be the result Of the
government grants.
|, is sometimes said that works Of internal improve
ment in the States would stand still for want of
means to carry them on. unless government should aid
them with grants of land such as many OF them have
received II s, no doubt, IN measure, true that
OF these improvements might not have been constructed
but for the aid afforded by government But how many
works of internal improvement in the old States have
been deferred for want OF adequate carry them
on Government aid Is as necessary in the old States
in the new ones Tor It is not true, sometimes
told, that the States loo poor make internal
improvements without the aid OF government Almost
all the States in the enjoyment of unexampled
prosperity possessing resources in the fertility of their
soil which unequaled in the older States. But this
Is not all. Even independently OF the grants of land
which they have received from the government, the
States have in most instances, made the capital OF the
citizens of the old States tributary their enterprises OF
internal improvement Scarcely one of the great i'm
provemens in the western States but has enlisted the aid
OF eastern capitalists in its construction The effect OF
these grants is, therefore, swell the of the
stockholders n cities, who largely inter-
| esed in most OF these enterprises.
But TO return TO the argument that distinction favor
able to the new States exists the fact that the govern
mep is fully Unidentified for the lands granted to them
by the enhanced price OF the reserved sections Let this
be conceded, and what does it amount 10 The lands
granted are Tor that reason the less gift to the
companies engaged In making the mprov vements and
such gift is made at the expense OF the purchasers OF the
lands, who are thereby compelled TO pay double price
for them. These improvements, il s lrue enhance both
the lands and their products, by opening cheaper road
10 better markets but this effect is produced by rail-
roads and canals in the old States well the ne W.
What would be the advantages OF the railroads and
L fan n diana Aarht o,,1
other new States, IN comparison with what they e,
were It not Tor similar improvements in the old States,
through which Their surplus products are poured into the
| laps OF the cities on the sea board
The railroads and canals of New York, Pennsylvania,
and Massachusetts, are scarcely less productive Of bene
fit 10 the people of the States which / have mentioned
than 10 the people OF The States through which they
pass And will IT be pretended that the improvements
the old States do less to promote the prosperity and in
the wealth. power, and security OF the whole
try. than similar improvements in the new ones Ii they
do not the Argument that the United States more BEN
Gifted by grant OF land TO the States than 10 the
old ones is iaaeious.
The truth is, when rightly told, that The doubling of
the price of the alternate sections, the practice,
upon the people Of the country for the benefit of
the railroad corporations which the grantees of the
lands 1t is time that this falacy should be exploded
and the people made to understand that these grants,
which the clever ingenuity OF our western friends has
made them believe benefit 10 the country, is, when
rightly understood, TAX upon themselves.
And, MIR, President, is there no, something ia this
policy inconsistent with the idea now prevalent in the
farms for the people There is sort OF harmony be-
tween the legislation which increases the price OF
portion oil The public lands, whilst it proposes make
graiuitous concessions of another
have objection whatever TO grant lands to aid in
making improve calculated to increase the wealth,
power, and prosperity OF the country. But while gve
lands railroads. let sell them the people
double price. Let us also be Just Concede as much
TO the States you please but in doing So do not
refuse TO deal with equal beaty TO the old ones, al
the expense Of whose blood and the lands you
are giving away acquired.
| The other purpose for which the proposed grant s
made is one of such obvious public utility need
argument to enforce it, Ii is as have stated already, to
establish and endow school for the graui,ous educa
ongs TO accomplished lady, Mrs. Sarah j. Hale, and
is which am will commend ltself TO every lib
eral and patriotic mind When the bill comes before
Senate for it's action, will my privilege a senator
in pointing out its advantages at length
One word more and.T have done NV object in fixing
upon the number of which the bill proposes
grant that II other States should at any lime think
proper 10 follow the example of Pennsylvania there
might be criterion for the number OF found the
number oil their population al the time The census ot
1880 taken. The number of mentioned In The
bill was the number people in the State in 1880.
Mr.. WADE. do not rise, Mr.. President ior the pur
pose OF opposing the second reading OF his bn, nor It's
reference TO the Committee on Public Lands but cannot
help al this time making the observauon mat u comes
with exceedingly bad grace from the State OF Penn
syvana to call for donation OF land Tor the purpose OF
constructing railroads in that State, while IT is notorious
glang fact, known everybody, that she stands in
open hostility any communication that State by
railroad Her citizens stand arrayed in open hostility
the general government, dsobeying the DEGREES OF its
federal courts imprisonng It's marsbas sent TO execute
processes burning railroad BRIDGES tearing up railroad