The daily union., 1854-03-03

purposes were not to the States generally, but to The
States Individually, in which the public lands lay Why,
sir, that is unienabe objection than that which
the senator from Virginia makes These lands, II is said,
given TO individual States for educational purposes,
while is claimed that the public lands the pa,ri-
mony OF all the States thereby making the donation
partial gfatuity When this bill-the first BILL believe,
that has been before Congress proposing make
equitable and equal distribution OF this common patIl.
mony amoag the whole OF the Siaies--when this bill
comes before the Senate Is objected 10, while these IN
dlvidua appropriations OF land 10 the States for agrcnl
ursl purposes have always passed silently, and have
been acquiesced IN by the very gentlemen who now make
objection to this think that the argument OF the sen
ator from Virginia, IN the in which he makes II,
would obtain much more strongly against the policy
which The government has pursued OF granting lands 70
the States for agricultural purposes, than against this
Therefore. believing that there is nothing in this bill
which will permit an ntraction by one State OF the SOW
eregn rights OF another IN regard 10 the propetorshp
OF the SOIL and believing that the ratio of distribution
equitable and just, shall vote Tor the bill as II now
stands.
Mr HUNTER Mr. President. il we can distribute
the proceeds oil the public lands, or the public lands them
selves generally amongst the States Tor he benefit OF the
insane, cannot for my life why may not disb.
ute Them for every other purpose. had supposed that il
was one OF the great principles upoa which the demo-
cratic party rested OF the issues upon which II has
been accustomed heretofore TO do battle, that it m
proper. and, many believe, unconstitutional for this
government to distribute The proceeds OF the public do
man amongst the States. How can you deny that power
or that improperly II you pass such bill as hlsi For
myself, would much rather vote for bill which would
distribute equitable proportions the proceeds OF the sale
OF the public lands 10 the States generally than pass
bill like this, which admits the power and The poprey
OF that principle, and in addition TO that preserves the
fund in the hands of the States. and undertakes to say
how the several States shall administer their municipal
affairs how they shall apply the fund in regard TO this
matter OF taking care OF the insane.
But the senator from Wisconsin says that heretofore
Congress has granted lands Tor school purposes To
whom? Why sir, to the new States, which agreed,
when they admitted into the Union, that for
tain length Of time they would not tax the lands sold by
thu 1nifa Sutas tha IanIa hy tho nit.I
States There was some consideration for that act. II
was founded upon different principle from this
ure II this rests upon any principle at all goes to the
entire length OF there being just demand the part OF
all the States for dstrlbuve share of the proceeds of
the lands 1t would do great deal more good to the
States, and be much better measure If to dis.
tribute them in that way.
But, sir, deny that bound by precedens which
gentlemen may quoe IN regard TO particular cases, such
the quoted by the senator from Vermont, Mr.
FooT when The two houses proposed, under some sud-
den impulse OF humanity, eloquent appeals to their
benevolence, to Depart in my opinion, from the true
sphere OF their duties, and in from that of their
constitutional power admit tha, the senator did refer
to precedents, IN regard 10 which there little pro-
prey for Congress interfering there would be in this
but it is to be recoected that in every the
proposition up under such specous appeal
this bill comes up-an appeal 10 our humanity and our
benevolence And allow me TO say that there is always
danger when resort 10 this sort OF sentimental legisa
ton and agree bury all consideration OF an obvious and
long settled policy and Danish and the constitution
from the view in order TO crafty some such feeling
.
it, by induIgng il, it should lead TO departure from the
just pncplee OF legislation, il will be found that injury
Than benefit will be the result; and, for one, am
against H.
Mr. STUART. Mr President have been listening
with little attention TO the senators from Virginia
what arguments were 10 be brought 70 bear agains,
this proposition Something has been said in respect TO
It's unconstuhonaly, but believe neither OF these
has undertaken TO point out wherein 1t is uncons
tutona
The senator from Virginia who first addressed The
Senate (Mr. MAsoN seemed think lha, tmlgh do un.
der peculiar circumsances-aibough understood him
to say was never very satisfactory himio make
disposition Of the public lands which involved political
consde atoms, but that 1t would do 10 make dis
position of them which involved moral considerations
only Now, can very readily discover the distinction
tha, is sought 10 be got up, but confess my entire ina
bity understand what particular praccabiy there is
in that distinction Now, am free to say
Mr. HUNTER. Will the senator allow 10 put
question Does he believe that there any cons,tu.
ona power distribute the proceeds of the sales OF the
public lands among the States!
Mr.. STUART. Yes, sir, do And inasBuch the
senator has put that question 10 me, will il in
its details now The democratic party heretofore have
asserted that Il was proper 10 distribute the proceeds OF
the public lands They have il is true, con,endet
agains, 1t nevertheless they have, time and again,
serted that proper 10 graduate the price Of the pub
lie lands and these principles advocated, perhaps,
by the senator il not by others entertaining them,
have been interposed TO prevent 1t
Mr.. HUNTER. | beg leave to state TO the senator
that oppose fair syse Of graduation of the public
lands but, on the contrary, 30 Tor IT,
Mr.. STUART. Doubtless the senator expresses his
own sentiments. speak of all those who oppose this
graduation They have refused to graduate the price OF
the public lands they have sedulousy refused allow
the States in which they lie 10 tax them and they will
hold them AT a dollar and quarter whether they
worth that worth only twenty-five cents. The
States not allowed 10 have any power over them no,
even TO tax them; and what is the consequence Why,
IL is that the States remain unsettled The old States
hold the power the other branch OF Congress- and they
execute that power with the spirit Of despotsm In this
body, where the States equal the new States have
their proper respect IN this regard well in their
proper representation but in the other house. you can
pass that looks like justice to the States
The senator from Virginia Mr.. MAsos] throws out an
riimalion against the bill giving lands actual settlers
which is pending in the other branch Sir, am for ii.
am for tha, principle and II there he in this
Union who can show any good reasons against IT, will
hear him by the fortnight with the greatest patience and
pleasure What does this government wish What are
its true interests What are the true interests of the
States 10 which the lands lie Settlers, sr--peope
Moral, upright Christian citizens OF the United States
Il that give strength the country. and not land
Hence am for that bill II cannot be made too liberal
iD It's provisions to suit me. And am for this bill III
the from Virginia could have answered the ques
tion of the senator from Wisconsin, Mr.. WALKER, and
drawn the distinction be wished to drawn between
this and other for granting the public lands he
would have done moro than | conceive il possible 10
do There time, concede when the States agreed
upon coming into the Union not TO tax the lands sold
within given ume-fve years. But, sir, we have sat
here for the last six weeks and heard Arguments and
none able than that made by the senator himself
power 10 put any such limitation upon State And, sir
think OF the opinions put forth bere will come
back to plague the inventors.
R,,tt ~ hat vba STATE a