The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1854-10-07
SPEECH or
HON. GEORGE W. SMITH,
Delivered a, Jaspsr, Jasper County, Teras,
September ~, 1854

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duty, on returning among YOU, to render
nn account of my Stewardship, so far as
time and circumstance. will permit me 10
do So. In doing this, viii briefly review
some of the principle measures acted upon
during the last session of Congress
One Of the most imp lr,an' subjects act.
ed upon hv the last Congress, is what is
Familiarity known as the Homestead Bill,
which proposed to give l60 acres Of land
to any one who would settle on and cult
Yate portion of the lands, for the space
# Eve terrs, his was a srecious nea1.
ure. and well calculated, at first view, to
capiiyate the unNary.
was opposed to the Homestead Bill for
iva reasons. Ia the first place, in my
opinion, Congress has no constitutional
right % give away the public lands the
property of the whole people for the benefit
Of portion of that people, The lands
coded to the Federal Government bv the
States. are 10y the terms Of the grant, held
in trust for the common benefit OF the
people of all the States. and Congress has
no righ. to dispose of them in any manner
not in conformity to the terms Of the grant
This is the condition of those lands which
have been ceded By the States 10 the Gen
ora Government. II has been snid, that
the general grant OF power in the constiiu.
ton, % to dispose Of the public lands, is n
grant Of power without limitation, and ad.
thofi1os the Government to dispose of them
by gift or Otherwise, ms it may sec proper /,
but it must be borne in mind that the first
clause o: The sixth article OF the consillu,
ton, provides cha, all engagements enter.
81 into hnfarc the adoption Of this const
tuition, shall be as valid against the United
States under this constitution. as undor.lhc
confederation, and then il will he evident
that the crsnt of power to dispose OF y
the public lands must be construed in di.
rect reference to the terms and conditions
ct the grant, for these terms and condi>
tons form a part. and very important
pat of those engagements. which the Gen
ersl Government has bound it,cll by the
constitution to fulfil. It has been Justly
remarked, that the general power oi dis
position granted by the claa,e OF the con.
s,lulion, relied on IN this ease, extends rs
we'll t. the other property of the lni>
ted States, as the public lands, aud whats
ever power il coniefs over the one, il cons
fers likewise oyer the other So. that il
ID, il Fansrass e,t, rive away the public
hnd.. hy h. also. Congress may give away
the puilir ships, the pahlic hullding-, and
iha money nom lin. treasury. which i, ba,
Iuu,h.r Erm OF puh'ir propsrty.
N..t. fb.,r pnupr more extensive. over
,io.p lnds. purchased BY The common
fr.usu., pf the p.nrl,- ri the 'uiicd States
j.. Ahead, remarked. u,uup, j. prpperty
d." we'll 90. hnd. aud the mere chang" m
ia, irfr the p'opeit, D., the iu,c.,me g.
tanno eulsi-. our rshl. over il, nor
change the nature eft cur obligations with
regard o % We hay" 40 rglu To appfo-
r'i.' 't" laut rhu. arquired to anY pm
= se O. wAirh VS. ndgm not have applied
the none, bei'e rs '''e''weo'
H. .hr s,noud place. the policy Of this
Homestead Bill, Is in direct opposition 10
the interest, of Texas. II would not onl'
have had the 'hect of pfcventioe "misr",
ton to the state, but It ""uli have caused
the emigration 600 IT," "n' OF d.
al" o '7v9' 2" me policy ~ g'',hng
it"u''" srttan' nt 'h' h""'' 'U.' 2"
Hid 90 the construction ~ railroads That
pas, through them ihwk 'h" policy ct
'ho- nd'ng the constitution at t"''' "Hds'
Va"h pn~, through the rnhlir lands,
q Oar 4sn4sF.