Daily American organ., 1856-08-30
Lands to the Old States.

| Lands to the Old States.
All observers of the action of Congress, for
the last few years, and more especially during
the present session of that body, must have
observed with what facility and promptitudo
immense donations of the public domain have
been made to the new States, for purposes Of
Internal improvements, and that these meas
ures have been carried over the vetoes of the
President, even in the Senate, where the pres
ent sham Democracy has a large majority of
members, but where, of its forty Democratic
| Senator's, only about one dozen could be made
to stand upon the Democratic platform and
sustain the President in his vetocs Of the
| policy Of such donations it is not our purpose
now to speak, but it IS our purpose to sub
init few words upon the proceedings of the
House of Representatives, upon proposition
made by the Hon. j. s. Carlile, of Virginia,
on the 10th of August to grant to the old
States each small modicum of our public do
main, for the same purposes to which these
immense donations to the new States are to be
or have already been applied
In the observations we shall present, we shall
admit, for the sake of the argument, that the
policy Of disposing of the public lands for the
general purposes Of education and internal inn
provement in the several States is wise one,
and that no constitutional scruples stand in the
way OF such donations. The power of Con.
gress over the disposition of the public domain
is expressly given in the Federal Constitution,
and this power has been exercised by repeated
and extensive grants for the purposes indicated
Thepublic lands belong to the several States,
united under the Federal Constitution, and they
are subject to the control and disposition of
Congr. IS, and this body has long exercised and
still exercises the right of granting portions of
those lands as donations to individuals for mil
itary service rendered, and to the States for
educational and internal improvement purpo-
ses. Have not the old States just as much
right 70 expect and to require their proportion
ate shares Of those lands as the nelo States p
They are the common property of the United
States-acquired by purchase, conquest, or
voluntary grant
No sensible or honest man can deny that,
whatever disposition may be made os the pub
liclands, the people ofthe United States should,
directly or indirectly, be benefited by that dis
position. IL fgranted to individuals for military
services rendered; II granted to States for edu-
cational or internal improvement purposes /; or
ir sold for money the people, in every quarter
Of the Union, should be equally the benefci-
aries, directly or indirectly, and no local or
sectional advantage or preference should be
given in the donation or other disposition of
the public lands. On this point there can
surely be no difference Of opinion.
To carry out the principles OF this equitable
division Of the public domain, the Hon. J. s.
Garlic, on the 10th Of August, moved sus.
pension Of the rules OF the House to enable
him 10 introduce, for the action OF an appro-
pirate committee and the final decision Of Con-
gress, the following bin, which we here copy
from the proceedings Of Congress, Tor the in
formation OF the country:
"LAND GRANTS To STATES"
"Ar CARLILE, ofyirginia, moved suspens on
\ OF the rules 10 enable him 10 introduce Cor the
purpose Of Reference, I'm 10 equalixe the grants
OF land 70 the several States; which motion did
not prevail--Yeas 7s, nays ~.
The foiiowing y the bill
A BILL 20 equalzs the grants of land 10 the seye.
raj States.
BE easnaetsd, sec., That there may be and here.
by Ia granted 10 each of the States of Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts,, Connecticut
Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Penney.
vsnis, Delavars, Maryland, Virginia, North Caro-
lima, South Carolns, Tennessee, Kentucky, and
Georgia public lands At the rate oft~o hundred and
fifty thousand acres CO.. each Senator and Repre-
sentative 10 which said States are respectively
titled.r
ESQ. 2. dad bs a Tarfksy asa,fei, That land
warrants shall be issncd 20 each of said States 10
the amount In all 10 which they are respectively
entitled under the preceding section; and said
States are sever~lly authorized 20 seli said land
warrants and apply the proceeds thereof 10 the
support Of schools and In aid Of the construction
aud completion Of railroads OF canals.
$50. 3. Aad bs Il further enacted That said
land warrants shal be for not less than eighty nor
more than one hundred and sixty acres each, and
shall he valid In the hands of the purchasers and
holders thereof, and may be- located by any such
Il ANN