The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-05-04

reuuction IN our agricultural products wO,
materially embarrass our commerce, an,
not great reduction would be required t
annihilate it, while any addition to ou
products must Of necessity add that sun
to our ability to trade with foreign nations
Hence, if commerce is really the only in
terest to be fostered and cared for by ou
government, it would seem to the under
signed that we should best accomplish ou
purpose by stimulating the production O
commodities with which to support anC
carry on our commercial operations. al
without something to sell we cannot O.
course long continue to buy.
The time was when New Enc land pro
duced surplus of breadstuffs, and but O
few short years have passed since New
York was the granary 'of the country,
while at this time New England produces
next to no wheat, and New York not O.
nough for her own consumption. The
great wheat growing region Of the north
west is now what Now England and New
York were, and, under our present system,
must soon become what New York and
New England are. So Of the cotton
growing States of the southwest. They
now supply the deficiencies of the cotton
fields Of the southern Atlantic States, and
must of necessity, ere long, partake of
their present barcnness, if the present
system Of culture is persisted in.
Our country, vast as it is, has its limits,
and the time will come when we will have
no virgin soils to resort to for our supplies
of breadstuffs and cotton.
In view Of these facts, prominent as
they are, and patent TO every one paying
the slightest attor tion to the subject, it
would seem that wise forecast and en-
lighted craftsmanship would cndeavor to
guard against threatened evils in the fu-
ture by wise present legislation. That
much may be done by the adoption cf
ludcious system of measures by the gov
ernment to restore the fertility of the old
States and preserve that Of the now, the
does not doubt.
1t is not my purpose here to 90 into a
Iabored argument to show the power of
Congress under the Constitution to make
The grants proposed in the bill under con-
sideration, but as that question is raised
by the majority of the committee, brief
statement of my views in that regard may
be permitted.
AT the close Of the revolutionary war,
he whole western wilderness was claimed
~ few o. the States, but as tho war
lad been conducted and the sovereignty of
he country wrested from Great Britain by
he common effort and at the common cost
# blood and treasure OF all the States, it
vas urged that the unsettled domain ought
o become the common property of ALL
This SO evidently just and proper view of
he subject was finally accedcd to by tho
laiming States, and each State, though
It different times, ceded to the Uuited
States all the wild lands claimed by them
utside of certain prescribed State limits.
These cessions wore made, some of them
'elore and some after the formation of the
resent Constitution, and it was stipulated
n the deeds Of cession that the lands sho'd
% "a common fund for the use and bene-
It of all the States"
a very small part Of the land ceded by
he States now remain to the United States,
cry much the larger part having been
old, or granted to States, Territories. cor
ORATORS or individuals for various purpos.
5, and on various pretcxts, and the great
ulk OF our present public domain has been
urchased of foreign nations and the vari-
us Indian tribes since the formation of |
nc Constitution. 1t is not denied that
hose latter acquisitions of territory were,
Ike the former, made at the common cost
nd by the common effort, and are held |
for the use and benefit Of all the States"
1t is not believed that any conditions
ere attached to the deeds of cession Of
ny of the States to the United States
lat have not yet been complied with and
'rried out in good faith by the govern
lent; but if it were otherwise it is difficult
sec how any condition contained in
eed of cession by any one State can have
ny effect upon or control over territory
urchased Of foreign nation years after
he State cession was made.
Holding this domain, then, as this gov
does hold it, 'for the use and
cnefit of all the States, what disposition
lall we make of it for the benefit of the
tates. The Constitution says, article 4,
ction 3, The Congress shall have power
dispose Of and mako all necdful rules
I'd regulations respecting the territory
I'd other properly of the United States
ow dispose Off Sell for money, cash in
md, or on credit, or donate TO actual
ttlers, or grant, to aid in constructing
ilroads, or making canals, or improving
ners, or building school houses and sup
'rt schools, colleges, and universities or
all it be disposed Of TO reward the old
tdiers for services rendered thoir country
any of the wars in which we haue been
gagged, or shall we give the lands to tho
ates for the purposes of internal improve.
ents generally.
Which one or more Of these purposes
DR. lands have been granted for all of
em) is for the use and benefit Of all
g StateP Who is TO determined
1t may benefit all the States TO make
grant of land to aid in the construction
raiload by increasing tho value and
omoting the sale of the public land.
At does it follow that all the States can
It be benefited in any other way than
increasing the cash value Of thoir pub.
lands' Ifso, where is your warrant
! giving millions Of acres 20 the soldiers
n 1