New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-28

country over which it has glided SO hur
riedly.
The policy of the government is sucl
that it is deemed both benevolent ant
economical to present the public land
to actual settlers. The public lands are al
much the property of the nation as thu
public moneys. l am unable to mark tht
distinction between giving lands to thu
people and in apprOpriating the money tt
reclaim or create lands for them. The
protection Of the alluvial bottom lands
against inundatiOn is creating lands foi
the peoples occupation and cultivation:
Sir, my education and sentiments have
ever been averse to sectional IDEAS ana
prejudices. Justice and fair dealing, how
ever, in "a popular form of government de.
mand that the blessings of the government
should be dispensed with due reference to
! the principle OF equality toward all sec
| tons. Anterior to the war the politicians
| and statesmen of the South unfortunately
| applied their great capacities in cOncen-
| trating popular sentiment upon one idea,
which they deemed most essential to the
welfare of their section, and in the use OF
the power thus acquired they showed great
strategic abilities. The subject of material
development was neglected, while the poll
ticians and statesmen of the North ap-
piled themselves with creditable zeal to adj
vance the material welfare of their people
by means of government aid.
In this condition Of things it is not sur
prising that the North Outstripped the
South in the race for wealth. Ii, on exam
ination, it is discovered that the beneticence
of the government has been more bounti-
fully bestowed upon one section than upon
another it would be but the expression OF
a.kindly and traternal sentiment to seek
an opportunity upon a meritOriOus case to
make that beneticence equal, SO tar as it
may be practicable to do so.
Appropriations for the improvement of
rivers and harbors began in 1924. Since
that time upward Of thirty-twO million dol
lars have been given for these works. The
South had more sea coast than all other
parts OF the country before our territory
was enlarged by the a4uisition of our Paci-
lie possessions; and now, in number and
magnitude, her rivers exceed those of all
other sections. Her productions attracted
commerce to her shores, and her territory
comprised full One-half the republic. Yet,
from the sum appropriated for the improve
ment of rivers and harbOrs. the Northern
States obtained more than twenty-seven
million dollars, and the South less than five
million dollars.
line same advantage seems to have been
secured in the appropriation for public
buildings From the beginning of the gov
eminent to July |, 1871, the Northern States
received upward OF twenty-three million
dollars, and the South eight and q quarter |
million. All the States south Of the POto-
mac and the Ohio and Missouri are classed |
as Southern States. The sums given the |
Territories and District Of Columbia are not |
taken into the account. When we reach |
the subject Of lands donated to railroad
the disparity is even greater
The Northern States have had, in round |
numbers, LAG, 900, 900 acres, and those of the
Incc
;lassed with the South: and included in this
quantity OF land are all the grants which
we're made before and which lapsed during
he war by limitation, only few of which
nave since been revived. This statement
embraces all the lands donated to the sew
,ral Pacific railroads. counting the Texas
Pacific with the South, and of course it does
lot include the $64, 100000 in United States
'onds which were given to the Union and
central Pacific companies.
1t is true the Northern States contain
,reater population, and contribute more to
he revenues, but not in proportion to the
hyperion government benefcence of which
hey have been the recipients. Estimating
he lands as OF equal value, and at 81 - per
ere, and including the $6i. 900 in bonds,
he subsidies granted to Northern compa-
les aggregate $239OO0,OOO and those
ranted to the South amount to but
~ ~'o,ooo, anu from tills SUN SnOulu De |
educted the value of the lapsed grants,
;hich l have not the means of estimating.
Mr. Speaker, have not made presenta-
ons OF these statistical facts with any design |
f exciting sectional prcjudices, or to
ause feeling to arise in the minds
the people OF the South that
ley have been wronged. but to
ppeal to the sense of justice and to the
rlnciple of an equal distribution of bless
us VI mel l,yh tn oat, or
an heart. and which. | am confident, will ,
,oner or later dominate in all orr public ,
ctions. and because l feel that there is no
resent subject more entitled to call forth
le exercise of these high motives than the
le which am presenting for your consid-
alton. {
1t has been a national misfortune that the
cas- and purposes of the people of the two
'ctlons have been so widely and so bitterly
vergent. The events Of the last decade {
ave swept away differences in sentiments
well as i'll Institutions. The day is at
and when all will act unitedly, and the |
sople of the South will enter upon career B
which they will emulate the North in
cry great and good work. Their money
I'd energies will be cheertully applied to a
storation of the country from its existing q
ostratlon. l have made an exhibit OF n
cir poverty and their great needs, that n
nsiderate minds may have a knowledge =,
all the circumstances which will induce -
vOrable action in their behalf. y
The government has done many great
d'noble actions to promote national pros =.
'rlty. But none are greater than this ~
lch we ask. The Congress has donated
private corporations for the construction A
a railroad from Omaha to San Francisco,
distance of nineteen hundred and fourteen
les, 500, 100000 in bonds and lands. No
81, |
e ask less than twenty million dollars to
lid levee about eleven hundred miles,
lich will reclaim and preserve forever
enty million acres of the choicest land OF
nth. and which will remove grievOus oh
'uctlons to domestic commerce. and inter m
l aver it, except in the .s
"a of a thoroughfare FROM ocean to ocean,
d the facilities to divert Asiatic trade to
across our country, the building Of the .
-ees will be OF more value to the nation
IN the construction Of Pacific railroad
e twenty million acres of alluvial bottom
Ids contain more wealth than a strip of
lntry two hundred miles in width from oS
, Missouri river to the Pacific ocean. u
IL the proposition under consideration So
i are shown an enterprise which will add a.
to the national wealth, and g.
lch will put money into the treasury-a $
.ject which will keep busy the spindles of $
W England, which will.turnsh market
the coal and iron Of Pennsylvania, and q
the cereals of the great Northwest, and .
ich will supply freight to the common In
rier, and exchanges for international IN
lie 1t will cheaper the shirt upon every D;
MS back. and the sugar that sweetens g.,
coffee. Upon these reclaimed lands o. -.
Use population will grow rich from honest n c
ustry, and when an occasion is pre- RI
ted, it will be demonstrated that in the "a
y centre of the continent will be found
taSt Str - Il