He did not wish to be
understood as concurring in any intimation that they would refuse to
receive such an appropriation of alternate sections of land because a
condition enhancing the price of the reserved sections should be attached
thereto. He believed his position would now be understood: if not, he
feared he should not be able to make himself understood.
But, before he took his seat, he would remark that the Senate during the
present session had passed a bill making appropriations of land on that
principle for the benefit of the State in which he resided the State of
Illinois. The alternate sections were to be given for the purpose of
constructing roads, and the reserved sections were to be enhanced in
value in consequence. When that bill came here for the action of this
House--it had been received, and was now before the Committee on Public
Lands--he desired much to see it passed as it was, if it could be put in
no more favorable form for the State of Illinois. When it should be
before this House, if any member from a section of the Union in which
these lands did not lie, whose interest might be less than that which he
felt, should propose a reduction of the price of the reserved sections to
$1.
Pages:
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80