Speech #470067160

As to other conditions which formed the considerations so called for this socalled contract. I desire to say this: first. I do not admit that the States had any authority whatsoever to taxthe property of the General Government within their borders. and in the next place the condition that the States should refrain from taxing land granted by the United States for a certain number of years was a benefit that inured to the States themselves and not to the Government. because the Government received no benefit from the State refraining from taxing the lands. but the States did because it encouraged immigration and thereby hastened the settling up and strengthening of the new States. It sounds a little strange to me that the conditions imposed upon the admission of a State which were intended for the benefit of the State should be made the excuse for running the hands .of that new State still further into the Treasury and abstracting more of the public and the common funds.