Speech #510149174

If the adage of the cynic be true. or if we can rely on the poet. we will be compelled to say that his speech possesses in an eminent degree one of the qualities ot an epitaph. The plaintive appeal of the honorable Senator that we resume title to lands perpendicular to portions of roads finished years since in regions where the savage had his abiding place while the road was being builded. loses much of its force when he appeals to us to renew a subsidy granted thirtyfour years ago and which expired more than twentysix years ago. in the center of an oldsettled community. It can not be that these lands are valueless to the settler. that for any reason the conditions of life in mild and fertile Alabamaricher than many of her sisters in natural resourcesrepel the vast and valuable tide of immigration in quest of homes. On the26th of May I introduced abill in the Senate which commended itself to my own judgment. as affecting the region of country from which I come. and later. at the suggestion of Senators. I introduced another dissimilar only in that it was of general application and specified the quality of mineral which in thejudgment ot Senators was intended in the original acts. and which on yesterday with immaterial modifications was reported from the Committee on Public Lands. which reads as follows: Belt enactedy the Senate and House of Representatlies of the United States of America irn Congress assembled.