Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1837-01-11

Rsnasks Of Mr.. Quigley, on the question OF
shs location Of the seat Of government Tor
de territory Of Wisconsin, in the house OF
representatives, on Monday, November %,
shs IOWA ef Du Buque being proposed -
sahssitussfor Madison.
Nh. SPEAKER:
Before the final vote is
taken upon this question, should be
recreant to my duty i'll did not attempt,
however feebly, 70 shew to this house
that the point now under discussion, is
the best, the most appropriate, and
possesses more local advantages for the
1s,t Of government than any other yet
prsposcd. Before I do this, sir, must
beg leave to take short notice Of some
remarks which fell from ouropponents
on this question. Sir, l have taken no
mart in the discussions that have occu-
pied this house for the last two days,
and did hope, sir, that this question
would have been discussed with that
urbanity which is due to honorable gen
tlemen who may differ with each 9TH
er in opinion. 1t was my wish, sir, to
have met it with all the courteous civil
lily that becomes men contending for
what each thinks his duty, and to have
met the objections and arguments Of
our opponents in spirit Of frankness
and sincerity which apparently this all
absorbing question seems to deserve,
and in which so much Of the public in
tsrest, the public convenience, 4 pub
lie welfare are concerned. But, sir,
what was my establishment when we
heard the minority in this house lectu-
red by the reverend gentleman from
JDes Moines, and charged with having
used "low-bred and vulgar slang. -
Yes sir, low-bred and vulgar slang was
the phrase made use of, but with all
due Difference to the reverend gentle
man, think the charge comes with
bad grace from that quarter; and / now
tell him, that if our arguments are not
decorated in the flowery language Of
pulpit eloquence, with which this house
has been ooften treated, and for which
the gentleman is 30 very remarkable,
they have been at least to the point, &
couched in respectful language, and if
not convincing, it is not because lam
euage has been disrespectful, but be-
cause gentlemen have come to this qucs-
ton with their ears closed to all argu-
ment, and their minds scared against
conviction, determined to vote for Ma
olson and Burlington at all hazards.
But the gentlemen have given us
some far-fetched proofs and presidents
for building up towns and establishing
seats Of government. We have Illinois
and Missouri, and have been cited to
New York and Virginia. too, Mr..
Speaker, beg leave to travel some dis
lance from Wisconsin, to bring also
some far-fetched precedents, and re-
mind the gentlemen Of the sort Of pla-
ces which were selected by the most
early commercial people Of whom we
have any account, to build their cities
snd to raise their towns. These early
people. sir, selected great navigable
rivers, and noble harbors on the sea
coasts. Yes, sir, along the banks ofthe
Don, the Volga, and the lister, they
built their towns on high and healthy
situations. Studied by the setting sun,
they traversed the Caspian and the
Black and Mediterranean seas, found
ded their Constantinople, their Garth
~, and their Rome; not, sir, as gem
tlemen are attempting to raise their
Madison, in wilderness of swamps,
but on sites for coed and commodious
nirbors; where commerce and popula-
l!oawcre invited. nut the gentleman
from Des Moines has told us that Vir-
ginia has been contending for years to
have her seat Of government removed
nearer to the centre, and has not vet
besn able to accomplish it. Sir, is not
hat argument on our slider The patri-
Dtic people Of the good old daminion
will notpermit theirseat Of government
y b removed TO aswamp or morass,
= enrich perhaps some few spectators, .
9 this bill will do if passel, into law.
What. sir, are gentlemen attempting .
9 de in this case? to force up 4 town .
qa5ast the order Of nature, 10 raise a
lace that has no natural advantages o.
er any other spot in the territorv !.
'hatever, : place, If we are correctly
harmed, inaccessible from savanna :
~ s6hsNh - h.. h.o. 70 q