The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-07

When The fanaucai spirit Of The NoTih, was pn,,r,
into the House memorials against the anneratigr =
Texas, simply because il was cursed with The rec1
ar institution NJ The South.
Mr.. BRONSON offered some Suggestions IN sr
port OF the bill; and referred 10 large Ranbar Z,
actual settlers, who had acquirsdpre-empon rights
and would become citizens 50 soon as The lands
should Be surveyed and opened for sale The com.
mi'iee had already passed upon two bills extsbi,h
ing land offices la that Territory and 50 soon as be
were prepared 10 act, there large tract which
would be Immediately settled and paid for Bu, ia
would not agree 10 the principle that people stn,i4
not be protected BY Government on the ero,rd M
they bad not bought and paid for Government aIJ,
when they bad settled upon them and had acouired
pre-empion rights. He also alluded 10 the y5>i ey
tent Of the Territory Of Wisconsin; and ARENA
that as the whole was in the course Of Settleep, !
would soon be necessary 10 establish tie Government
now proposed He expressed his pleasure al H.
eandor with which MIR Thompson had stated M
grounds of objection which he and some o,hcr,
might have 10 the bill.
Mr. b. said he would not go into discussion a.
the main point Of tha. objection, but he would yefr
10 the ordinance respecting The Northwest IN Terri
tory 10 show that the United States were bound !,
provide such Governments for Territories ana i
admit new States when certain contingencies arose
such as were described in that ordinance He woult
not discuss the question OF The admission Of Texas
bul gentlemen would see one strong point Of differ
ence. This Territory was owned now by the United
States. II was theirs, and they were bound to mo-
tect II. Texas, on the contrary was not ours ana
would have 10 be acquired. He trusted The # end,
OF the bill would not go into discussion of The cues
lion raised by the gentleman from South Carolina
fMr. Thompson which, ifentered upon wouldlead
10 an interminable debate
Mr.. POPE followed with some arguments in ia
yor OF the bill He went into a defence OF the set,
Hers on these new lands, and spoke fayorably Or
their general character and justified the practice 81
squatting upon the lands, in conformity with he
intention Of the law, which was only made 10 pro
hbt rpecnlaiors from appropriang large tracts
without actual settlement. He also advocated the
policy oferecting Territorial Governments with sa.
luary laws and proper officers to administer them.
lie spoke OF the number OF people on this Territory
and said he understood they were more numerous
than the people of Arkansas, when a Territorial
Government was established there; the population
then being only abJut six thousand
MIR. BRONSON said there were now as he was
informed, ON this Territory west Of the Mississippi
thirty thousand people, and they were constantly
increasing
Mr.. THOMPSON replied to the argument found.
ed upon The ordinance Of l7S7, and intmated that
he wished TO meet the question of admitting new
States now, instead of waiting until it became
Territory with hundred thousand people and
Knocked al the door for admission as a State. lie
wished 10 preserve a balance Of power; and the
South desired the admission Of Texas, that they
might have in the Senate a protecting power for
their institutions.
The debate was continued by Messrs Bronson
Mercer, Everett, Jones, of Wisconsin, Shepard and
White OF Ky.
The motion 10 strike ont the enacling clause was
then rejected without division.
Mr.. BOND moved to amend the bill so as to strike
out two thousand dollars as salary for the Governor
and fifteen hundred dollars as salary Tor the same
person as Superintendent of Indian Affairs; and 10
insert twenty-fr hundred dollars for his salary in
both these capacities.
MIR BRONSON remarked that the salary as fixed
by the bill was taken from other Territorial acts,
and less than the salary in some OF the Terrific
ries. He said there were Indians 10 be removed
from this Territory and great labor and RESPONSE
billy would be required from The Governor in that
service
Mr. 0ND spoke Of his desire to reduce these
salaries generally and thought the this Terri
tory Subdivided the more the salaries should be
reduced, as the labor and care would be less He,
Also compa red this proposed salary with that OF The
Governors in some OF the States, and commended that
these were put too high in comparison
Mr.. EVERETT wished 10 have The salary for
each branch of the service designated, so that in
different individuals should be employed, The
proportions might be fixed Tor each.
Mr.. BOND modified his motion according TO this
suggestion, so as TO appropriate fifteen hundred dol.
lars as salary for Governor, and one thousand sa-
larry for Superintendent of Indian fairs.
Mr. POPE offered few remarks; after which
The amendment was agreed TO, and the bill was laid
aside 10 be reported.
The bill from the Senate granting land 10 The Ter
ritory of Wisconsin, to open canal 10 connect the
waters OF Lake Michigan and Rock river was then
taken up, with an amendment proposed by the Com
mittee on Public Lands.
Mr. LINCOLN stated The general principle, that
il is expedient Tor Governments, not only of the
United States but Of the separate States 10 afford
facilities to corporations TO carry on public works
which will result in general benefit TO the commu-
nifty; and he was in favor of such action on the
part of the Government. He said, however, that
this bill on It's face appeared 10 give lands 10 the
Territory of Wisconsin but such was not the fact.
The land was given TO private corporation, Che
Rock River Canal Company, 10 remain private pro-
perry.
Mr.. BRONSON explained that the Territorial
Government desired 10 make the Improvement but
doubled the authority Of such form OF Govern
ment TO do so, and had therefore incorporated
company 10 carry on the work and in the ACT Of in
corporation they were empowered to petition Con-
gress for grant; and such rights and limitations
we're reserved and made; that in point Of fact, the
grant would vest in the State, and not in individuals.
He read from the act referred TO- in order 10 show
that, If any grant was made by the United States,
should become the property OF the future State Of
Wisconsin, as soon as il should be admitted into the
Union. He spoke Of the great importance Of the
work, and hoped that all objection to II would be
withdrawn as ii similar TO others that had
existed in other Territories
MIR LINCOLN inquired il any estimate had been
made of the value OF the grant.
MIR. BRONSON said he did not know.
Mr. MERCER said he had made calculation
of the number of square miles; but his statement
could not be heard by the Reporter.
Mr.. LINCOLN thought the committee ought 10
wait ill such information could be obtained He
understood the land worth about three millions
OF dollars, and he wished to know the estimated cost
OF the canal, and whether that was the most useful
method OF Improvement; and he illustrated the ne
cessity of such know ledge by referring TO a canal
proposed from Boston to Albany, for which he and
others had been once very jealous, though il had
since been found that railroads were better mode
Of transportation, and in that case in Massachusetts
a railroad was now in the process OF construction,
Other topics respecting the powers OF the corpora
ton, the rights OF the State, and The propriety OF
taking tolls, and in opposition TO immediate action