Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-09-17

y
benefits arising from the proceeds Of the sales Of
public lands, and also the evidence that usual the
Democrats in that body struggled zealously for the
rights Of the needy and dependent Territories. This
week, thanks to the perseverance of Democracy for
il. we have the qualification of announcing to our
citizens that the friends of the needy and oppressed
have not labored for them in vain, but have innay
succeeded In inducing majority OF that body to
save it from the shame and disgrace Of trampllng
upon the rights of the deenceless, as it had once re-
solved to do. In the Senate, on the 2lst ult. Mr..
McROBERTS, of Illinois, renewed his motion to
include the Territories in the general distribution
bill, which was supported by himself, and Messrs
WOODBURY., ALLEN, BENTON, & LINN,
all Democrats, and opposed by Huntington and
Prentiss wings. 1t was finally adopted by vote OF
20 to ls-every Democratic Senator present voting
in its favor Another amendment was offered, CIV
ing them ten per cent. upon the amount OF sales
within their limits, which would have placed them
upon an equality with the nine new States, but 1t
was rejected.
Let the people of Iowa keep this fact before them,
and remember that is to the unceasing devotion OF
the Democracy we arc indebted tor this small share
of the public property. Bear it in mind that they
are ever found on the side Of the poor and needy,
manfully battling for their rights, and the promotion
of their interests while it is the characteristic of fed
cralism to take even that from them which they
have
Were we not told before the last election that the
wings were as much our friends as the Democrats,
and that it would be to our interest to send Dele
gate whose political opinions were in accordance
with the majority The several votes taken on this
question, if we had other to test it upon, stamps
fasity upon such an assertion. Suppose we had
abandoned our principles, and sent wing Delegate
and that the Democratic members were to act as we
are told the wings will, and ought to act what kind
of spectacle would it have presented! The DEM
ocrats would have told our Delegate that his constr
uents had spurned their good services and that he
must look only to his political friends for support IN
all measures calculated to promote the interests Of
the Territory. With a wo-begone countenance he
would have gone to the wings and asked their sup
port Their reply would have been after this man
Nerve have always been opposed to the poor aud
humble squatter of the new States and Territories
they are bat band of land,pirates and robbers
have no votes to give on the Presidential question,
and we have no more money than is wanting to car
nv the elections in the States, and besides, do you
suppose III members are going to give up their old
plans and turn round, being led by man, and that
not Henry Clay, merely for the purpose of sustain
ing you with your constituents, and that too, after
we have sent host of ofiice-holders out to federal
ize the Territory by the time she is worth saving
But let the remarks of Messrs. Woodbury. and
Benton show who are the friends of Iowa. They
merit the thanks of every citizen of the Territory
for their worthy efforts in our behalf:
Mr.. BENTON spoke at large, and several
times, in support of his motion. He despised
the BILL but if it passed, let pass for the ben
eft of all let all have their share, and especial
ly those which need it most. The Territories
need it most; they are young and have every
thing to do. They have yet to be set up in
life. They pay for the public lands; then why
not get share back of what they pay in!
The District of Columbia, which contains no
public land, which pays nothing into the Trea-
sury for public lands, is to be admitted to
distribu,ive share. Why not place the Terri
tories of Florida, Wisconsin and Iowa, on the
same footing? Is it because they are absent
far off.-and the District here to importune
us! lst because they have no Presidential
votes to give! Is this the reason they are left
out of the bill? Be the reason what it may,
and no reason is shown here, it is unjust and
unfounded. The Territories have a right to
be included in all the benefits of the bill. A
vote has already been taken by which they are
TO be excluded from receiving distriL ution
portion in the general division. He should
endeavor at the proper time TO reverse that
vote: at present he insisted upon including
them In the ten per cent, preliminary dlstrIbu-
ton which the new States receive. His mo-
ton was to give them this ten per centum on
the sales within their limits; and afterwards
he should endeavor to give them share iE the
general distribution.
MIR. WOODBURY. said he rose 10 Consequence
of remark from the gentleman from Maryland,
that the Territories had not helped to pay for
the public lands as much as the District of CO.
lumba.
Here Mr.. MERRICK explained that the Dis
trlct was taxed from contiguous States, az well
as paid taxes under the tariff into the public
treasury
But, sir, said Mr.. WOODBURY., were not most
OF the people emigrants from the old States
bone ofetheir bone and flesh Of their .0esA2
Aad are not we here, on this, as on other oc-
casons, leeislatlng for human beings, and not
for land, or earth and rocks Are we not look
ing, In this distribution, TO the welfare of the
being, rather than to dead matter! to the mind
-rhe soul! The people of the Territories