The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-05

| made against those boundaries at the tine they
" sre imposed upon us, | stated them and repeat
now, that they inlerposed an artificial line between
"a and our great western river the Missouri that
at line cut IN twain our greatest interior river the
Des Molnes-a steam which, rising In the north
est portion Of our contemplated State courses 10
a southeast, running for many miles almost equi-
d. slant between the Missouri and Mississippi into
hich IL discharges itself The Des Moines is now
Nigabe for a considerable portion of the year.
and Is susceptible, with the greatest facility and
slightest expenditure, OF being made so for many
hundred miles. at all Of the year. when not
INSTRUCTED by ice. The country through which ii
runs Is one OF unsurpassed fertility, and is now be-
coming densely inhabited. From the central posi-.
i1n OF this river and its other advantages, there
are very large portion OF the people Of Iowa who
oseFe ard desire that their ultimate seat OF govern
ment should be upon il. Looking TO a connection
WIN the Pacific coast and the Asiatc trade, the
boundary OF the Missouri river is Of the utmost
importance to u.s. il is to any system OF Internal
Improvements by which our Mississippi and Mis-.
souri, towns are 10 be connected The act Of the
lost session Withheld from this western boundary
and as consequence, drove large number of our
people from the support Of the constitution The
gentleman says that the wishes ard feelings OF the
people Of lowe ought TO be utterly dsregaTded that
Congress should look only at what was dictated by
public policy and the danger Of future dsnnon and
50 on. God forbid that that gentleman should ever
have Il IN his power 10 dictate for a moment the
course OF policy that should be adopted by the peo-
pie Of these United States.
Sir, If his views Of public policy had controlled
and shaped the legislation Of this country, there
would be now no people in Iowa, nor State bounda-
res TO be fixed. But the policy Of tho gentleman
mad al least one virtue, that Of consistency. He
has held seat on this floor for nearly twenty years
as representative from usstra STATE, during which
time he has been the constant, stern, undertaking,
eternal opponent OF preempuon rights Of the grad
uaton Of the price Of the public lands and of almost
every other measure ia which the people Of the
Wes' have felt an interest Sir, we might listen to
these Arguments in favor Of western interests if
they did not come from one who, although a west
ern man, has ever been found voting to deny the
humble pioneer the right Of preference in the pur-
chase Of his home. When has the gentleman from
Ohio ever failed to join with his Atlantic allies with
whom he Is cooperating on this occasion, in speak
ing and voting against the reduction Of the price Of
the public ands All who were here at the last ses-
SION remember that he was the first and bi,terest in
his opposition 10 this benefcent western measure
a. he has ever been towards all those public land
measures which have done so much 10 settle and
to develop the resources Of the western country.
But, SIR, Is u not somewhat remarkable that
the gentleman from Massachusetts,, fMr. Rock.
WELL, and the gentleman from New York
| Mr. RATHBUsl should be found standing aide
by eide with this western champion, in adyo-
eating western policy, as il is called II there was
the gentleman from Ohio ayows, should be con-
founded at the magnanimity Of those Atlantic gentle
men who so Enormously advocate the policy Of con-
ierrng this mammoth political power upon US when
the object Is ayowed that il Is done to enable us
to control them. They must surely think we will
be much kinder masters than have ever found
them to be.
II, Mr.. Chairman, remember Alright, the bright
est sprig in the chaplet ofrenown which adorns the
brow was placed there because of his
great and memorable services, not, sir, in battling
for aaH States In the west, but for his almost SUI
perhuman efforts in extending the boundaries Of
Ohio, so as to take from the then feeble and depen-
dent Territory Of Michigan a large portion Of her
rghtful limits On that occasion, and for the pur-
pose Of enlarging his State, the gentleman could
override and break down the ordinance OF I7S7-a
compact declared TO be unaterable except by the
consent Of the parties to its formation, and which
the venerable ex-President Of the United States
Mr.. ADAMS then declared TO be as binding as any
aw which had ever been enacted, "human or d.
vine" Arguments against our boundaries may
come with some Propriety from that gentleman,
when he gives MS practical illustration Of the doc
trines which he now breaches. We will listen to
them with more composure coming from that quar-
Ter, when Ohio consents 10 restore TO Michigan the
territory which she wrested from her; Indiana also;
Illinois the fourteen countless the finest in the State,
which she has taken from Wisconsin; and Mchi-
gan the large slice which she also got out of the same
plundered territory, to compensate her for that
which was wrung from her, almost at the point
vas arrayed against brother, and father against
son.
Mr.. Chairman, trust that the act for our adj
mission Is not again to be shacked with conditions
admonsh the majority Of this House that il the
amendment of the gentleman from Ohio is to pre-
vail they might as well pass an act for our perpet-
ual exclusion from the Union. Sir, the people of
Iowa will never acquiesce in it.
:, After some exf lanaory remarks from Messrs
vNToN and THURMAN, the question was taken, and
there 80 who voted for the bill, and 60 against
it.