The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-19
CONG REs sIoNAL.
SPEECH OF MR.. JACOB THOMPSON
OF MISSISSIPPI,

| The House being in Committee Of the Whole on
| the stale of the Union .........
| Mr. THOMPSON addressed il as follows:
| Mr. CHAIRMAN: feel deep interest in the sue
ofthis measure for the graduation Of the price
of the public lands, but not on account of any adj
| vantage which my more immediate constituency
may be supposed TO derive from the passage OF the
bill. The lands which lie within the district
which have the honor 10 represent will not be
affected by It. They all fall within the Cheka-
saw eession Of 1884, and in the treaty Of aequsi-
uon, the principle ofgraduation was engrafted; and
any law which you may enact will not reach or
affect them; therefore, feel myself disinterested.
But as know from personal obsery ation the prae-
ucal operation OF the principles of the BILL desire,
before the question is taken, 10 bear my testimony
TO their correctness, justice, and sound policy. ]
desire, Us a statesman and republican TO see this
government adopt liberal system, which will tend
TO the early disposition Of her vast public domain;
expei the Wild beasts from your extended forests;
redeem your waste places subject to the plough.
share that soil which intended for the use Of
civilized man. and introduce robust vigorous, en-
terprisng population, who will illustrate your insi-
tutions enjoy the liberties which our ancestors have
transmitted TO US, prove the asylum Of the down
irodden Of every land, and raise them the high
and GLORIOUS privilege of being independent"
hold IL TO be the duty Of this government, un-
der the Constitution, To adopt such rules and resu.
latons as will lead 10 the disposition, and not the
boarding up, Of your public lands; as will tend To
their settlement and improvement, and not TO their
continuance In their Wild uncutyated state To play
the part OF a liberal and benefcent landlord and
not ola hard task-master and an avarcious speeu-
ator And as the constitution Of the United States
has conferred upon citizen Of any one Of the States
all the rights and privileges pertaining to the citizens
Of any other State wise policy will prove bene6-
cial TO the people Of the whole Union.
The gentleman from Ohio Mr.. ScHENcKl has
just repeated what has been said by other gentle
men in this debate-that this is "no party question:"
and appeal has been made TO the old States to as
sert their nghts-to take Of their own interests
and resist the spirit, Of selfaggrandizement which
has manifested itself on the part of the new States at
their expense. These appeals but more clearly
eyince the weakness Of their cause No party ques
ton! 10 what does a party question consist, and
how is Il madeS Does il arise from the principles
involved in the adoption Of a measurei-or from the
sympahes Of its advocates or opponents, for or
against those who are TO receive the advantages Of
policy Or does It spring from the recommendation
Of a President who has been elected by party, and
who must necessarily look to his friends for his sup
port Or ia II tested and made known by the fact
Of ts being right in ITSELF and being sustained by the
great majority of the one party and opposed by the
almost unanimous voice of the other party Apply
any one or all of these for the ascerainment
Of party question, and il this bill be not one, then
there is no such thing in this government and party
is but an idle name, adopted and kept up for the
amusement and deception Of the people, and sinks
into the mean and contemplate scramble for the off.
ces and honors of the country. ...
Fora great while bank Of the United States was
asserted to be no party question. In 1886, both of
the prominent candidates for the presidency de-
cided in their opposition national bank and the
supporters Of Judge White, in all their harangues
before the people, admitted that on this subject there
difference between him and Mr.. Van Buren,.
but the democracy were not to be deceived by this
syren song, and would not intrust those with power
who held principles adverse their safety and true
interests. The same state Of things existed in l840
and Mr.. Van Buren,, with the democratic party was
defeated, and General Harrison succeeded; and no
sooner was the wing party installed into power
than they proclaimed this same national bank to be
in deed and in truth the very shibboleth Of party
The people have passed upon that question
so clearly, so emphatcally, that again il ceases to
be party question, and has become an "obsolete
idea" And why was national bank opposed
and condemned by the democratic party, but be-
cause, in its creation, powers were assumed not del
egated the il conferred upon
the few rights and privileges not enjoyed by the
many, and which could be welded to the great pre-
JUDGE Of the country and its liberties in the hands of
corrupt menibecause, in Short II violated that great
cardinal principle of democracy of equal laws Sc
curing to all equal benefts'
For great while tariff for protection was es-
teemed, in many sections of the Union as no party
question. In the south both parties opposed it, in
the middle States both parties to considerable ex-
suited SO goriously in the passage of the tariff bill
of reform, Of justice and equality, some of my own
party friends insisted tina, tariff for protection was
20 party question. But this is surely Incorrect for
why are the democracy opposed to tariff of protec
on' The problem is easily solved: because il ia
contrary to the spirit and meaning of the constitu-
ton to pass laws which confer benefits and bounties
on one portion, and burdens and taxes upon another
portion Of the community; because il Is unequal ia
vorng capital to the disadvantage and injury Of la
Dor; and because it is based on that old exploded
federal idea that it is the duty of government to
take care of the rich, and the rich will take care Of
the poor.
What principle, them is there in this bill which
will commend itself to the adoption and support of
the democratic partyi The answer is because its
object and aim to elevate the Masses to furnish
a retreat to the unfortunate poor man whose lot
may be cast in community where his necessities
may chain down his soul to the car Of wealth and
capital, and make him, in all save the name, a
fawning, crnging slave; to give him on easy terms
a fee simple wherein he erect his castle in
which to shelter and protect his wife and little
ones, where none dare modest or make him afraid;
where none, not the highest in station or the
most gifted in talents, or the proudest in purse,
can cross his threshold without his permission
This man, thus favored, will be transformed into
new being, going forth among his peers in all the
consciousness of being freeman He appreciates
his liberties and the institutions of his country; he
lttls tIlc cUutaIuiCnts VI uOUe, sweet nome, ana
he is ever ready, with willing spirit and an un-
errng am at the first shr note ofthe fife and beat
ing Of the drum to fly to the relief Of his country
and, if need be, to lay down his life in her cause
Such men make up the breastwork which is thrown
around and protects the temple Of our liberty. And
such men have my sympathies, and, trust the
sympathies Of the whole democracy. ...
But can easily understand why the wing party
resist all such considerations. Their favorite doc
trine is encouragement to domestic manufactures;
and all interests and classes of society should in
their estimation contribute to effectuate this great
object. BY holding up your public lands at high
and unreasonable prices, you discourage emigra-
ton. This leads to the dense settlements OF the
older States, where the laborer will be under the
control Of the capitalist and his sinews and skill
be under his management and direction at such
wages will enable him the more efectualIy TO
compete with the pauper labor of Europe. But
God forbid that their policy should be carried out
at such expense to the free sons and daughters OF
America, and that we are thus to become great
manufacturing people This favorite doctrine Of
protection--of encouragement to domestic MANS
factures-thus sustained, has lost to the whole
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