The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-03-20
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY
EDITED BY J. r. MORRIS.
WOODSFIELD, OHIO:
The Mineral Land Bill.
SATURDAY. MARCH 20, ls47.

\ hO AVA al
From our knowledge of men, we are led to be-
lieve that the political letter writer's who infest
Washington City during the Sessions of Congress,
are of all the intelligent creation the most shame
less and despicable; and next to them in meanness
are the party editors, throughout the country who
are ever ready to give currency to all manner of
abuse and Misrepresentation, manufactured by
these letter writers, to the prejudice OF any one
averse TO them in politics.
We have, at this time, been led 10 make these
remarks from reading an article in the Cadlz Re-
publican, copied from the correspondence of the
Baltimore Patriot, relative to the proceedings of
represents Mr.. Morris having eat his charge of
corruption all up, in what he had said relative to
some of the members of the Committee on Public
Lands being interested. To show the baseness of
these whig partizan scamps, and of those wings in
this county, who have been industrously circula-
ting this same charge OF backing OUT" we have
been requested to publish the remarks of Mr.. Nor
ris as reported in the National Integencer, the
Mexican Wing organ at Washington City. This
report, we suppose, should be taken as good evl-
dence by wings at least; for certainly it will not be
insisted upon by any one that the Intelligencers
reporters would favor Mr.. Morris. We wish these
remarks to be carefully perused, so that all may
see whether there is any thing in them which Mr..
Morris found necessary to "take back" or "eat
up," as represented by this letter writer and wings
OF this county.
On the following Monday after the remarks
Of Mr.. Morris were made, Mr. Nc cClernand
rose 10 a question of privilege, and desired to
know of Mr.. Morris to whom he had reference
when he used the following language;
"The bill was got up for the benefit
of few large spectators in Boston,
who had their agents here to push the
bill. Sales of stocks in these mining
companies had been going on for some
time in this city; and some members Of
the Committee Oh Public Lands were,
to his certain knowledge, personally
interested in those stocks. 1t was
quite natural that such gentlemen
should go in favor of their own in
terest."
Mr. Morris acquitted Mr.. McClernand OF being
personally interested in those stocks. There were
other members of the committee, however, that he
did not acquit.
MIR. Collamer, OF Vermont, and Mr.. Moseley, of
New York, next wished to know if Mr.. Morris in
cluded them in his charge. Mr. NJ. replied, not If
they disclaimed having any interest. Mr.. Col.
lamer stated that Mr.. M. had charged the commit
tee with " direct corruption" There was no such
charge made, and Mr.. C. did not deny having an
interest in those stocks. Mr. Morris did not acquit
him, neither does Mr.. C's. remarks acquit himself
In reply to Mr.. Moseey, Mr.. Morris spoke as
follows:
81 will do the gentleman no injustice.
! did not mean him. The mineral bill
had been before the Committee on Pub
lie Lands for some considerable time.
They had it before them at the last
session, and the bill then prepared dis
posed of the matter fairly as thought.
1t contained no pre-emption to occu-
pants or lessees. At the present ses-
sion, although the committee was COM
posed of pretty nearly the same men,
bers, | found quite a different state of
things this session as to the provisions
put into the bill. The bill processes to
to be enacted to secure the sale Of these
lands. am in favor of the sale of them,
but | am not willing that the whole pre-
vious policy of the Government in dis
posing Of the public lands shall be chang
ed for the benefit of a particular class
of individuals. used in the committee
all the efforts | was capable of to pre-.
vent the bill from being reported as it
was. AT one time the committee was
broken up by an attempt to bring GER
tain provisions in it which would pre-
vent the defraudIng the Government OF
millions for the benefit of set of ind.
viduals. Seeing that could not get
provisions inserted in the bill which
would have done equal justice to all, and
injury to none, was led to believe that
some gentlemen in the committee were
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