Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-10

hundred years old in favor of this commu-
nication,) and perceiving that all who had
ever investigated the subject were of but
one opInion--if, after all this, gentlemen
were disposed 10 maintain that II was not
competent for Congress to grant few hun
dred acres from the public domain to aid in
such work, and that to u State that had
never before asked the Govern ment for any,
thing, they might continue to hug their vast
domain, and might continue to draw from
the State million of dollars year, as
they had done for years past.
| They had kept their hands off Of their
quota Of five hundred thousand acres, to
which they were entitled with the other
new States; yet by every day that the en-
trance Of Wisconsin into the Union was de-
iayed, Congress took two hundred dollars
from her school fund. Whether the land
they had received was or was not to be de-
Quoted from her FIVE hundred thousand, Mr..
Il. knew not and cared not. Ii the Cow
eminent was so near as to open an account
current with the State, it might have what
ever the footing would show 10 be due, and
| Wisconsin would pay j, without looking at
the items Of the account.
Mr.. Il. here said that he should move an
amendment which had received the sane
ton of the whole Committee ON the Terri
tories.
Mr.. Rockwell, of Connecticut, rose 10
say that it seemed to him that the views of
the gentleman from Vermont (Mr Cola
mcr) had been mistaken by the honorable
delegate. Mr. r. thought that IN his re-
marks he had been disposed TO show great
liberali,y, and such disposition toward the
coming State ms ought to shield him from
n,
that gentleman. All thar the gentleman
/ from Vermont maintained was. that il the
alternate sections granted to Wisconsin
should be reduced To the minimum price,
aud that reduction should not be charged
upon the five hundred thousand acres To
which she was entitled, il would form an
Injurious precedent against doubling the
price of reserved sections in all cases here
after. Mr. II. was willing To give literally
to new States, as he had proved 10y his
course in relation 10 such lands; bur, really,
unless this was TO be considered as part of
Wisconsin's five hundred thousand acres,
he could not vote for this provision in the
bill.
Mr.. Tweedy (resumng) said the princi-
pie of this grant was not new. When ca
nal or railroad ran through a portion of
public domain that was wholly unsettled, it
was the duty Of Congress 10 grant alternate
sections Of land in its vicinity, IN order TO
aid in its construction; because the making
of the canal aided the sale of the rest of
the land; and then il was proper enough to
double the price OF the sections reserved. -
But when the road or canal passed through
region partially settled, the reservation of
such sections operated as robbery on the
settlers already there, because il compelled
them to pay double for the lands they had
already improved. The effect was TO drive
of or keep of every emigrapt for ten miles
round the proposed course of the canal.--
They were afraid to make improvements,
4 for fear, when the alternate sections came
to be reserved, their houses would fall with
1 in the sections reserved by Government, and
so they would be compelled to pay double
as much as their neighbors. In fact, this
was the case in Wisconsin al this moment.
People were waiting till the reservations
were fixed; aud the consequence was, that
that part Of the country remained unsettled.
Every such restriction operated inluriously
to the country where it took effect; and the
people would continue 10 agitate, at the cx-
pensc of the contemplated improvement
itself, rather than submit to so injurious an
arrangement. The plan worked admirably
unsettled, but not in country settled to the
extent Wisconsin was. To the reserves on
the north side of the river these remarks
did not so much apply, because there the
lands were of inferior quality; but on the
south side there were multitudes ready aud
DESTROYS to settle who were pow deferred.
/ Ought work so important, OF character
so clearly national, aud so easy OF compile
tion, 10 be clogged and retarded by restric-
ton Of this description
/ ( MIR. T.. here gave notice of an amend
lment which he intended to offer.
Mr.. T.. would NOT detan the committee
with further remarks. He would merely
add, that as he understood the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Smith) bad consented To
Withdraw his amendment for a southern
boundary, he hoped that gentleman would
seize an early opportunity Of doing so, as
the hour allotted 10 this debate would soon
close.
MIR. McClerand would not intrude upon
the attention Of the committee but Tor the
lpratiIitous assault made by the member from
\ Connecticut mir. RockwelD upon western
members, and particularly The advocates OF
the graduation policy; which assault was
/ the more wanton because II was indirect AMI
deliberate. Mr.. MeC., however, would
first address himself to some of the details
az the bill. before be would proceed 10 no.
lice this assault which reflected more upon /
the courtesy Of the member from Connecti- /
cut than upon the advocates OF relaxation /
of the rigors Of the present land system.--
Mr.. McC. would vote for the bill. 10 such Z
prover form NJ would most speedily admit
the State of Wisconsin Into the Union, OF
which her worth, and patriotic people were
anxious 10 become a member. lie would
do this from regard for the expressed
wish Of the people Of WISCONSIN, and be-
cause he was not unwilling 70 see the mum
her If sister States composing the great 4
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