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

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upon the task of lecture on public morality.
MIR. Fickiin read the following amend
ment, which he proposed 10 introduce, but
which, being ruled out of order, he did not
offer:
ssInsert after the word States at the
end of the preamble, in lieu Of the first, Sec
ond, and third sections:
"Whereas, Dy the compact entered into
by the Government of the United states
when the cession Of the territory shall he
distinct republican States, and admitted
members of the Federal Union; having the
same rights of sovereignty, freedom, And
Independence as the other States;' anu
whereas the possession Of lands within the
new State by the Federal Government. other
than for the purpose mentioned ~ the Con
stitution of the United States, deprives
those States of the power OF taxing large
part of property within their limits, and aI-
SO. of making donations TO actual settlers,
aud therefore deprives them Of some OF the
rights OF sovereignty, freedom, and indie
pendence possessed by the other States:
Therefore,
BE il enacted, &c., That all the public
lands within the State Of Wisconsin he, aud
the same are hereby, rcin1mished 70 the
State aforesaid for the following purposes:
"lst. That the State authorities scce0c
10 such actual settler, being the heAs 81 =
family, Who shalt occupy the saRse Tor
term of years, not les than cighgy nar mare
than one hnn,ired and siNly acres ~ land,
proportional 10 the numhrF IN family.
"2l That ample provision be made froni
the proceeds of the public lands To educnie,
by a system of common schools, each chiid
within the limits of the State aforesaid, who
iuny not otherwise be provided with the
means of doing So"
Mr.. Smith, of Illinois, read modifca-
ton of his amendment which Is inserted IN
subsequent column.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, went into
short speech in strenuous opposition TO a
southern boundary, as calculated 10 throw
back the admission of the new State. She
had now right To come IN; she was, ae-
cor,ling to law, n State of this Union; or, II
ANYTHING was wanting 10 make her so, II
was only the Presidents proclamation. The
design OF the amendment was 10 fasten on
her system of territorial vassalage, with
All the machinery Of territorial government,
for twenty wears 20 come. Mr.. >. was u
rainst il. He thought it wrong in principle
for the General Government 10 pay the ex-
penses of government for territory; he
thought the people of the Territory should
he nllowed Ia tax themselves for the sup
port of their own government. He was OPP
I,psed 10 this amendments, bat whenever n
hin should be brought in giving to every
free white male citizen in the United States
n tract Of one hundred and sixty acres of
land. on condition of five years inhnhtation
aud cultivation, il should have his cordial
support He believed this would be the
very bo.t disposition that could be made OF
the public domain.
The time allotted to debate having ex-
pred :. ..
Mr.. Smith, of Indiana, availed himself ct
the privilege allowed 10y the rule "a Tho gem
teman reporting n bill from COMMITTEES,
aud addressed the committee. The gentle
man from Illinois; Mr.. Smith, he said,
hul determined to modIty his amendment,
so rs tnaulhnrize the State of Wisconsin,,
with the assent of Congress and Territories
of the northwest, IN change the boundary.
So fhrns he was concerned, he had no ohlec-
ton a. ihar proposition. II II chinge was
hereafter made, with the assent Of the Uni
tod states, the people of Wisconsin, and
the territory beyond, all interested would be
consulted, and no injury could result. lie
could not, however, consent 90 the adoption
of the change suggested by the gentleman
from Wisconsin. Tint subject had been
under the minute examination at the Conn
mit,ee on the Territories, and he believed
IL was the unanimous recommendation ol
that committee that the linc.heretoinrc sane
toned by Congress, and now by the conyen'
ton of Wisconsin,, should be ratified by
Congress, aud under all the circumstances
was The hest line IA be adopted.
Mr.. Tweedy was understood To say ina
the report of the Committee on the Terri
tories was n minority report--the maJorit.
had not submitted report.
Mr.. Smith replied, that unless he wa
mistaken, the committee were united IN 70
commanding the ST. CreN boundary ~ pre-
ference 10 that of the Rum river. lie coul
see no reason for the change. The ;
Croix was navigahle stream Tor boats q
large tonnage, and he believed stream {
that character presented better houndar
thnn any imaginary line. u avaitleh col
flcls OF Jurisdictions; It gave 10 the bonie
ing States the joint issue at the bnuniaI
line for Ohio, Virginia, indiana, kentuck.
and Illinois, all of which States were elua
~ benefited.
Another reason why they should circon
scribe the limits of the State rs much
they could was, that II they run the line q
ro Rum river, they lrii not territory eI
ouch to form new State. West of q
ST. Croix was territory, out of which, in
few years, would he formed new State
Instead OF still further eircnmscrihing Il
terri,ory, hy running the line thirty or for
miles further west, u any objection was
be made t. The line III the ST. CrniN, il wa
that with il the limits would be too much e
tended; and ii they We're to vary from th
line, he should rather 90 for a more soui
ern line. He had Gully given his SanctiC
10 the line that had already been sanction,
by Congress an,l ly the Territory; and by
grceing to thai line, they close the sulge
x,ithout further legislation. hi they ahul