The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-11

-
He spoke of the power of Congress egsate for the
Territories and showed that tins power did not extend
the regulation of the internal police OF Territories.
That power belonged to the people; and without the
consent OF the people could no more be exercised by
Congress the Territories than over the States He
could not think that should proceed TO change this
boundary which had been thus agreed upon without
better for that change could be offered than he
Mi. COLLAMER spoke with reference to the second
and third sections OF the bill relating to the subject OF the
public lands Touching this subject, the Wisconsin
requests of Congress First the State being entitled TO
locate 900 acres OF the public lands, they desire the
privilege OF locating on these Rock river lands as far as
longed to her by law They wish this privilege, mas
much this Rock river sequestered for private entry
on account Of the price at which it is held. =,
The second request is, that Congress will allow pur
chasers Of these alternate sections the amount OF the price
which they have paid for them 81 25 per acre. In
the third and fourth place, they ask the privilege of ap
propratng the per fund arising from the sale OF
lands in said State, and applicable 10 the improvement OF
roads, to the support OF common schools. In the fifth
place, they request that the alternate sections of the grant
and Winnebago lake and The Mississippi, by the way OF
Fox and Wisconsin rivers, that part OF the grant still
held by the general government may be reduced in price
81 IS per acre Mr. C. willing grant all these
requests except the last and he argued at great length
the unreasonabeness OF this request the ground that
The older States could not participate equally in the ad-
vantages OF these appropriations of the public lands Tor
the purposes OF internal improvement But, IN the case
OF appTopriallng land for improvements the way OF
away one ndI ana Selling Inc Olier uOuDlC
price-there loss, though there immense
benefit conferred.
Mr. MORSE said, in the act of 1871 the Congress-
granted 100000 acres of land to certain Territories for
certain purposes and certain improvements He spoke OF
the grants TO Iowa and Wisconsin for canal purposes
In the latter grant 1t was provided the alternate sections
should not be sold for less price than 81 50 per
The appropriation to Iowa made without raising the
price OF the alternate sections OF their grant The Com
mittee the Territories this, and considered that it
was but just to remit the dollar and quarter for those
alternate sections IN Wisconsin The gentleman from
Vermont lMr. CoLLAMER] had shown reason for the
distinction made between the prices of these lands in
these States, which II was now proposed to do away
with. With respect to the boundary of this State he
had choice between the two boundaries by which It
might come in but he objected to the third-the south
boundary-because it would induce delay.
MIR. ROCKWELL OF Connecticut thought with re-
gard to all the States in which the public lands lie il
but Just to make even larger appropriations than at pres
ent Tor the institution and support OF schools The three
per cent the sales OF the public lands within the new
States, which was appropriated for schools, and the five
would be the the public lands if they liable
be assessed for taxes This provision for schools was
for the benefit of the whole country. The reasons why
the older States made sensitive the subject OF the
appropriation of the public lands, 10 be found in the
wild schemes OF graduation which, from time to time,
had been presented and urged by the people of the
ern States Mr. r. gave notice of amendment which
he desired to add at the close OF the second secton
king additional grant of land for the purposes of edu
cation TO wit: every thry-sx section in each town
ship be appropriated BY the Legislature of said State,
provided that this amount Of land shall be deducted from
the grant of five hundred thousand This amend
ment, he said, he should offer at the proper time.
! Mr. TWEEDY next obtained the floor, and asseverated
that his State did not approach the Congress in the char
acter of beggar. They would have their rights and
come IN an equal ootng with the other Staes or not
at all.
He then proceeded to reply the objections the 9Th
clause OF I'd secion based the 9th resolution OF the
Wisconsin convention and urged here by the gentleman
from Vermont Mr.. CoLLAMER.] lie adverted to the two
grants Iowa and Wisconsin, mentioned by the gentle
man from Louisiana, [Mr MsRsE] These grants were
uassod both on the The n Iowa Inclu-
ded the alternate sections for five miles each side OF her
proposed canal for four hundred miles, while the grant
to Wisconsin extended but three miles each side The
grant to Wisconsin for object the most important to
internal navigation. AS for the grant to unite Fox and
Rock rivers, we never asked for it and this was the
only in which threw ourselves upon the liberal
| ity of Congress.
| After indulging in some denuncation against the
schemes of graduating the price of the public lands and
IN some further discussion OF various points, Mr. l. gave
| notice OF an amendment.
| Mr. ROCKWELL showed that the objection to the
based upon the fact that ii was blow at all those
schemes of appropriation by alternate sections
| Mr. TWEEDY admitted that the principle was very
proper and applicable to where the lands not
settled but every such restriction going through
try partially settled, injury II works admirably
the Illinois praes but it does not apply at all TO the
| Mr. McCLERNAND preferred the boundary agreed up.
on people OF Wisconsin and the Congress OF
the United States to either of the others proposed. He
replied to the remarks of the gentleman from Vermont in
relation to the subject of the graduation of the price OF
the public lands He justified this policy by The
stitution. The true policy with reference to these
lands to facilitate settlement and cultivation The
agricultural interest the great interest of the
counuy-was the great the republican interest of this
couny-upon which all institutions have their most
stable foundations 1t i'll becomes the gentleman from
Wisconsin TO denounce the policy OF the graduation OF
the price of the public lands while he himself remains
the advocate of the distribution of their proceeds. Ii CIV
ing the lands by way of bounty violation of the
constitution, OF any pledge in relation to their proceeds
would not the distribution of all their proceeds be still
greater violation OF the constitution and OF our pledges
MIR. FICKLlN gave notice of an amendment; which
read.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee thought the true secret of
this new boundary for the purpose OF organizing
Territory beyond Wisconsin, with all its machinery
of officers and benecaries. He considered that, under
the law of last session, Wisconsin now State OF
this Union; and that if anything wanting to make
her completely so, il but the proclamation OF the
President He considered this tax the government for
the support of the officers of Territories all wrong
They should be supported by the people, IN the States
ngness to support proposition to give 100 acres to
every free white male citizen who might be without
land
Mr.. SMITH, of Indiana, followed in support OF the
St Croix boundary He said that the st Croix was a
larger stream than Rum river, and navigabe and II was
matter of experience, that river far better tor a
boundary than mere surveyors line: He was unwll-
ling further to postpone the admission OF Wisconsin,
by sending back any question requiring another popular
decision.
MIR. s., as chairman of the committee reporting the
BILL proceeded at length defend all its provisions, and,
continuing his speech beyond o'clock, (under his priv
ege as chaman he referred to all the objections urged
against the provisions of the second and third sections,
and replied to Misunderstanding against the dstnc-