The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-01-30

St0te OF ONtO, J. Hdt our OcuotoiS IA Noh
gress be, and are hereby instructed, ant
our Representatives requested to use al
legal and honorable means to procure TIT
passage Of law, setting apart and dona
ting one hundred thousand square miles o
unappropriated wild land to native ant
naturalzed citizens, in tracts, not exceed
ing 100 acres, to actual settlers, as an ev
erlas,ing heritage to them and their pos
terity, at the cost of survey.
And in like manner that they set apar
and donate so 900 square miles of unap'
propriated. wild land for the use and bene.
lit of the free colored people of the United
States Of America. That 160 acres be
granted out of said last mentioned land to
each free colored settler at cost Of survey
as an everlasting'heritage to.them and their
posterity. And that the Governor OF the
State of Ohio, be requested to forward a
copy of this resolution to each member Of
the Senate and of the House of represen'
tatives in Congress forsthis State"
In submitting the resolutions, he (Mr.
Simpson) did so for the purpose of testing
the sincerity of Senators. He had inten-
ded 10 offer them, and he would have done
so. before this time, but Tor an unwilling
ness TO take up the time of the Senate; but
other resolutions have been offered, to
which he (Mr S.) could not agree, and
hence he had hastily thrown together reso-
lutions which embraced his own sentiments
il not the sentiments Of others, and he Of
fe,ed them to the Senate for adoption. He
didFnot propose to discuss the subject at
this time, except in answer to the Senator
from Franklin, who had advocated the
granting of lands to the Hungarians.
The great evils which have fallen upon
Europe, and caused many of her noble
sons to be slaves, are caused, in some
measure, by the land monopoly; he MIR. s.
did not wish to be considered an Agrairan,
nor was he in favor the party which ba-
sed its political action on this question,
but at the same time, he. Mr.. S.) could
not shut his eyes to the fact that even in
our boasted land of freedom, great suffer.
ing was caused, and great evils produced
by the absorption oflarge tracts of land in
the hands of few individuals. In New
York this evil was great one, and had
been productive Of serious consequences
The resolution proposed setting apart a
large tract of fland for the negro population.
On this question, he (Mr. S. could not see
that any difference of opinion involving
difference of sentiment Oh the constitution
al question could arise. Carry out the res
olution-sette the negl on the govern
ment land, and three large States dedica-
ted to freedom. could be admitted into the
Union :and thus enlarge its borders.
Much as he was pleased with the remarks
of the Senator from Franklin. he Mr.. S.
would be forced 10 vote against his resolu-
tons. unless he blotted out that portion of
them, relating to lands to be granted to
citizens Of other countries. To that, ne
(Mr.S could not assent. His object was
to elicit truth and to detect error. He
could not agree entirely with the sentiments
of the Senator from Fairfield, when he ral-
lied to the aid of the Senator from Frank.
lin, on this subject. ,..-4I
The resolutions of the Senator from
Richland met his concurrence. They
were based on the resolutions Of General
Cass. in the United States Senate, and in
reading the debate on that question, he
was surprised to find the other Senator
from New York so far forgetful of the de.
cendents of those who fought and bled
at Flat Bush and Bunker-Ilill-at York
town and Saratoga, as to be willing to give
away the lands Of the Republic, while JUS
tice was meted out to them, with so spar
inc hand We should be just before we
are generous, and he (Mr. S. could not
vote for ANY resolution giving away the
public domain to any set Of men. in other
lands. while our own were in want. lie
could not forget the poor and the defence
less of our own country, and to them, ma
tive and adopted, for between the two he
(Mr. 81 made no distinction, he was will
ing to give the public domain, but not to
others. lie (Mr. S. was not a native
American party man, for in his heart he
held all citizens alike, regardless where
they were born.
Mr.. Dennison said that the Senator from
Belmont was mistaken as to the sentiments
of Governor Seward. He was nota a.natlve
American in feeling.
Mr.. Simpson said that such was the
feelings Of the leaders of the whig party in
New York, that he supposed by this action
that Gov. Seward held to the same sentl-
lnents. 1t is to our poor that the first duty
OF the government should be Directed
We have, it is true, great Military Acad-
envy at West Point, and much is said Of
being charitable institution, for the ben
eft Of the poor, yet he (Mr. Simpson, was
yet to see single case where the poor of
the United States ever received the foster
ing care Of Congress.
He (Mr. S was willing that the resolu-
tions, he had offered should 20 to the com
mittee on Federal Relations and to be re-
ported upon, =,
The resolutions Of Mr.. Burns did not 60
far enough. The amendment offered
thereto, he could not support for the rea-