The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-07
WHOLE NO. 16G.

| foreigner aud the emigrant should be put upon
| an equal footing with citizens of the United
States. And when the Senator from Massachu-
sets tMr Websterl brought forward a resolu-
| ton substantially the same and containing sim
liar provision, rejoiced 10 see it, because IL was
in all respects confirmation by him OF the cor
rectness Of the principle involved and il showed
that when he bad his attention called to the sub
ject, and had given TO it the sanction Of his pow
erful intellect and powerful name those wishing
| to become actual settlers might hope that some
thing was going to be done for them"
| General Casa Observed
al was never so struck with the value Of char
aeter as have been with the introduction Of this
measure Sam Patch said some things could be
done well as others and | suppose it is so
but it cannot be done by every body. The honor
able Senator from Massachusetts, has introduced
a resolution the general principles of which meet
my views, although do not mean by this to COM
init myself to the bill But, if l had done in my
place what that gentleman has done, I should
have been called, in all the Wing papers through
out the country, the greatest Of demagogues from
Maine to Texas, Laughter, and there is not
man on this floor or in those galleries who will
deny this fact yet will venture to say there is
not one Wing paper will denounce the Senator
from Massachusetts for his measure"
Mr. Badger seemed TO think that the public
lands of the country were pledged in payment of
the public debt, and that honesty should first be
practiced, before humanity was attended to.
MIR Seward replying to some comments of Mr..
Douglas npon his bill, held that the revenue aris-
ing from the public lands ought never to be made
n source Of revenue to aid in defra, ing the ordi-
nary expenses Of the Government. They were
great fund, to be applied to objects of great
AZ al, D. he
principle insisted upon by the Senator from ILL
a0isi Ae was prepared to give it his cordial sup
port; hut he did not wish to connect his PROPOSE
ton with any other, Let each stand upon its in
dividual merit
MIR. Dawson of Georgia assuming that Mr..
Seward had said that the public lands should be
held as a great National Charity, proceeded to
denounoe that idea lie did not like any of the
propositions They would empty all Europe on
| our shores.
Sir said Mr.. Dawson, I" there are principles
deeper than those things which We see. Who are
these gentlemen who are planning all these vari-
Gus modes of apprcpriating the public lands
Are they those who are friendly to strict and
economical administration Of this Government
Arc they those who are favorable TO a well-regu-
lated tariff Or are they those, MIR. President,
who desire TO create a large national debt, and
and who seek, through the importations OF the
country, to raise a revenue TO carry on the Gene
raj Government, and expend our public domain
in national charities to foreigners Sir, have
asked myself this question-Whos blood was
split in obtaining these public landsl Whose
money went in payment for the title to them
Who paid the fifteen millions Of dollars for the
acquisition of the Territories of Texas New
Mexico, and California 2 Who paid the soldieryl
Was it these foreigners who are invited TO come
to this land to take the proceeds of our blood and
treasure II rs an oppsal wh'eh has rs foundation
The doctrine Of election Nv popular rote There Is
the truth of the principle upon which all this
| goes"
Mr.. Dawson said he was struck by the fact
that none of these propositions provided for the
wldow ana orphan they were oil 70, 'vl.rs.---
Mr.. Seward corrected him by observing that
when he came TO report BILL there would be no
omission of the kind
The bill of Mr.. Douglas makes no such Omis-
sion.
Mr. Dawson continued:
There is another character Of people in this
country, that gentlemen seem 10 have deep and
abiding affection for and transplant them from
one section Of this country to another. Sir, where
are the free negroes of your country, Laughter,
this trodden down and oppressed raoe2 Is any
provision made for them And then the outra-
geous mandate of the Creator of all, that You
shall gain your daily bread by the sweat of
your browp Why is all this2 There is some
thing ut the bottom Of 1t there is some meaning
In it and think the sagacious and talented
Senator from Michigan has stated the truth and
his proposition, founded upon manly aud gene
motives and principles, although stigmatized
in the beginning rs dcmagoguism-l say 1t stands
upon elevated ground, when compared with these
other propositions
"Does it not strike conviction upon the mind
Of every man, that these frequent elections these
numerous aspirations for high elevation, are cal
culated to sap the foundation Of our institu-
tions2 Where is the system that is pervading
the country-where Is thu party that is carry
ing on any systematic course of legislation TO con-
duct this country in it's prosperity and its
ultimate glory There is none, SIR everything
is confused all Is disorder, and tending to dis
union. And yet We are bidding upon the par
t,ion Of our country, merely for elevation to
office; and forgetting TO 60 down to the acts Of
injustice which have been perpctrated by ono
section on the other, and cndeavoring TO remove
those things, and restore harmony and unanimity
to the land. We forget all that; We disregard
Il; we tramplc upon IL M we would upon the
spark until the flames break out upon us; aud
then you will not have the engines properly
manned, to put out the conhagration which you
4
have kindled
al have looked to these things, and | profess
to be one Of the moderate men. No man Is more
in his views than ] am-none more
DESTROYS for the perpesation OF the Union In It's
and glory than am. But yet, sir,
look with sorrow-yes, sir, with deep melancholy,
upon the present aspect of affairs. see no broad
patriotism, founded upon national grounds, which
can unite M all see everything tending to see
Iionnl combinations, that will be productive Of
injury which fear we cannot evade.
Why 10 it all7 Because the great minds Of
he country invade the institutions under which
we organized our Government, and are seeking
merely 10 float into office upon the current Of ex-
,itement which grows out Of the present state Of
,ffairs"
Mr. Douglas showed that there WINS no founda-
ion for the remarks Of Mr.. Dawson, on the bill
Introduced by him, or on the resolutions of the
Senator's from Massachusetts, and Texas.
After some further remarks by Mr.. Douglas
md General Houston, MIR. Seward addressed the
Senate britfy-
al am bere,n said he, "for public measures,
md not for private ends and no imputation
which can be made, by even a friend whom es-
ecm and respect as highly as do the honorable
senator from Georgia, shall ever put me before
his body, or any other, upon defence Of myself
lgainst aspersions or complaints Of this kind"
As an illustration of what be meant by the
-emark, that the public lands should be held as
treat fund for purposes Of national improvement,
20 instanced the vast benefit that had resulted
o New York from the four millions and half of
ollars, which had fallen to her share under the
and Distribution law Of Mr.. Clay Mr.. Seward
lOsed his remarks, as follows;
snow, II my friend from Georgia supposes that