Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-29
DEBATE in THE senate
THE COMPROMISE BILL.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10.

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The Senate then proceeded the consideration Of the
for the admission of California State into the Union
establish Territorial Governments for Utah and New Mexico
and making proposals TO Texas for the establishment Of be
western and northern boundaries. ta.
i Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, rise to offer 4
amendment Of very considerable consequence as think an
upon would like have che yeas and nays shall nc
trouble the Senate with any thing like speech on til
subject but wish to very few words by way Of prec
| to the amendment
The Oregon bill contained provision granting two section
of land in every township for the purposes of education in
stead Of the usual grant, in similar bills, OF one section only
This bill perceive, contains the same provision
sections the sixteenth and thirty sixth instead of th
that provision in the Oregon BILL and thus very grea
change introduced into the land system of the counrys
change introduced after fifty Of action adverse this
| sort of hberality. . Ei'
My object 10 calling the attention of the Senate to this sub
ect the Senate the question in re-
ference the existing territories and all the territories which
may hereafter obtain if should acquire any more
wish whether the Senate is willing grant this double
quantity Of land for purposes of this myself prefer adj
herring to the old practice OF granting section town
ship Iprefer allowing the law to stand administer
ed in reference Ohio, and all the and south
western Territories lido any reason for making such
great change in the policy of the Government at this late
day. therefore move to strike out Of the nineteenth section
the words and thirty make the section read
That when the lands in the said Territory shall be sur
veyed under the direction Of the the United
States preparatory to bringing the into market section
numbered sixteen township in said Territory shall be
e tor the Of being
Now, wish to adhere to the settled practice Of the
Government shall not, however, enter into discussion
on the subject prefsng have taken on the amend
ment. ask for the yeas and nays on its adoption.
The yeas and nays were ordered
Mr. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President hope this amendment
will not prevail. As the Senator from Kentucky has said
this question the Oregon bill The same rea-
sons which justified the introduction of this clause in that bill
apply with much greater force at this time this measures
The which influenced me in voting for that provision
IN the Oregon BILL and which think Influenced Others
these These Territories situated far off they will
derness they being rapidly settled they entirely with
out schools They have all their schoohouses erect their
schools to establish their Libraries purchase and all the
penses Of establishing system of schools has to be incurred
at once and Immediately These expenses will have to be
borne by class Of people least capable of mourning them
by the emgrants who 60 there who expend their in
buying farm, building houses fences, and other improve
mens Thus all their get exhausted and they
able to provide for schools. aty "a asEr
Again: the Pacific coast, in Oregon, Calornia and
large part Of this territory, well known that the prices of
every description Of articles enormously high Two Sec
tons in that country would be equal section
this side of the mountains, where prices lower. The
prices teachers Of constructing schoolhouse Of every thing
incurred in establishing school system are more than double
what they would be here.
Again large portion Of the lands there are comparatively
valueess There are mountains deserts and waste lands
there, And your section sixteen, in large number Of in
higher than they here they possessed the advan-
ages there that the States this side of
the mountains in the Mississippi valley, two sections there
would not be worth more than here. saas.
For these reasons and many Others which forbear ad
vancng account of want of time, hope the amendment
will not prevail. y.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, have already de-
precated any discussion this subjects and am sorry that
the gentleman from Illinois felt bound to make any remarks
upon it. But, he has spoken feel it incumbent on me
q tn viii he
made. #1sa
The gentleman speaks the increased value of every thing
admit that there has been increase the value of every
thing in California, consequence of the discovery of gold
But would ask the gentleman if this increase in value will
not operate the sixteenth section of land well every
thing else He seems to suppose that the sixteenth section
OF land remain its old price, when thing else has
risen in value Now, these things go par passu and if
there is increase in the value of other articles which adj
NIT operates the sixteenth section and gives increased
value TO that ALSO There nothing, therefore, in that part
Of the genemans argument which based the increased
value of articles in consequence of the discovery of such great
quantities Of gold in California.
Another objection which he has to this provision is that
there many mountains in that region Of country than
In the valley of the Mississippi. We'll, suppose there
they unnhababe according the argument Of the gem
teman, and there will be nobody occupy the territory
where these mountains there will be for this 18th
section in those regions, and will only be where the land is
very valuable and the population dense that this 10th section
will be at all valuable. There Is nothing therefore, in that
part of the gentemans argument nothing whatever.
it then, designed the part Of those who favor this bill
exactly it stands, to place these Territories
better footing than the older Territories and the older Of the
States have heretofore occupied The policy has be-
come, think too Of late Of dsposng of the public
lands just rapidly get clear of them The gen
teman from Illinois Mr DoUGLAs) has given abundant evil
dence that he is for that policy in advocating grants Of mil
lions Of for various purposes His economy very
striking feature in his Legislation
Mr.. President very certain that it is any advan-
tage to this country to foot Of these public lands
but that in their administration they have
influence upon public men, and bearing upon Presden
tal elections and things of that do apprehend
that any individual be charged with any such thing
make mputaons at ALL say doubt very much whe-
ther would not be blessing to this country
Of public lands But while do hen do not
any for making this great difference between the
new Territories and the older ones on this subject
Having made these few remarks by way of reply to the
gentleman from Illinois, trust that the vote may be taken
without any further discussion
Mr.. HAMLIN Mr. President suppose that the sections
in township Of land numbered from thirty six
Now, in township of land this bill will limit the selection of
section for school purposes to that particular section which
may be number sixteen If section should be given for edu
caional purposes it should be particular NUMBER but
section that will be fair average Of the whole township If
there but section granted and that particular one,
number sixteen, it might be entirely valueess.
But II two sections be gven-and am in favor of giving
wothey will stand very good chance Of getting least
average specimen of the land Of the whole township
hope the Senate viii let the BILL in this particular stand in
its present shape hope they will strike this 36th
section Of land believe granted the Territory Of Ore
gon two sections of land in each township And why make
discrimination between Oregon and these Territories The