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

i M
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of the Nj
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 he
western and northern boundaries aa
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, rise to offer 4
amendment Of very considerable consequence, think
upon would like to have che yeas and nays shall nc
trouble the Senate with any thing like speech on tn
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, similar bills Of one section only
This BILL perceive, contains the same provision
two sections, the sixteenth and thirty SIXTH instead of tn
sixteenth only. do think that any Senator said wore
that provision Ia the Oregon BILL and thus very grea
change introduced into the land system Of the countrya
change introduced after fifty Of action adverse this
sort Of hberality 3''
My object in calling the attention Of the Senate to this sub
ect the Senate the question in re-
ference to the existing territories and all the territories which
may hereafter obtain should acquire any more
wish whether the Senate is willing grant this double
quantity Of land for purposes Of this Sort myself prefer adj
herring to the of granting section each town.
ship Ipreer allowing the law stand was administer
ed in reference to Ohio, and all the northwestern and south
western Territories Edo not any reason for making ch
great change in the policy of the Government at this late
day. therefore to strike Of the nineteenth section
the words and hirtysx, make the section read
That when the lands in the said Territory shall be
yeyed under the direction of the Government OF the United
States preparatory to bringing the into Market section
numbered sixteen in each township in said Territory shall be
Piled to schools in said Territory p''f''' Oes ~
Now, wish to adhere to the settled practice of the
Government shall not, however, enter into discussion
on the subject presrng to have taken the amend
ment. ask for the yeas and nays on it's 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 this time this measures
The which influenced in voting for that provision
in the Oregon BILL and which think Influenced others were
these These Territories situated far off they are will
dernes they are 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 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
men thus all their means get exhausted and they
able TO provide for schools ar @sH a l5aE.
Again on the Pacific coast in Oregon, California and
large part Of this territory is well known that the prices Of
every description of articles enormously high Two
tons now In that country would not be equal section
on this side of the mountains, where prices lower The
prices teachers of constructing schoohouse Of every thing
incurred IN establishing school system, than double
what they would be here r8
Again large portion of the lands there comparatively
vaueess There mountains deserts, and waste lands
there And your section sixteen, in large number Of in
stances, will be entirely worthless And prices
higher than they here they possessed the advan
tages there that we possessed in the States this side of
the mountains in the Mississippi valleys sections there
would not be worth more than one here. 3a
For these reasons and many others, which forbear adj
vancng on account Of want of time, hope the amendment
will not prevail.
( Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, have already de-
precated any discussion this subject and sorry that
the gentleman from Illinois felt bound make any remarks
upon it. But, he has spoken feel it incumbent on me
N IN he hoS
made. 5% EiaI
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 this increase in value will
not operate the sixteenth section of land well every
thing else He to suppose that the sixteenth section
Of land is remain its old price, when every thing else has
risen in vaue Now, these things go pari passu and if
there Is an increase in the value of other articles which ad
NIT operates the sixteenth section and gives increased
value to that ALSO There is nothing, therefore, in that part
OF the gentemans argument which based the increased
value of articles in consequence of the discovery of such
quantities Of gold in California. a4g9
Another objection which he has to this provision is that
there are many mountains in that region of country than
in the valley of the Mississippi. Well, suppose there are
they are uninhabtabe according to the argument Of the
teman, and there will be nobody to 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
it, them designed the part Of those who favor this bill
exactly it stands, 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 M DoUGLAs) has given abundant evil
dence that he for that policy in advocating grants Of mill
lions Of for various purposes His economy very
striking feature in his legislation tN
Mr. President am not very certain that 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 not apprehend
that any individual be charged with any such thing
make impuatons at all say doubt very much whe-
Their would not be blessing this country not own an
Of public lands But while do Them do not
any for making this great difference between the
new Territories and the older this subject. "
Having made these few remarks by way of reply to the
gentleman from Illinois, trust that the may be taken
without any further discussion
Mr.. HAMLIN Mr.. President suppose that the sections
in township of land numbered from one to thirty six
Now, in township of land this bill will limit the selection Of
section for school purposes that particular section which
may be number sixteen section should be given for edu
cational purposes 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 il might be entirely vaueless.
But two sections be gven-and am in favor Of giving
wo-they will stand very good chance Of getting least
average specimen of the land of the whole township
hope the Senate win let the BILL in this particular stand in
its present shape. hope they will strike this 36h
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