The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-05-12

--=@=e-szss71
before remarked, is on, OF il. most rcspecta-
dc and honorable gentl. ratn in cur State.
left the great body ofmy democratic friends
To vote, Oil the night vi The Sd Of March, lSsp,
90 create the Department Of the Interior II
they will forgive ne for having d me that, /
THINK | can assure them tia, il is tLr las. time
VIII sin, when proposition is before 10
tend thu power ot this government Listening
t. the rauniants whc.l were used by diili,i-
gu.hed man and public oiiircr, Hon. Il. }.
Halk"rl as TO the nee ssty and eApediency If
liis3 M department., | became sa,i.fitd that it
"aS called tof by The growth of The country and
.hr hugnenti.i 10" Of ti.s pablc bus ness, aid vo-
edacco!d n.ly.
!ss argnm; ns ut the seniors r-nm = r;sia-
na, .Atr Ddvs, Foo.e and D.,wns,l IN suppnr.
Sf Tie ni'.a,nr, had much weigh, " til me ; and
ailudr 10 thiin 10 say, that thus far they have
not been susi iled ii their authorizations o, pen-
eft tEoin the law. Ii was represented that Il
friend Of the new S ates weul1 ua,.oub,edly be
placed o: tile head OF the dcpartn.c.t + the IN
.erior-one wh !, feeling lively int re,i in the
affairs otthe new States would annually pr sent
t. Congress cogent and f.rc Bile reooinsnenda-
tons in favor OF extei ding and III, saIizng the
pre- emplion system of graduaiin: and ,etucing
lhe price Of the public lands, and making d ma
ton III limited guam tiles, wish proper rss'rc-
tons, ald repeal Of all laws atlixinr pains and
penalties ,pon our pioneer Tiers. also ex-
pected taat We would have sI -gcstons and ye.
comnendatiens touching railroad gr,nts,
river iinproveme n;s and other matters oi e.,
moment to the people OF the West, from ti..
head OF this dep .rtne nt But, sir, the most of
my expectations have been disappointed. The
late senator from Ohio, Mr. Ew NJ, to whom,
| refer N no terms OF espect, was first placed
at the head OF that dcp,rt He vas known
Throughout his whole term OF service her. as
I ,f, ,b.,,
fIers on the public lands who occupied
place in Congress. He va, the author of lb.
IN :. odious proposition touching the disposition
Of the pablic lands which was ever suggested
! by any OF our cne.niestn wit, the substtution
of secret aud scaled biGs, u be opened at WASH
ingtoD city, IL leu OF tic present mode. d.,
not refer 10 the matter or the purpose oiattack-
/ ing the ex-Secretlry ofihe tntsfos, but to sn,w
what are the incnts of 'hoge into whose
| hunds this department, from which we c1pe c,,d
s. mich has fallen.
The present Secretary OF the interior, acting
upon system Of Administrative policy COM
mcnced by Mr.. Ewing, has shown himself
equally hostile to the promotion OF our new
settlements. An obsolete statute, whose sole
object was to preven, trespassiny upor live-oek
timber which was wanted for naval purposcs, j.
hunted up and enforced against eur citizens,
who are sued and harass"d, and their subs ance
| eaten out in the manner before drs crIb,d. Tie
| senator from Wisconsin, just at The close of the
| last session of Congress, address d the head uf
the Dtpa tnent of the Interior respectful
letter, calling his attention TO the extent of the
prosecutions which were commenced against
the people Of that State for taking timber from
the pablo land, for their own and the frauds
resoried to by the agents of government in COM
mencing and conducting those prosecutions,
and also desiring to know whether some mea-
sure could not be devised to stop these suits,
| &c. Notwithstanding the letter was official and
the senators here waiting expressly for a reply,
it was ans swered through of the organs OF
the administration, the s.Republic," and accom-
panyIng the Secretary IS letter was an editorial
article the newspaper before mentioned,
declaring that the letter of the senators was u
sort of Parthian shot that the writers had run
off as soon they had written il; when then
truth was, that they were waiting here fer the
reply of the Secretary, and very willing to meet
| in any manner all the responsibilities OF their
communication but not taking his newspaper
they did not receive his reply, nor learn for
several days, and then only by accident, that
their letter had been answered.
! II is no part Of my business to interfere in
| the little passage between the senators from
Wisconsin aud Mr.. Secre,ry Stuart. Suffice
1t to say, that the Secretary chose the public
prints, The senators replied to him through the
same medium, in document to which he has
attempted 10 answer; and if he is satisfied, 1
have no doubt they IT,.
heard, with extreme regret, some remarks
which were made by my friend from Tennessee
[Nlr. Bell the other day. In the course Of the
aole speech which he made upon this bill, he
travelled far beyond Iowa, and wandered up into
tn, northern region OF Minnesota, for the pur-
| pose, as it seemed to me, of finding fault with
the land system, or something connected with
| it, He remarked that even this most exec llent
whig administration had gone on and made GER
thin eates for the extingulshnent OF vast bodies
Of tue Indian land in that Territory. May be
allowed to say TO my resepcted trend, IN the
way of defence Of this wiig administrations
$, rvice do not often und, rtake to perform
that Coa.ress took the initiative in that matter,
aud BY an appropriation which it made ut the
SC sion b. fore the last, virtually ordered Me Ex
c.utyc to make the treaties In qusSlnns !
trust that the reference of the distinguished
senator 70 those treaties is not ominous OF de.
sign on his part to oppose their ratification
The voice Of that senator is potential III al! mat.
tcrs, but more especially - in these. His pres.
enl position on the Committee nt indian AG.irs,
the long time during which he served as chair
man Of the same comn,ittts III the House Of
r. prcss natives, and his having been 1t the head
Of the War Department., give, aud deservedly
give, great influence ~ any opinion OF his
touching these treaties; besides, they have 10
undergo the ordeal Of two thirds vote. Sir,
the eyes of the people OF Minnesota are now
anx.cusly turned 70 this boiy; all th.ir long.
cherished hopes and expectations Of growth
and prosperity depend upon the confirmation Of
thes. treaties and if the reference OF The dig.
linguis,led senator from Tennfssee to them Ia
under stood to be adverse to their ratification, 1t
will carry alarm and sorrow to the hearts ot the
people Of that distant Territory.
Iii were disposed to be governed by mere
State or local policy, and to take what regard
as contracted view ot very large question,
might say and think that it would not be to the
Interest Of my State to have those ac1u sitions
# territory made for many years to come, and
act accordingly but neither 10 say nor think.
Nv opinion is that the interests Of Minnesota,
the North west, and the United States,
all promoted by the extension Of our settle
menls.
s.Wide shall our own free race increase,
And wide extend the elastic chain
Tha. binds, in everlasting peace.
State after State mighty trsln."
Tie enlarged and liberal views which have
heretofore characterized the senator from Ten.
n-ssoe will, doubt not, continue TO influence
him; but whatever may be his course Oh thesn
matters, of deep and vital interest 70 those on
whose behalf speak, a,n sure he will be acc,
tuated by a sense Of duty, however he uay d.f
; ter from me.
think the treaties wore properly made
, think they are wise tro aiies have ne~x
heard an allie lega,ion against the motives and con.
duct OF the commissioners by whom they were
negotiated. The present Commissioner Of In.
!. dian Affairs, (Iion Luke Lea, } and who be.
: leve TO be most competent and ght officer,
: : was the more immediate representatives Of tho
: President Of the United States upon The occa.
sion OF the gotiation of these treaties; and ]
! cannot think he would do INJUSTICE either to the
= government or the Indians. We are no. now
= at liberty to DISCUSS these trea;ies, not to DO
' more than speak Of them in gerera! terms
: leaving the suljec', ] cannot withhold an ex-
PRECISION OF my most anxious wish that when
: they are passed upon by the American Senate,
:, lis judgement may be favorable, and that instead
: Of our action carrying to Minnesota profound
. rrcret aud dsappoin nlent, it may awaken j"y
aud sad,ess in the hearts Of the people OF II 4: