The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-03

lie Lands and as have already stated my colleague in
oduced this bill the second day Of the session. and
number one upon the calendar The bill detained
several weeks in committee expressly TO allow that sena-
tor 10 mould and shape 10 suit his own views no other
member Of the committee having any objections 10 Inc
form in which il sent TO To this willingly ac-
quesced because understood him to be friend oil the
bill, and anxious 10 hsmonze with him. expect
a. ns nsa "C''sa every W snS s hs
bill through the Senate Judge, then, sr what was my
surprise and regret when be moved his "onnibus"
amendmen, 70 the Iowa bill part and parcel q his own
bill precisely similar in all It's features TO be passed
without its having been examined or reported upon
by any committee as an act OF courtesy TO retiring sen
M Mr. UNDERWOOD. When that Mississippi bill
passed had not my amendment prepared had moi then
made me calculations upon which my amendment s; J, y
the federal population OF the different States had not
at that time. prepared il. have already stated that II
my intention to support these bills have done SO
in committee But the other day. after hearing the speech
OF my friend from Georgia. [Mr. DAwsoNl intimated
thai perhaps had gone too tar j. pledgng myself 70 sup
would further say. ha, have not yet fully made up my
mind how shall vote, and cannot do so until see how
this amendment Of mine is disposed Of ! make this
statement now 10 show that had Partially in favor
amendment offered the Mississippi bill the Iowa
bill have regarded them all in the same favorable as,
pect but still want my amendment attached TO some oil
ihem; and assure my friend that j, no motive
OF pattiay which induced me to act as have done.
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa. did not intend to charge the
charge hm acs ass most
~ manner OF manesng his friendship tor this measure
He has declared in emphatic language and upon several
occasions that he is friend TO this bill and would vote
for it; From such friends as the senator from Kentucky
has shown himself to be, God the bill, and we win
a%S against a. its enemies Hnaw b,
take the senator at his word.
Mr.. DODGE. have no doubt that the senator will
take at my word had doubt Of that some time
sgo and certainly il had had any doub's the congrat-
ulatons which he offered to the senator from Georgia
Mr. DAwsoNl the datribe which he delivered against
the new States would have removed them all.
am constrained to say something OF the evils and mn
fairness OF killing measure by amendments They are
familiar to every acquainted with legislative proceed
ngs, and we were recently entertained not instructed,
by most able dissertation on that subject between the
late senator from Missouri Mr BENToN] and the
from Kentucky, Mr.. CLAYl
MIR. President. internal improvements, State rights,
tariff distribution and almost every other topic Of interest,"
have been discussed IN connexi0n with this Iowa land bill
especially by the senators from Tennessee and Virginia.
Messrs. BELL and HUNTER.l lido not propose TO fol-
low the learned senators in the wide range OF their re-
marks upon these topics; but wish, by aeference TO
one subject which they have introduced, 10 prove il
can, the nniairness and injustice OF tacking on amend
ments TO bills sdeemed 10 be proper in themselves.
The senator from Kentucky and myself bail from the
West. and both understood 10 be friendly to appro-
priaions Tor western rivers. For myself can speak
and solemny declare that am determined. in my votes
and in my action here TO make this government treat
western waters as has treated and does treat the east
ern waters. The measure which above all others
wish TO be instrumental in accomplishing is the improve
ment of the navigation Of the Upper Mississippi. am
not only willing liberal appropriations for that
great ryer but also for such habors the lakes
necessary to protect human life and the commerce OF
But what, ask, has been the greatest objection TO
river and barbor bills What is II that has caused OPP
position determined and deadly TO them' Does not
every member OF this body know that il is mainly
count of the "omnlbus character OF the bills making
! appropriations for these objects
Sir, il 10 So You begin with proper and a strong
BILL but amendment after amendment is made TO II, until
that which had strength and would have passed on lis
merits by large majority, Is crushed beneath the
weights piled upon il.
The application Of these remarks is, that the senator
from Kentucky, himself member OF the Committee on
Public Lands with bill before the work OF himself
and associates rises and offers amendment to embrace
seventeen additional Saies and appropraing nearly ten
times much more land proposed IN the original
BILL amendment which. il adopted. will effect Tadi-
cal and fundamental change in our land syslem-a change
which, IN my humble Judgment 10 contrary 10 the spirit
and genius Of our institutions because II introduces
Stale sovereignty within another; measure which is TO
go on accumuaiing evils, sd infniium, and which as.
se from my poor knowledge OF our land system, one
OF the most dgesied propositions which has ever been
submitted 10 the Senate connexion with that system
submitted, too, without having been referred to
sidered by committee
Sir, for some reasons given, have avered that the
amendment is extraordinary and ill.digesied one |
wish to add that IN my poor Judgment one OF the most
deadly hostile character TO the region oil country from
which hail This do not say in any spirit Of resent.
men towards the senator from Kentucky Tor having in.
terposed obstacles TO the passage OF bill which my State
has been so long and anxousIy expecting He Is a de.
scendant o that lusrous man, George Rogers Clarke,
who, with few destitute and out soldiers, con-
quered the Northwest and planted the victorious banner
OF Virginia the banks OF the then distant Mississippi
winning. by his genius ard vaor for himself The SQUIRT
Qusf OF the Hannibal OF the West and for his native
State empire But, strange 10 say, the senator from
Kentucky has been uniform and consistent in his hostility
to those who have performed the great work OF settling
and subduing the vast wilderness region which his an.
most vital OF all human considerations, the procurement
OF homestead the senator has been their ndefsii.
gable and untiring foe have said that my State was
born out of that Indian known as the " Black
Hawk war" II was settled without law, and against
law the Boones, and Kentons, and others had settled
Kentucky the SEWERS and others, who crossed the
mountain barriers OF North Carolina, and descended into
the valley OF the Cumberland, established their future
homes while threatened with State and federal ha,ers
and one OF them John Sewer arragned and tried Tor
treason against the laws OF North Carolina During all
the time that the senator has held seat in Congress- and
which we felt the deepest interest. we have found him
Mr. UNDERWOOD. VIII the gentleman be kind
enough 10 point out the particular 10 which
be refers, in reference TO my past course
Mr.. DODGE, OF Iowa. charge that on the 22d OF
June, 1893. JosrrH X. UEprRwooD, then a member OF
the House OF Representatives, IN the other wing OF the
Capitol voted deny the right OF preference TO ten thou
sand people in the Stale OF Iowa. in the purchase OF their
homes charge that the LIST day oil June, 1910, he
gave another vote denying the night oil preference in the
purchase OF their homes the early seers-to those
pioneers who had bved the Indian tomahawk and pen.
etraed the forests followed by their wives and little
children and who were surrounded and environed with
all the poverty and difficulties which attend the settle
ment of new countries: this, too, at time when bid