The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH or ma. UNDERWOOD,
OF KENTUCKY,
Delivered ia The Senate, Mareh 8. 1859.

Delivered IN The Senate, Marot 8, 1852.
The Senate resumed the consideration OF the bill grant
80 ,be right of way and making grant OF land TO The
Ss,e o Iowa in aid OF the construction OF certain rail
,oads IN said State.
iosas Ms UNDERWOOD said: had hoped Mr.. President,
hs i would not be necessary for me 10 say anything
o. 10 ,be Senate upon this bill knew very we'll, in
Offering the important proposition WHICH had the honor
:, ,hs diversity OF the human intelectowng 10 the diff
tsnt circumstances by which senator's surrounded
IN their different ocaliiies--here would be necessarily
;hod;pd a sci OF principles and views which would
nnmbat nv amendment from beginning TO end expect
J thar and was prepared to meet it, but did not look
for any argumenium ad hominem, founded upon my con-
dne az member OF the House OF Representatives, and
was wholly unprepared for that personal assault which
the gentleman from Iowa Mr. DoDGrl thought proper 10
make upon feel myself bound. after his remarks.
10 dslain the Senate as short time IS possible NJ Tep
| lng The charges made against me.
The relations between that gentleman and myself for
some len fifteen years. as members OF this and the other
branch Of Congress. such that had to
auorebend anything like manifestation OF personal
Kindness towards me; and am sure, from his own dlsa
yowa made in the progress OF his speech that his severes
remarks than those political gladatoria
brusts which we all TOO often indulge in. As his accu-
salons will doubtless be printed and published, is my
duty TO put upon record here my reply and my vindica-
lion.
His attack consisted in the first place, as understood
H. Of charge OF partiay in the second place, OF
charge of hostility and, in the third place. he spoke OF
burning in efgy, if that ought 10 be the reward OF
! Mr. JONES. Of Iowa Mr.. President the gentleman
will excuse me for interruptng him. was not present
when my colleague made the remark about burning in ef
h but he afterwards tod nae what the puport OF was
He said il was in reference 10 myself entirelyhat had
been burnt in efigy because had once, delegate in
Congress, procured grant for the Territory of Wiscon
sin similar 10 the now before grant OF alternate
sections OF land in bill like this, providing that the alter
nate reserved sections should be raised 2 SO per acre.
instead Of 81 20. My colleagues remark was directed
entirely ne, and not 10 the senator from kentucky
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President. | understood it
thoroughly. know The gentleman from Iowa made no
direct allegation that ought to be burnt in efgy, know
that be professed his friendship towards and recp
rocae il But when he spoke of other gentlemen being
burnt in eigy for their political conduct when he spoke
Of this in connexion with my partiaiy and hostility, i
very naturally came into nay mind that The motives and
actions attributed TO me did, IN his estimation, deserve the
same fate
Mr. DODGE. OF Iowa. know the senator from Ken.
lucky depires to be right in all this matter wish 10 dis
claim, them in its broades extent, by implication 9TH
srwise any such design ntmalon upon my part even
The most distant My remark had reference entirely to
my colleague and myself, and the attitude in which we
stood to those for whom act, growing out OF this
There not the leas intimaton of the sort
attended towards the senator from Kentucky, anybody
else bssdss !, a.rHyy0nn ny Colleague and myself ,
Iowa did moi intend to wound my feelings The friendly
relations which have subsisted between him and for
many years, this and the other branch OF Congress,
forbid any suspicion that he could have intended to insult
me only notice the matter because OF the possibility
mathis speech may present 10 The public n such man
imply that burning in effgy would be an ade-
quate punishment for the which had heretofore
pursued, and was still manifesting, towards the new
Sales But sir, under the declaration of my frend--or
regard hml will drop the subject altogether, and
pay further attention 10 IT.
Now in regard 10 paralliy Upon what does that
p,, Simply upon the ground that suffered railroad
bill for the benefit OF one OF the southern States 10 pass
without attempting TO attach 10 II my amendment have
already given very brief explanation o that matter TO
The Senate / wish TO state il again, had not my
amendment prepared at the time that bill came up for
kaI 1f t,a
Land Committee that should in the progress Of the
Hon endeavor TO portion OF the public do
for the old States but submitted TO their consid-
Grafton distinct proposition 10 that effect That is ad
mited Nor was prepared submit il to The Senate by
way OF amendment at the time the southern bill passed
That acknowledge. But, sir, dsavow entirely any
reference to the particular bill which permitted to
pass without objection and hope that the gentleman
from Iowa feels sentiment OF that sort in his own
bosom which induces the suggestion that permitted the
southern bill TO pass without objection, and have at
iached my amendment to the northern bull
Mr. DODGE, Of Iowa. Mr. President if the senator
will permit me TO interrupt him. will say that never
mentioned the word southern or northern when made
lhe alusion Those not words that entered into
my speech upon The bill. made no intnaton OF that
sort did charge, as though thought il was unkind in
him, my associate upon the commillee-he being the
author, il were, Of the bil having dotted every and
crossed every Ito allow bill OF that SORT precisely the
same ~ us features to pass aud TO oier thus tremendous
amendment Of his 10 Butl made any insInu
alton about the North or South, would anything Of
that sort attach TO the senator.
MIR. UNDERWOOD. know that the words North
and South not mentioned by the senator; but
there be any foundation upon which the paaliiy impu-
ted can stand unless il be the sections which we repre
sentt In endeavoTng TO shom the thoughts in the mind
OF the gentleman which induced him to prefer the charge
i found nothing in my soundngs on which the charge
could rest but The localities which we occupy and the
ympaihies which may be presumed to result lhereirom
! can conceive no other basis Tor it than that,
Now, during the last Congress permitted the Illinois
bill 10 pass, granting millions OF acres to That State with
on, Offering this amendment probably permitted various
other bills, making similar grants OF land TO pass with
on Offering any amendment to provide for the old States
would there not have been just much TO charge
me WIN paraly for allowing the Illinois bill 10 pass
during last Congress without amending IT. as in allowing
asoslhern bill to pass tbs session without offering an
amsndmenit Precisely the refer TO the passage
oi he bii during the last session for the benefit of m
nos-a hon-slayebOdi0g Stac--io show that not having
ever could not have been influenced by sectional
eenhRs Whch alone can constitute the least foundation
iof tne charge OF partiaiy Sir, | did not bring my
amepdnent before the Committee on Public Lands, and
nefe are good reasons why did not Two of the gen.
Yemen upon that committee bave already expressed their
pnons oIamelrcally opposed 10 it. Three Of the
pefs OF mat committee represent land Statss had
HoeApecaon OF receiving particle Of support from that
somluee 10 any proposition like nine and still with.
w nope, unless the Senate shall perceive justice and
reason IN IT. and vote Tor IT, Therefore, did not consult
WIN me members Of the Land Committee upon the cub
M besides the Land Committee had reported this bill
m Ae benefit OF Iowa TO the Senate before my amend.
mshl was prepared This bill made the model for
~ others granting lands 10 States for railroads
iesSVed 10 offer my amendment 10 the first bill giving
ANUS 70 any State that should up for consideration
slsr y was prepared This statement of facts hope,
Nn VndIoate me from anything like partiality.
ihe next charge which the senator has thought proper
4ake against me IL that of downright hostility TO the