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

cause have introduced bill which proposes To appro-
The rocks in certain parts OF the channel OF the Upper
Mississippi The principal obstruction designed 10 be
removed just al the southeast boundary OF Iowa ana
in the accomplishment OF this work than others do, 1t Is
one in which the States fronting great d" IN
land sea" are interested as think all arc who desire
TO advance the and business OF the whole
lion. But, sir wish this measure combined with none
other. and to be passed rejected upon its merit
demerit Whether the senator from Louisiana, Mr..
SouLr who honors me with his attention, shall vote for
my bill or not shall vote for deepening the channel OF
our great river at the Bazea work for which he has
heretofore manifested much interest will vote, too,
for the removal of the snags in the intermediate positions
OF the river--hose snags which have long obsucted
navigation, and have caused the destruction OF human
life 10 such an extent as 10 have conferred upon parcn
lar localities the cognomen OF grave But sir.
want strong and audable measure TO be made to
"pack" weak and worthless ones.
river from the Balze to the Falls OF ST. Anthony but
Will not vote money out OF the common treasury TO I'M
prove Inc Wisconsin @ % the Iaos % hs Wabash .ns osass
not think that rivers OF that class OF national i'm
poance. Those rivers which exclusively within
the limits OF sovereign States be much better and
more economically improved by State authority. will
add. that would vote for the improvement OF the Ar
kansas and Red rivers, which run through and beyond
States up into the territories oil the United States,
and where they have their Indians their orts and troops
| TO be supplied.
go for appropriations for national Objects when they
become local 60 against them. have referred to these
rivers because they in and OF our own magnificent
valley They are the highways and outlets OF my neigh
bors TO whom choose to speak plainly admit that
the precise point at which object to be national
and becomes local. is difficult TO define but it exists
has been suggested by of the wsest and most
amented Wrght,) the best practical mode Of arriving at
is to lei each object OF appropriation undergo the or
deal OF separate vote in the two houses OF Congress-
| unconnected with anything else.
But to return 10 the amendment, in which consider
the life or death of bill 10 be involved have
already mentioned the fact that New York and Pennsyl
| vana alone could possess themselves of six millions
acres OF lands in the heart OF Iowa. This amendment
gives the lands TO the States without any other restriction
than that their proceeds to be applied TO internal i'm
provement education. The lands may be selected
around upon the spot where seat OF govern
ment may eventually be located The minimum price is
fixed, but no maximum; they can, therefore, subdvide
them into lots, less, il they choose, and sell
them at their respective seats OF government county
Of the States owning them, at prices and
70 su u ss Sass h,m a0 ~ 1s o
nominal price, TO avone aspiIant for the presidency,
ardent supporter of such asprant. and hus be
enabled TO control The balance OF power in many OF the
new States Give me the control OF mems homes and OF
all the by which they derive support Tor them
selves and families, and | will be enabled unduy and
improperly influence their political action ii choose
Any and everything that possibly lead to result so
calamitous in republican country should be avoided
Do we not see the papers from the Oldest and most
civilized States in the Union teemng with accounts that
the followers oil this the other popular leader have got
all the ten millions and other contracts, and Will be
enabled TO carry the elections in such States or the next
fifteen or twenty years. The anti-republican nfu
ence is attributed TO large manufacturing establishments
but these all these are as nothing compared 10 'he evils
OF land monopoly. Why sir, hundred and nineteen
thousand acres lying between the Des Moines and the
Mississippi rivers. known the Hall. breed tract" IN
Iowa, settled upon this land will be given to the Old
States. had controlling influence the politics oil Iowa
for at least four years. keeping years without
senators this body after had been admitted into the
Union by act Of Congress If the people living on one
hundred and nineteen thousand OF land could pro-
duce such result what. ask, could and would be done
with these overshadowng grants IN young State Ike
ours, located, II desired in its very heart
This bill is most srenuousy and bitterly opposed, not
so much upon principle as for the supposed immense
local bene6it will confer upon Iowa Before God and
this Senate declare that there time, during the
six years which served in the House OF Representatives
delegate from the Territory. which as State now
in part represent, when would have accepted or dared
death warrant, any such bill this which now, under
yearly instructions twice thrice given, OF my legs-
aue advocate and shall vote ior because OF the anx.
iety OF those who have right TO command my vote
to carry these railroad improvements in our young
State.
When inteuogaied by my friend from Virginia mir.
HUSTER] some time ago, stated in reply TO him that
regarded the bill avery small boon TO the State OF
Iowa, and must so regard any grant which had couplei
with Il what then pronounced. and now regard as an
outrageous clausethe requiring us to pay 81 90 per
acre for the reserved lands. The government loses
nothing by il, and 10 truth citizens taxed, in the
enhanced price Of the land. to build the railroads
| | said precisely the thing when the Illinois bill
under consideration. What further do the discus
sions on that bill show this pon, Why, that the
senator from wisconsin lh1f. rose noVe1
strike out the 81 so provision, saying that. although
almost native OF that State, having grown up in j from
childhood, and knowing the character OF the lands and
the poverty OF the people be could not consent to vote
for any bill requiring them TO pay 81 SO acre His op
position threatened the loss o the bill and II only
by eloquent appeal made TO him by my friend from H.
linois now in my eye, [Mr SHrLDs,l and other wes-
tern members around him, that he could be induced TO
withdraw II. My colleague, [Mr JoSEsl when he rep
resented the Territory OF Wisconsin in the other branch
OF Congress- enabled after very great exertions
most fertile lands in Wisconsin aid in connecting the
waters OF Lake Michigan with those OF Rock nver-an
improvement which strongly urged BY the legislature
and many citizens OF the Territory whose delegate he
then The lands were n some parts, densely settled
but pre- -emptou and claimants bad not had opporu
nifty purchase their homes and claims before the price
doubled. The consequence was storm oil popular
Indignation from those residing the alternate sections
and, instead OF the plsudit Well done, thou good and
deep, and was burned in efhgy by those from whom.
above all Others he expected gratitude and thanks Al
ter controlling the elections in Milwaukee county for
several years. Congress was asked to take back its grant
and did so
| Without concluding, Mr. DoDcE gave way for mo-
lion TO adjourn. On Thursday, March 4, the Senate
resumed the consideration OF the BILL and he spoke
| as folows:1
Mr. President in resuming my remarks today il is my
dsposng OF alternate sections OF the public lands, with
view OF enhancing the value OF the remaing lands did
not originate, charged with the people OF the west
Sir IL commenced with the federal government and, as
believe in the fixed determination OF the members from
the old States to get every dollar from the people OF the
States for the lands upon which they have settled
which, by any ingenious device in the mode oil selling