The daily union., 1852-03-18
srEKoH or nov. ma. DOWNS.
on LOuIsIARA,

Dslsoersd ~ the Senate, BIareh Is, 1882.
The Senate resumed. 10 committee Of the whole,
the consideration 1 the bill granting the right OF way and
making grant OF land 10 the Stale OF Iowa TO aid IN The
CONSTRUCTION OF certain railroads IN said State the pend
lpg question being on the amendment oil MT UNDER
Mr.. CASS having concluded his speech. published
Mr. Downs said Mr. President. great deal has
been said on THE subject, and all are very desrous oi
coming early possible 10 decision Of the question
shall. therefore, coDdense my remarks much pos
sble shall not 80 into the subject generally. but
shall conhne my remarks very much reply 10 some
of the arguments which have been urged against this bill
and calculated TO defeat it, Especially do wish TO
pay my respects to the Arguments OF The honorable
Tor from Kentucky, lMr UKDERwooD,l who has taken
20 prominent part IN this matter, and who has spok
on II somach, must confess that J. with others. was
somewhat astonshed at the course which that gentle
man has taken with regard TO this bill for thought that
since, during the last Congress. we passed the bill ela
tive TO the Illinois raIoad--iha since the Senate had
passed great many bills oil this kind at the last session.
although they did not pass through the other Housshe
question, al least far the Senate OF the United
States was concerned and ought TO be considered as
settled The honorable senator from Kentucky even in
his arguments admits mpedy that II has been settled,
because he says have acquired much terrific
Ty, and this has become matter OF so much greater in
terest now than formerly, that it is time should adopt
new practice and rules for the disposition of this
public land from which we have pursued heretofore
Let us see, then, what are the grounds which the
gentleman asks this change-what are the reasons why
we should now depart from the policy which has not
only been adopted in recent years n regard to railroads.
az 10 canals and other improvements Why should we
pause just at this time, and change policy and adopt
different system Let US look al the gentlemans
sonng.
do not understand the senator from Kentucky TO oh.
lect so much to his bill, and cannot say that under
stand him object to il all but he seeks TO pace upon
1t an amendment which all believe would be de-
sructve 10 the bIone which is entirely different from
the provisions in similar bills which have been passed
hereloiore--and he Will vote Tor this bill ii bis
amendment is rejected But he here and asks us
70 incorporate bis amendment for the distribution OF
large amount OF public lands to States; and that, sup
poselor it is the only alteration he suggests-s the
change OF policy which The gentleman wishes 10
adopted
Now, let us look into this matter What are The
grounds on which he proposes this change! He seems
ohaye the idea that this great boon-a great graui,y
an immense grant to particular section OF the
uyand tha therefore, something must he done for the
9ner sections OF the country compensate for this
deny The proposition IN toto This gratuty The Uni
ed States gets perfect equivalent for all that she grants
lhe bill is based upon that idea. The arguments which
have been made, and which be made, clearly demon
stTae that the government OF the United States have
deep interest compensang interest," in the grant which
they make shall not recap,ula,e the particulars here
Ihe increased price OF the land the quicker sale of the
land Inc increased prosperity of the country generally
he advantages in the transportation OF the mall and OF
military stores and supplies the increase OF the commerce
OF the counTy-these the general advantages which
The United States at large derive from these grants But
II that We're not the case, still the genileman's argument
would mol apply II 1t did give advantage one
section over anoihe that a sufficient reason for not
adopting the measure or is that sufficient reason to
make grants 10 some other quarter OF the Union
To- compensate that. | would ask the gentleman
when this doctrine OF compensation introduced ?
When was The doctrine started that you cannot grant
anything advantageous TO one section OF the Union
without compensaing some other secton' II is
much greater innovation than that innovation which
ne proposes In the system OF aeminis eng the public
lands When has that doctrine been carried heSe
know no instance oil it. Yet know many instances
In which, II the doctrine is correct, ought have been
carried ont years ago We have had laid on our tables
during this session. history OF the fotcatons OF the
Unied States the the OF those that have
been made. and the probable OF those that pro.
posed 10 be made hereafter think that, up the lime
OF this report have expended, round numbers the
amount OF $40 0o0. 900. should like TO know il
10 calculate these local and sectional advantages Ii
had then been here should not have objected 10 these
appropriations on that ground. do not object TO them
but say that il this doctrine of equivalents TO
be carried out. would like TO know where the interests
OF the whole Wesi were when those $40. 900 900
voted from the treasury for forications' Look at the
expenditures Take your lighthouse system, which has
been carried the very foundation of the govern
ment and for which large appropriations have been made
every year 1t The gentleman wall carry out his doctrine
OF equivalents, hope he will how much has been
expended on lighthouses, custom houses and ohca
tons and then make the balance justly due every
western State which has not derived benefit from them,
do not ask IT, IL is consistent with government
that should ask it, But if this doctrine of equivalents
is 10 be carried outf never to grant anything
TO section of the Union unless compensate another
section of the Union--those States which demand the
application OF this doctrine should begin at home, and
return an equivalent for those vast sums which they
obtained iron the Wes, Tor objects IN which the West
had interest
Not only that but there is another memorable event in
the history OF country, OF which the gentleman
ought 10 have been reminded One OF the longest,
difficult, and expensive we have engaged in
since The revolution The OF 1912. No par, of
the country used OF their MEANS expended
money, much blood, the section of the Union
which belong. No part of the country, TOO, achieved
more glory in that war than the West; and yet what
that waged aboul Was il wsged Tor encroach-
ments the western settenensi Was il waged for
anything IN which they were particularly Interested
Could not the people of the West and the people OF Ken
lucky and Tennessee, which then the principal OF
the western States in existence, have carried their
rcullura and other pursuits quietly and successfully
without any Interference with their rights, without this
war; And must be recoeced that the chief object OF
this war TO protect class of citizens who
hned entirely tc the sea-coast- for free trade
and sailors rights'-chiehy protect the sailors who
came IRON the Atlantic cities OF our country from i'm
pressment The object 10 protect them from being
impressed and deprived OF their liberty any part of the
world by British vessel believe the gentleman him.
self bore an honorable part in that No State poured
out her treasure and her blood lavishy than Ken.
tocky Did we hear OF Kentucky in those days say
ing, We have sailors, and will not go TO war
or. IL we do, must have compensaing advan-
tage !" They thought OF such lbing-they never
dfeamt OF H. No such idea entered the head OF
western man and must be permitted 10 say that
was aslonished that such proposition should now be
heard, and from gentleman too coming from the West,
who ought 10 know much OF the feelings. and interest
and history OF the Great West Now, this time when
the Atlantic States are coming forward and seeing the
justice OF our claim, am sorry 10 a gentleman from
the West coming out against the interests oil his section
OF the country II seems TO me quite astonishing that
such should be the al this time
wish TO refer to few facts TO show, well the poll
tkn LatL a..