The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-08
SPEECH or nov. G. ponpEn.
On the Homestead btH, 10 The House Of Rep
LII. l.-..I lAkD

rcstitMtreS, .4Pfu j, 1907
The House having resolved itself into the Com
mittee Of the Whole on ihe state OF the Union, on
the bill to encourages agriculture. commerce, and |
manufactures, and all other branches OF industry
by granting TO every man who is the head OF a
family and a citizen of tn United States, home
stead OF one huadred and sixty of land out of
the public domain, upon condition of occupancy
and cultivation OF the same, for the period therein
specified
MIR. PORTER said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN; Having obtained the floor,
propose, il can get the attention Of the committee
10 submit few remarks, more or lees german and
pertinent to the general subject embraced in the
bill which is the special order, and which, Tor some
weeks past, has 10 greater or less extent engaged
the attention of the committee. In regard TO the
various Incidental questions, such as 'poltical
Platforms - the merits and dement's OF Dresden
tia asplTan,s," the Union and Secession parties"
oi the South, and the Abolitionists Of the North,
IN regard TO all that class Of questions on which
honorable gentlemen have favored Us with able and
eloquent speechcs--to which confess have listen
ed with much interest-at THE time, and in this
place, have nothing 10 say. Ia these various
quest ons, II IL true, that, IN common with all the
Representatives. the people upon tins rcor, ieeia
becoming interest But there are, submit, outside
of these Hall of Legislation, tribunals before
which the sovereign people intend, IN their own
good time and in their own manner, to settle and
dispose vi these questions. And whatever DISPOSE
ton members vi this House make Oh these ques-
tons, the people, if they think proper so to do will
take their appeal tbereirom and decide them upon
manner, as to them may seem meet.
In regard to the bill-which Is the special order
proposing 10 donate to actual settlers, upon GER
tain conditions, portions of the public domain
have but hlsle 10 say. against measure, the
benefcent effects Of which at all likely 10 be
such as eloquent gentlemen on this floor claim
Tor (which they have painted in such roseate
hues-with such angelic tints-wEat need say /!
against measure, the efIects of which be
demonstrated TO be, to settle up the wilds Of the
( West with virtuous and hardy population, TO
80 the desert TO blossom The rosc,' - the
places Of the earth TO rejoice and TO pour
countless blessings upon Government and people,
IN all time to come what can say But let me
say, III all candor to honorable gentlemen who
advocate this measure, and who are such friends,
] doubt not they esteem themselves 10 be, TO
the bold pioneer who, with his ride on one shoul-
der and his on the other, - leads the advapc
ing columns of civilization" into the wilderness,
aud rtdeeu,s II from the savage and the wild beast
IT you wish 10 show 10 him, to the poor toiling
denizen OF the crowded city, and the densely-s set
tied rura! district, whom you would allure TO the
backwoods, by this inviting offer, q real charity
II you wish to make him really independent and
comfortable, can you not aid The State oil his
adoption by grants, on lair terms, of small por-
tons Of that iree land in building roads by
whereof be may find access to market with the sur
plus products OF his toll and obtain the neccssaries
and comforts Of life for himself and his household,
and enable him to direct his energies and industry
10 some profitable account. II, by the passage OF
this act, you lure him from h = carly home, hum
bic though it may be, and induce bin TO settle on
euch public land most OF such cmigTants as could
avail themselves OF the provisions oil the bill would
have TO locate upon-remote from any market, and
without any facilities of access thereto, with low
prices price for his surplus products, cut OFT
by an llliberai policy, ON the part oil this Govern
Inent, from due participation IN It's benefits and
bessings-is there not reason To conclude that, In
most instances, you will have imposed uton him
the same obgatoh OF gratitude as the lioness upon
her wheIp, which she brought forth IN the solitude
OF the mountain, and left to perish amid the winds
and storms of the desert II the Government is
about 10 "nake partition" Of its abroad acres
among the andless people of the world, IN the name
OF ali that - sensible and all that ID liberal let II
do 3D. sucn terms that the boon which il coniers
may not by its barrcnpcss shame the mighty giyer,
but may be real charity and blessing TO the re-
ciplent Let our charity be such that ii may truly
be said OF II, rs the great poet says oil the equality
OF mercy
''ii is not strained;
II droppeth, the gentle rain from Heaven,
Upon the place beneath; II is twice bess'd d;
IL bles.eth him that gives and him that taxes"
Then and then only, shall we entiile ourselves to
the gratitude OF the bold and generous hce rtcd
pioneer, who has redeemed the public domain from
ia wilderness state. and from the hands Of the saw
age.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
MIR. Chairman, am one of these who hold, and
have ever held that the clause OF the COnstituton
which gives to Congress power 20 regulate COM
nerCc with foreign nations, between the several
States, and with the Indian tubes, conlers upon
this Government the power, and makes it their
duty, 80 construct, or aid in the construction ol
RuCh public works calculated " facilitate the
commence and develop The resources Of the ooun-
uy-Nnether these improvements are IN the into
nor Of the country or upon the scabOard-wbcther
within the jurisdiction OF the States or within the
Territories with the solitary Limitation that they
not merely local, but Of general utility dc
signed and Calculated Ito provide for the
defence and promote the general welfare" Of the
country And SO holding, maintain that this Gov.
efnuleut has the undoub.od constitutional power,
and that u Is its imperative duty, 70 make liberal
appropriations Of the public revenue, or the public
domain, TO improve the navigation Of the grcatriv
ere OF tho country and the harbors upon the same,
aud to construct, or aid in the construction of,
roads or canals, wherever deemed necessary for
The public defence, or the promotion Of commerce
between the States Of THE Union, with foreign ma
tons, with The Indian trbcs
! was rejuiced 10 hear the honorable gentleman
from New York, (Mr. SsYM0UR,) the chairman Of
the Committee on Commerce, declare, in the early
part Of this session, that he in favor OF appro
priatons Of public money for the purpose Of i'm
proving the navigation Of the great rivers Of the
country. was equally rej0iceo 10 hear the dccla.
uOn OF The honorable gentleman from Indiana (Mr
RoBiNsOs,) the chairman Of the Committee on
Roads and Canals, that he was ia favor Of similar
appropriations ond Of reporting bills TO this House
embracing such objects Uf internal improvs M nt
AZ are Of national importance. Sir, the commerce
which hoais upon the lakes and rivers Of our coun-
try 10 Of equal importance, equally entitled 10 the
protection Of this Government az that which
floats upon the high seas and Is protected by the
"stars and stripes" Of our country Both are en-
iNtd 70 thc fostering care snd prOtccnOn OF = n
Rrces, and aid and assistance Ia afiOrding them
oil necessary facilities. The same clause Of the
Constitution which gives power and jurisdiction TO
tOngrcss over the ono, gives that body power and
jurisdiction over the other. Tho broad shield OF
our blessed Constitution is thrown both IN
this case maintain that the yo,cor Of Congress
and the duty Of Congress correlstive terms 1t
D. the deity Of Congress 20 exercise is cOnsiitu
tonal potrr in this behalf efficiently, IN nfiording
thosc facilities 10 our inland commerce, for want II
which the liYcs md fortunes q tho people
nually and constantly exposed, 90 an extent which
" truly appalling. II this Government. from any
Consideration, whtthcr from the "spirit
IL party" or indifference 20 the great interests
involved, iails TO exercise that power efficiently IL
simply derolict in ono Of it's most important do
ies and fails 20 meet Of iis heaviest rcsponsi
bilities 20 great and free people, who have gene
rOusiy cOufded their power 70 its hands. The
honorable gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. CAsrBELL,)
81 mistake not, alluded to the opinions u Prcsi
dent Mndieon, "tho father Il tie CONSTRUCTION, -
% he has been not nspproprately called, in favor
Of 'he construction Of "roads and canals" under
the national authority" The earliest, az he was
the Etouucbest friend of the construction II "inc-
nor communications by land and water" between
tie East and Ip,,t. North ana South. as he was Of
All those liberal and benebccBt measures Of national
policy which are calculated 90 stamp this Govern