The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-05-15
Speech of the Hon. HI. ii. Sibley ON the Insane
Land Rill.

the floor in Committee of the Whole, on
the Bill granting portion of the public
lands to each actual settler, after a few
remarks in favor of the principle and
policy of the bill, proceeded to speak on
a project for giving away large portion
of the public lands in the Territories to
the States having no such lands. His re-
marks are as follows:
But, Mr.. Chairman, while 1 desire
most earnestly that the bill (Freedom of
the Public Laads) originated, and so ably
advocated by the gentleman from Tonnes
see, Mr.. johnson, may speedily become
the law of the land, with such modifca-
tons as shall render it most acceptable to
the actual settler, there is another land
bill now ready to be reported by the Com
mittee, which, wish | could fiatter my
self, would not receive the sanction of
majority Of this House. l refer to that
which was introduced by the honorable
member from Illinois, Mr.. Bissell, pro-
viding for donation of ten millions of
acres of the public lands, to be appropri-
ated among the States, in the compound
ratio of their area and representation, for
the relief and support of the INDECENT in
sane therein. 1t stipulates that each
State having public lands Of q suitable
quality within its own limits, shall re-
ceive its portion therefrom; but those
not having such lands, shall be authorized
to select from the public domain, not in
the other States, but exclusively IN the
Territories. This is the identical scheme
which the same gentleman introduced,
and pressed SO warmly during the last
Congress, but which was ultimately de-
featcd.
Mr.. Chairman, much as it grieves me
to oppose any bill emanating from my
honorable friend, my duty is so plainly
marked out, that l could not evade its
performance, even if l desired to do so.
| am led to resist the measure at the very
threshold, while | have the opportunity,
with the hope of convincing this House in
advance, that should it prove successful,
a great and irreparable injury will there
by be inflicted upon the Territories of
Minnesota and of Oregon. The bill, at
my earnest solicitation, was modified in
two important particulars, so as to render
the draught, if we are to be compelled to
swallow it, as little nauseous as possible
but it is still very Objectionable, and more
particularly SO, in the invidious distinc-
ton which it proposes 10 make between
the States and the organized Territories.
Sir, when these temporary governments
were established, there was an implied
but solemn pledge given by Congress,
that SO soon as the increase of population
would justify it, these Territories should
be admitted, in accordance with establish
ed precedent, into the Union, with the
same advantages and upon an equal foot
ing with the original States, in all re-
spccts whatsoever. 1t is with this assu-
rance, that Minnesota and Oregon are
now augmenting in population with unex-
ampled rapidity; and no man emigrates to
either, who does not look forward to their
speedy admission into the Union. 1t is
this expectation which nerves the settler
to meet with all the trials, and overcome
all the difficulties, which fall to the lot OF
those who lead the vanguard Of civiliza-
ton. Thousands have already gone into
those favored regions, and other thousands
are even now following in their footsteps,
to purchase your lands and cultivate
them in accordance with your invitation,
and with implicit reliance upon the good
faith of the Government. Will you fall
siiy you pledges, and bring bitter disap-
pointmcnt to the breasts of these men, by
passing bill which will deliver them
over to the tender mercies Of the several
States p? Will you take the lands, which
the pioneer has rendered valuable by the
sweat of his brow, for the benefit of his
friends and relatives, and transfer them to
foreign jurisdiction having no sympathy
with him, and no regard for the sacrifices
he has made; Will you cripple and en-
barrass your Territories, and retard their
admission into the Union for long, long
years? If this House is prepared to in
illct such train of calamities upon us as
l have indicated, and TO triflc with the
faith of the nation, it will pass this bill,
but not otherwise.
The land States object most pcrempto-
rlly to any grants of public lands, within
lheir limits, being made to other States.
They have power to make themselves felt
in the two Houses of Congress. and
therefore their protest will be effectual.
There must be grave reasons for the
stand thus taken by them ; and the same
reasons exist in full force, against any
such schemes being carried into effect in
the organized Territories. They should
be prepared to resist any measure Of this
kind, if intended to be enforced upon the
latter, with the same alacrity and zeal that
they would manifest, if their own States
were to be subjected to like outrage
If it is wrong for the General Govern
ment to transfer TO State its title to
lands in another State, it would be
strange train of reasoning which would
lead to the conclusion, that it would not
be equally so to give to the same State,