Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-17
SPEECH OF Mr.. G. PORTER,
OF MISSOURI.


SPEECH OF Mr. G.. PORTER,
OF MISSOURI,
On the Homestead Bill, an the House of Represea-
tatioes, april !, 1852.
The House having resolved itself into Committee Of
the Whole the state of the Union the bill
courage agriculture, commerce, and manufactures and
all other branches of industry by granting every
who is the head of family and citizen of the United
States homestead of hundred and sixty acres Of
land out Of the public domain, upon condition Of
pancy and cultivation Of the for the period therein
specified -
Mr.. PORTER addressed the Chair as follows: Mr.
Chairman, having obtained the floor, propose if
can get the attention of the committee to submit
few remarks less german and pertinent to the
general subject embraced in the bill which is the special
order and which, for some weeks past has to greater
less extent engaged the attention of the committee
regard the various incidental questions such as
ltical Platforms the merits and demerits of Presden-
hal aspirants, the Union and Secession parties of
the South and the "Aboionists of the North" in re-
gard to all that class Of questions which honorable
gentlemen have favored with able and eloquent speech
es-to which confess have listened with much inter-
estat this time and in this place. have nothing say
In these various questions it is true that in
with all the Representatives of the people upon this floor
feel becoming interest But there are submit out
side of these halls Of legislation tribunals before which the
sovereign people intend in their own good time and in
whatever disposition members of this House make of these
questions the people, if they think proper do will
take their appeal therefom and decide them upon such
terms, upon such principles, and in such manner to
them may seem meet
In regard to the bi-which is the special order pro-
posing to donate to actual settlers upon certain condi
tons, portions of the public domainI have but little
say. against measure the benefcent effects of which
not at all likely to be such eloquent gentlemen
this floor claim for (which they have painted in such
roseate hues with such angelic tints-what need
Against the effects Of which be demonstra-
ted to be to settle up the wds of the West with vrtu
and hardy population to the desert to bios
som the rose the waste places of the earth to
oce and to pour countless blessings upon Government
and people, in all time to come, what say? But
let say in all candor honorable gentlemen who adj
yocae this measure and who such friends doubt
not they esteem themselves to be, to the bold pioneer
who, with his rife shoulder and his the
other leads the advancing columns of civilization into
the wilderness and redeems it from the savage and the
wild beast if you wish to show to him. to the poor toll
ing denzen of the crowded city and the
rural district whom you would allure to the backwoods
by this inviting OFFER real charity if you wish to make
him really Independent and comfortable you not aid
the State of his adoption by grants fair TERMS of small
portions of that free and in building roads by
whereof he may find to market with the surplus
products of his TOLL and obtain the necessares and
forts of life for himself and his household and enable him
direct his energies and industry to profitable
count If by the passage Of this act you lure him from
his early home humble though it may be- and induce him
settle such public land Of such emgrants
could avail themselves of the provisions of the bill would
have to locate uponremote from any Market and with
out any facilities Of thereto with low prices
price for his surplus products cut of by beral poll
Cyl the part of this Government from due particpa
ton in its benefits and blessngss there not to
conclude that most instances, you will have imposed
upon him the obligation of gratitude the lioness
upon her whep which she brought forth in the solitude
Of the mountain and left TO perish amid the winds and
make partition of its broad acres among the land
less people of the world the of all that is sensi
BILE and all that is LIBERAL let it do such terms that
the boon which confers may by its barrenness shame
the mighty gver but may be real charity and blessing
the recipient Let charity be such that it may
truly be said of as the great poet says Of the equality
of mercy
at is not strained
1t droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven,
Upon the place beneath il 10 twice blessd;
1t blesseth him that gives and him that takes"
Then and then only, shall entitle ourselves to the
gratitude of the bold and pioneer who
has redeemed the public domain from its wilderness state
and from the hands of the savage
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. Chairman, am one OF those who hold and have
held that the clause Of the Constitution which gives
Congress TO regulate with foreign ma
TONS between the several States and with the Indian
tribes confers upon this Government the power, and
makes it their duty to construct aid in the construc
ton Of such public works calculated to facilitate
the and develop the Of the country
whether these improvements in the interior of the
country upon the seaboard, whether within the uris
dicten Of the States within the Terrtories with the
solitary limitation that they merely local. but Of
general utility designed and calculated to provide for
the common defence and promote the general welfare Of
the country. And, holding maintain that this Gov
has the undoubed constitutional power and that
ii is its imperative duty to make liberal appropriations Of
the public revenue the public domain to improve the
navigation Of the great rivers of the country and the
bors upon the same and to construct aid in the
strucon Of roads canals wherever deemed
for the public defence the promotion Of commerce be-
tween the States Of this Union with foreign nations
with the Indian tribes
was rejoiced to hear the honorable gentleman from
New York. (Mr SEYMOUR the chairman Of the Commit
Commerce. declare in the early part OF this session.
that he favor Of appropriations Of public money for
the purpose Of improving the navigation Of the great
Of the country equally rejoiced TO hear the deca
ration Of the honorable gentleman from Indiana Mr Ro-
BrSsoS) the chairman Of the Committee Roads and
Canals that he in favor of similar appropriations
and of reporting bills to this House embracing such OBJ
jects Of internal improvement Of national import
ance Sir the which floats upon the lakes and
rivers OF country is Of equal Importance equally emit
tied the protection Of this Government that which
floats upon the high and is protected By the stars
and stripes" Of country Both are entitled to the fos
tering and protection Of Congress- and aid and
assistance in aording them all necessary facilities The
same clause Of the Constitution which gives power and
jurisdiction Congress the gives that body power
and jurisdiction the other The broad shield Of our
blessed Constitution is thrown both In this case
maintain that the OF Congress and the duty of Con-
grcss corrcaivc terms II is the duty Of Congress- to
exercise its constitutional pore in this behalf efficiently
in aording those facilities inland commerce for
want Of which the lives and fortunes of the people
nuay and constantly exposed extent which istruy
appalling If this Government from any cause or cons
deraton whether from the spirit Of party or ndiffer
ence to the great interests involved fails to