The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-03
srEEoH or HON. II. $. aEYER,

/ Al.
/ MISSOURI,
Ia The Senate, February "a, 1852. on the bM granting
/ Me rtgh OF Ddy and making a grant W tdnd 10 me
State Of iooa IN aid Of the constructions Of certain
railroads IN that State
! MIR. GEYER said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT Until very recently, did not suppose
that could De induced TO engage 10 this debate beey-
ing that the bill thoroughly understood by every
senator ana might be safely LETT TO the vindicaon oil It's
claims % the favor OF the Senate and the country
But honorable senators who have thought proper 70 de-
bate aniagonsc propositions and to oppose the bill be-
fore the Senate, seem me 10 have greatly misappre-
hended its provisions They assume that this and other
bills on the calendar OF like character propose TO make
donations OF large quantities Of the public lands for local
purposes without any consideration equivalent, and
then indulge IN language OF eproach towards the new
States, not Justified think. by anything in their past
history or present position They mpue TO them dis
position 70 encroach upon the just rights OF The elder
members OF the conederacy and honorable senator
charges IN direct terms that they have formed combi-
nation win me representatives OF other interests ~ or
der 10 carry on system OF spolaon the public lands
/ feel constrained therefore, averse as am to contro-
versy to ask the indulgence OF The Senate Wnile en-
deavor 70 yndcae the States by an appeal to facts
and the DILL 6y plain exposition OF It's provisions,
MT PRESIDENT, the honorable senator iron Kentucky
MR. UNDERWOOD was so very sure OF the existence oil
an aggressive spirit on the part of the States that
he assumed it established fact and proceeded
count for by saying in substance, that the States
have been spoiled by indulgence; that they have been
so long petted, and have had many ayors showered
upon them thathey have grown wilful and pervese
as spoiled children" and will be content with nothing
less than all that remains OF the public lands Of the
specifications OF these favors shall speak hereafter At
present, all say s that when both sides Of the
account shall be fairly stated, 1t will perpeX that honor
able senator, with all his skill in arithmetic, 70 strike
balance against the Saes, unless he shall hnd 1t In
the swamp lands, which he says are "va ueless" now
but to become Immensely valuable when reclaimed
by the Statesa sort of fancy stock of no particular
value, take it, in the estimation OF any other person.
The honorable senator from Georgia Mr. DAwsoN] is
not less certain of the evil propensities imputed to the
new States; but infer from his remarks that he does
regard them entirely destitute OF every virtue Tor
he appeals to their gratitude and magnanimty not to for
bear spoatons. but to let in the old States, Georgia IN
cuded, to share OF the spos But he despas OF sue
in this appeal because he says these new States
encouraged and sustained by the representatives OF
the tariff interest," who desire to squander the public lands
in order to create necessity for augmenting the duties
on imports.
Mr. President, that may not do the honorable senator
injustice will ask the reading of paragraph oil his
published speech. The Secretary will be good enough 10
read the first paragraph OF the part send;
-" am perfectly satisfied that this bill will pass have
been here long enough perfectly to comprehend it, know
that the public lands going to take Just exactly the
our ghts in other and different sections Of
the country cannot prevent IT, There Is most extra
troll this question. And what they The representa-
tyes from the States think they justly entitled TO
win combine 10 dispose OF these lands and 10 bestow them
pom individual States And there is another class who
unwilling 10 your revenues Increased, and your
treasury filled from any other than direct taxation
he friends OF particular interest 10 this country wl de-
sire to diminish passble the amount OF money
derived fom the public lands and placed in your treasury,
IN order I 70 Justify them IN % % es sas.
interests viii combine TO do this thing Aud what be-
and they are sold by the States their prosperity
advanced. There railroads all through that country
oe ass an Sey DO not but shs; say IS This
Amidst their prosperity while thus going on so finely let
lands, and that public lands belong every sale
The Union Il we act liberay towards you act Literally
public lands, do II; but do not forget the principles Of
equity and justice"
Mr. President, that is paragraph full OF suggestions
trust, however that when the honorable senator shall
discover that these bills do not propose 10 diminish the
receipts into the treasury solitary dollar, be will with
draw the charge against the representatives OF The ar
interests because il implies that they are going forward
with nconsdeate Teckessness in the hope OF accom-
plishing the design imputed TO them, and which they VIII
lind cannot be accomplished by this bill II could I'M
agne that honorable senators could be operated upon by
any such motive that imputed to them by the honora
bic senator should remble for the fate OF this bill;
should expect them, TO man, to stand up iu support OF
the aniagonstc propositions which have been presented
or rather suggested Far better would be Tor hem II
they desire reduce the receipts OF the treasury, TO sup
port the system proposed by the honorable senator from
Kentucky, which contempates partition oi the public
lands among the States, that hereafter there shall not
be received into the treasury dollar from that
or The proposition Of the senator from Georgia now for
the first time favored by him, TO make distribution OF
the proceeds OF the public ands and thus TO reduce the
receipts into the treasury and furnish an apology for an
augmentation OF duties; or, even with the medication
Virginia, mir HUsTERl which is TO reduce the price OF
the public lands and eventually cede what remains 10 the
Staies-whelher 10 the States n which they lie or all
the States did not understand Certain II Is, however,
that if there any senator here who IS disposed TO vote
for proposition because will reduce the revenue II
will be better for his purpose TO adopt the plan OF either
one OF the senators have named.
| But pass on TO another mistake committed by the
honorable senator from Georgia After very Just and
eloquent compliment 10 the State Of North Carolina Tor
he energy and enterprise IN constructing railroads by
her own means, the honorable senator says;
when YOU throw yourselves upon the waters OF the
great Mississippi In that and houshing county you
lind railroads in every direction Surely the honorable
been in that county "without dollar
having been taken OF the pockets Of the citizens but
| all out Of the treasury, all out OF the public lands
Now, Mr. President, appeal 10 senators who repre-.
sent the States bordering 'he great Mississippi" 10
communicate TO the honorable senator what they know
in relation TO the railroads-ew and short they
in "ihat great and hoursbing country" affirm, with.
out danger OF contradiction that there IS not foot o
railroad made BY the assistance OF the United States IN
any form within any State touching the Mississippi.
should not have taken notice of the statement OF the
honorable senator TO which have just advered, but that
It has gone forth 10 the country with the sanction OF his
name and will have tendency TO confirm in the minds
of those who preudced against the new States ther
persuasion that they what are called and-stealers
that after having drawn from the public treasury large
amount OF money TO build hundreds OF miles OF railroads
trayersng the States, they yet demanding more
i The honorable senator from Georgia, IN support oi
his appeal to the States 10 allow the State OF Geor
gia to in for share OF the spos, says hey owe
their birth and Independence TO the old States" Sir,
thought that independence had been achieved BY the
men OF the revolution, and not by the colonies and
know that Of these men--the few who seryive oi
the heroes Of the reyoluionthere are as many IN pro-