The southern press., 1852-03-09
speech Of Hon. Mr.. Dawson, Of Georgia

| IT u
speech Of Hon. Mr.. Dawson, Of Georgia,
On The Bill granting Lands 10 Ioioa in aid o
certain Railroads in that Staie /; Delivered IN
ne Senate Of the United States, March l, 1852
[coNcLUDED.l
But said little while ago something abou
the river Dss Moines and, mark me, Keokuk
is the point where the great Des Moines river
enters the Mississippi. That river runs nearly
at an angle of 40 degrees through the State Of
Iowa, and Iowa City is between the Des Moines
and Mississippi rivers The Des Moines river
is one OF the finest navigable streams in all the
West. Now, has the government done any.
thing for the Des Moines river? Why is il
that this little spot of earth between the Des
Moines and Mississippi rivers should be calling
upon the government for appropriations more
extensive and more advantageous than any
other portion of our country, not even except
ing our larger cities, with all their capital and
all their suburbs? Why is it so? 1t is alto
gether owing to the energy, skill, and fine
representative powers of the representatives Of
Iowa. And it is with the greatest reluctance
that can get myself to investigate any repre-.
sentation that they have made. But | have
found that, especially when we wish to advance
our own interests and our own people, we hao
better be watchful Now, let me read from ar
act passed in 1916, to show what has been done
for the Des Moines river. Anybody woult
have thought that what was done for this stream
in 1886 would have been enough--it was more
than has been done for any other three States
This act was passed in 1876:
'Be IL enacted, DC, That there be, and hereby
il, granted to the territory Of Iowa, for the pur
pose of aiding said territory to improve the
| L. A -. e.. "a
mouth to the Racoon Fork ESQ called) in said
territory, one equal moiety, in alternate sec.
tons, of The public lands, (remaining unsod
and not otherwise disposed of, encountered, OF
appropriately in a strip five miles in width on
each side of said river, to be selected within
said territory ty an agent or agents to be APP
pointed by the governor thereof subject to the
approval of the Secretary of the Treasury OF
the United States"
| And then it goes on to say, that if the Sec
tons there are taken up, they are to go else.
where and select their lands. What was the
ground upon which the grant in the act was
made? 1t was to improve the navigation of the
Des Moines river. And how many acres were
granted by that act? Some l,40O 900 acres
Now, add that to what is proposed to be given
| by this bill, and You have over 100000 oil
acres for the State OF Iowa alone. put down
the estimate in regard to the bill before u.s. ac-
cording to the estimate of the senators from
Iowa themselves-viz 100000 acres, which
added o the 100000 acres given by the act OF
| 1916, make 100000 acres OF land given to the
State of Iowa-and that, too, within the narrow
strip of land between the Des Moines and Mis-
sissippi rivers, extending from the Mississippi
river as far back as Iowa City. Where do the G
lands come from? Now, look at the lands upon
the Des Moines river. There are hundreds Of
acres of land in Michigan and Illinois that are
worth $50 an acre. Here, when Iowa was in
| her territorial character, we gave her these
100000 acres of land in the valley Of the Des
Moines, and they will this day average $40 pei
acre-making Sl4,000000 if the lands were
held TO hi day. These lanis were granted to i'm.
prove the Des Moines river, and they were taken
IN 1886; and yet ! am charged with ilIiberaIi,y
and Injustice 10 the new States! Why, the re-
representatives. of the old States should rather be
charged with illiberality ard injustice to their
own constituents in permitting the contents OF
the treasury to be thus taken and thus distri
buted, and thus improperly directed But, sir
| have no unkindness toward Iowa in this mat
ter-none at all, sir. am merely speaking the
truth and If am wrong in any assertion whicl
| make, hope TO be corrected and shown what
is right | do not refer TO Iowa out of any un
kindhess TO her, but | am only illustrating IN,
principle by reference 10 that State, as the bill
before us proposes grant TO her. look at IN,
great whole. lam opposed 10 this principle Of
exhausting the public treasure Of the country
whether il is in land or money, for local or sec.
tional objects | want conjoint action. Al
most every new State il, day after day, calling
for these public lands, by mere petitions, whether
they have any incorporation or not--whether IN.
legislature has ever asked for the appropriation
or not; and, strange 10 tell, often have we ap
propriattd millions Of acres without even n leqis
lative resolve, or an nc passed asking for such
appropriation. But a senator will rise in tbi,
house, and, guided by his own imagination, will
ask for a portion Of these Landslide cannot
tell for what purpose--and the appropriation
Is made. do not now refer 10 Iowa
will 90 on, and speak Of Illinois now, Dir
Let me refer here 10 the amount given 10 Illi
nois but lately, land | am sorry 10 observ,
thatthe colleague Of my friend there + Mr. Dou
oLAs Is not in his seat) But, sir, beg nov
10 present this part Of the subject You recol
lect strand many others Of the senators who
were also here when the Illinois railroad bill
was passed will recollect-lhat Il was stated {,
be 400 miles long-from Chicago 10 Cairo: il
OAttF WbiAHf lVth Aht UOIAUtTIl OOuN0a
~ Of Illinois down 10 it, utmost southern limit
The lands were ppropriated-alternate sec
lions, Eve or ten miles deep-to build thi
great railroad. opposed II then upon principle
proclaimed its injustice; but was not aide
and sustained even by my friends from The oil
States. ] saw that the rights Of the old State
would be trampled Bpon by such grants Il
railroads yet in embryo But IL turned on
that the road was 10 be $50 miles in length, an,
100000 Of acres were granted. will SHOW
presently how Il is 10 be made a road 10 th
White House for the senator who obtained In
grant, and that he is travelling there now.
Mr.. JONES, Of Iowa. Are Won not willinl
that he should be elected!
Mr.. DAWSON. Yes, sir; but I do no
wisli 70 pay for his platform. Llughterl
4 Now, sir, LEI us leave that out and come 3,
what have in view have got the s,atemen
before me showing the lands granted under IN,
Illinois bill; ADD ] call upon senators and upor
the country 10 look at it-look il in the face
and see whether we can pass these bills and d
justice 10 all parts Of this great confederacy