The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-12
[ Continued from frst page

W
here is patrmony that has descended to US, much
of it through our fathers; all Of it, as il were, from
God, What shall we do with it? Shall we act as
unwisey as did the man in the fable, skill the goose
that lays the golden eggs''-that our generation,
and the generations that may exist while the lands
yei remain unapproprlated, may enjoy all? hope
not 1t is the part of the wise statesman to lay up
for after ages, as the wise and proyident father will
let the patrimony he received 40 down TO his pos
terIty unimpaired.
Provide for the citizen easy mode of acqur-
ing farm, and yet keep him so unlettered that he
cannot read or write his name, and will he thank
you for it Will he hold your memory in sweet
remembrance when you are gomez | know to whom
l am talking Many a gentleman here has been
told by his old father, in his young days, 'My
son. If can but give you good education, that is
all expect can do for you, and then you take
care OF yourself" Sir, enlightenment and intelli-
gence lays the foundation of our Institutions. Some
one has well said, that san American would resent
his being deprived the use Of his musket yet you
deprive him of stronger safeguard if you deny him
The intelligence necessary TO knowledge of his Con-
sutuiion." II we would then have children, and
our "chldren children to the latest generation rise
up and call us blessed lei us look again 10 this plan
II IS, that when these lands have been five years
IN market free to all settlers attwentyfve cents per
acre, let the residue in the States where they lie
and then let them be sold, and the proceeds dis
posed of in the form have indicated-one-third TO
school fund; one-third to be ratably apportoned
among the other States, and the District OF Column
bia, ~ proportion TO the representation of each in
Congress, and regarding the District as entitled TO
one Representatives; and the remaining one-third to
the American Colonization Society, for the return
OF The free blacks, with their own consent, to the
home OF their fathers, whence we stole them.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, let me suggest another
idea. Some of my northern friends herein fact
believe some from all the old States-seem trou-
bled with the idea of giving up these lands at
low price, to the western settler because thew have
cost the country SO much. They refer to what
Louisiana and Florida have COST and they speak
OF the ten millions given to Texas, and they speak
OF the cost OF our wars, and all this sort OF thing.
Now, put II TO gentlemen if this be not wrong
view of the case. Did the General Government
give TO France fifteen millions for Louisiana SIM
ply for the purpose of buying her lands: Where
Is the statesman who can contend for that for one
moment: Sir, il was another, a different, and
higher object We had in view That mighty River
OF our great valley, that nearly drains the CONT
nent, makes Its way TO the through this very
domain. Ii was for the SOVEREIGNTY of the ter
rltory that we were willing TO pay those millions.
The value Of the land, merely as land, ought never
10 be talked Of never thought of, in this conneX-
ion; and The last thing, | expect, that Jefferson
thought of, when he made that acquisition, was,
that We could put so much money into the Irea-
sury by buying the land at wholesale, and then
sir 1t was 10 make an outlet for the multiplying
millions Of the great Mississippi valley, TO acquire
extended sovereignty, that thus money paid.
The was the case when Madison paid Spain
five millions for Florida. Ii never entered into the
debates of those days, either, | presume how
much we might make by selling those lands TO our
own citizens. Ii was the same in the purchase
made of Mexico In all these acquisitions, it was
the soverelgniy-extended empire-not the land,
that our hearts were set upon. The gold and sill
Yer Of California, and Utah, and New Mexico,
were not thought of when the territory became
ours. The tide of emigration pushing for
ward, and difficulties were anticipated, If we did
not avail ourselves Of extended domain, harbors
on the Pachc, more room, and larger outlet unon
the West. TWAS for that reason and not that we
might get the money TO put into the Treasury, that
these millions were also paid | say nothing of
the FLOOD that shed IN this last acquisition
That is by-gone. Let II rest The American
people have acqulesced IN II all. So there ought
10 be no trouble with the gentlemen from the old
States upon this ground.
IL was not, then, simply TO buy the lands, but to
acquire sovereignty, that many millions were
paid Take that out, and how much do your
lands cost My colleague, Mr.. HEspncKs,) on
yesterday, based his calculations of the cost of the
lands, reckoning these payments element OF
cost But II was yielding the true posItion-gylng
too much and even then he only made your
lands cost hrenfy-ilco eefis per acre.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, my proposition is this
our eastern friends, our northern friends, those OF
the middle States, and the southern States, have
equal rights with us Of the States IN these
sands. kighi, however, - one thing, and merii d
another. The question for as then, Is: What is
the true policy for the natIon' SIR you owe these
people mucb who have driven back the savage
bordes upon the frontier. You owe ISem much
for popping, opening up, and improving a great
wilderness for you IA that iar-of country. They
have ken their lives ia their hands, and have gone
- a. l.A.
out an empire for you And know my brethren
Of the old States too well to suppose that they can
look upon them with a niggaId eye. Many Of
these people are New England born; the great
mass of them arc emigrpnis, the sons Of emf
grants, from the old States Can the mother forget
her ofisprngi
! do not srgue the constitutional question here,
because think il il too well scttled-seiucd be-
yond doubt equivocaton. We may even give
AWAY these lands, II we think It expedeni 10 do So
We may dispose" Of them in any way we may
deem best
Now, under my plan, one-third Of the proceeds
OF the lands which remain unsod after having been
m market five years, and which may be disposed
Of by the States IN which they situated at such
times and upon such terms a they may deem ex-
pcdIent, goes 10 the States themselves making the
sacs. They have the responsibility Of the sales,
and the accounting for the money, and the cost Of
dong il. But, over and above that, they have the
great merit Of having rescued this region from
savage hunting grounds; Of having convc' ted the
tangled forests into fruitful fields and then of hay-
ing constructed the railroads, the turnpikes, the
canals, and built up the cities which have gwen TO
these lands nearly all the value, mere land. tina;
t'ey have Is II not right then, that they should
have 80 much Of the proceeds as have proposed
for perpetual common school fund
Another one-thrd is TO be divided among the
other States, in connexion with this District, ~
ru;ablc proportion, for a similar purpose | think
there Is no man who will look upon this matter as
a statesman should look, for future advantage, as
well as for present, but what will agree With me
that this Is really the wiser policy. Why, SIR,
cannot you and take care Of ourselves about as
well children will I've able 10 take care Of
themselves Shall we absorb this great bounty OF
Heaven, this heritage from our fathers; Shall we
build no monuments for posierIty; Shall We leave
nothing u this 10 those that 10 after US
~ word, shall Il only be said Of US, eon5unsrt
JrugtsY Let US rather smile the rock now, while
We may, ADD open intellectual fountains that shall
flow down the stream Of time cOeva with the Re-
public. confess my spirit reyolts at policy here
that does not look 10 tie future cannot cOniefn-