Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-09-09
An Outline Of Senator AssAi,on. speech at ParE,vi1s

rELLOWsOlTlIgNN
Permit me before proceed, 10 return my
thanks TO Col. Summers for the kind and oour-
teous manner in which he has presented Inc to
this meeting Of my fellow citizens. Opprc.
ciate Il the moro because have known him and
he has known me since we were young mem he
"a very young man. have known him always
to have been good citizen and q sound demo.
crat He has said truly Om here at this time
in accordance with your invitation to address
you upon the subjects OF the organization OF the
Nebraska Territory; aud the construction Of a
railroad by the Federal Government, TO con.
meet the valley Of the Mississippi with the Pa
ciiio Ocean, both subjects Of vital importance to
the people Of the United States and particular.
ly so TO the people Of this State,
l will now proceed to give you my views up.
Oh each Of those subjects. You have right to
them and that too without equivccation or reserve
on my part. First because have the honor, in
part, to represent the State in the United States
Senate. You are my constituents, and l am
your representative in that branch Of the federal
legislature, and upon all subjects Of public inter-
est, all objects Of National legislation you are
entitled to my opinions, and il is my duty TO
consult and advise with you and so far as can,
ascertain your wishes and opinions and act nc
oordingly. Secondly you are my countrymen
and neighbors and friends. Many Of you have
stood by me and sustained me in all my polti-
cal triOlS from youth until this hour when, am
an the verge OF the downhill Of life. All Of You
are personal friends, for do not believe have
a personal enemy in the county.
will now proceed TO give you my views Of
the Nebraska Territory.
! At each session Of Congress for severalyearS,
Mr., Douglass, Senator from the State of Hi.
nos, gentleman we'll known throughout the
whole Union MS man OF high order Of talents,
a Statesman and a devoted friend TO the West,
and progress generally, has introduced hill in
relation TO this territory. believe he first gave
! il the name of Nebraska. Sometimes he gave
It one boundary, sometimes another; at all times
looking 10 its organization and settlement bv
white men. These bills he urged with zeal and
great ability but was unsuccessful. At the
last session Of Congress my colleague and friend,
the representative from this district, introduced
a bill to organize government for this Terrific
ry and TO promote its settlement, To the intro.
ductim Of this bill was opposed, Of which Mr..
Hall was advised by me But he differed in opin-
ion with me, as he well had right 10 do, and this
difference of opinion could not make any change
! in our relations either personal or political
The reasons why was opposed to theinlroduc-
of this bill at that time are, first, believed il
should be preceded by treaties with, the various
Indian Tribes TO obtain their cons snt TO the or.
ganzation Of Territorial Government and TO
eXlinguiSh their title TO the land in whole or in
part, so that white men might settle there, 1t
is fact well known that much the largest por-
ton Of Territory of any value Tor agricultural
purposes is in the possession Of the Indians and
their lands are designated by metcs and bounds.
Indeed am informed by gentlemen who have
explored the whole country and know all about
il, that with the exception Of u narrow strip on
the banks Of the Missouri river, from the mouth
of the big Sioux TO the Kansas, there is but lit
tie land upon which our people could or would
settle for agricultural purposes.-Then there is
a good country upon tho Kansas on both sides,
Extending TO the now For, now about being es-
tablished, Then again there is some good ooun-
try on the head waters OF the 0sa e ana on
Neosho and other small streams which discharge
themselves into the Arkansas, But nearly all
this country is laid off by metes aud bounds 10
various Indian tribes as will appear by COL Ben
tons map when it shall be Autographed and dis.
tributed. But more of this mapl6erore have
done. Now one thing l do know, that some
years ago delegation OF Wyandots explored
that very country on tho Kansas and the streams
above mentioned to ascertain whether they could
select lao, 900 acres Of land or thereAbouts TO
which under treaty they were entitled for the
settlement Of their small tribes. They report
cd that they could find no country there upon
which they could settle. That there was not
good Agricultural land enough together for the
subsistence Of their small tribes, about seven
hundred in number, men, women and children,
and they were too weak to scatter their settle