The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-11

Ao' uH ooooi] Vail HOW idI Inc OnlOnS plea
that there is no improperly in defeating un-
constitutional and improper measures by de-
lay" is applicable to the circumstances un-
der which our controversy has arisen.
The measure which Messrs. DEAN. Nc
MULLEN, and Orr struggled to defeat sby
delay" on Friday. was the bill granting land
to Wisconsin for railroad purposes; with the
substance of the bill distributing land to all the
States added as an amendment. The Wiscon-
sin bill is under the charge of Mr.. DorY,
Democrat, and has the entire support, we be-
lieve, Of the votes of the Western Democratic
members. 1t is similar in character to mea-
sures which the Democratic States of Illi-
nois, Missouri, and Arkansas have obtained
through the efforts of their representatives;
and which Democratic Iowa has struggled
long and earnestly to obtain. Does the Union
alege that measures of this nature passed by
a Democratic Congress last session, and others
now urged by Democratic members, are sun
constitutional and improper 2" Does it now
declare itself opposed to Legislation that has
been consummated by Democratic votes, and is
yet demanded by States boasting of large De-
mocratic maiorities ? If the legislation be as
our contemporary desgnates it, why not speci-
fcally arraign Messrs. WALKER, DoDGE, EAST
MAN, and DoTY, of Wisconsin; Messrs. Doue-
LAS, SHIELDS, ALLEN, FIcKL1N, MoLoNY.
RICHARDSON, and CAMPBELL, of Illinois
Messrs. JONES, DODGE, CLARK, and HEM. of
Iowa; Messrs ATcHIsoN and PHELPS, of Mis-.
souri,; Messrs. SEBASTIAN, BoRLANp, and
JOHNSON, of Arkansas The principle of the
Wisconsin bill has received the endorsement
of these gentlemen they are Democrats,
staunch and tried; and they are the parties
against whom the Union should inveigh as to
large extent responsible for the 'sunconstitu-
tlonal and improper measures" which the
illustrious trio are eager to defeat.
If the Wisconsin bill be Unconstitutional
and improper" the Union should have said SO
while the western delegations were laboring
in behalf of kindred measures last session. The
Union was then silent. 1t spoke neither for
nor against grants in aid of railways. 1t abb
stained from all discussion of the question of
the disposal of the public lands. What apol-
ogy does it offer for this culpable indifference2
By what pretence does it hope to escape the
contempt that men must feel for a journal
which last year witnessed in silence the pass
age of Unconstitutional and improper mea
sures" by its political friends, and even now
would hide its opposition under fimsy quib-
BILE?
This is not all. Mr.. BENEFITS bill is con-
cerned not less than Mr.. DorY's. The objects
aimed at by Mr.. BENEFITS bill for the distri-
button of public lands is involved in the con-
demnation of unconstitutional and improper"
Legislation. Well, this bill is not now heard
of for the first time. 1t passed the House last
year, with the aid of such members as Messrs
VENABLE, STANTON, JOHNSON of Georgia, SEY-
MouR, PENN, PERKINS, CLEVELAND, GILMORE,
and DoTY. But the Union was mann. 1t ut
tered not syllable then about the uneonstitu-
tionality of the bill. 1t allowed Mr.. VENABLE
and twenty seven other Democrats to support
it without reproof. 1t did not venture to coun.
sci the defeating of it s.by delay" 1t was a
silent observer Of the passage Of what it now