Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-22

Tna one Immediately below (ihe momoral refer
red to as ju5tiiSing this bI) is signed by tn,
SPEAKER, Sc, bat hl5 no GpproeGl BY the govern
or? How does this happen; why this difference
will send to the Clerks table letter of eX
Governor Farwell, Which the Clerk will read Il
the Huuse.
The letter was read, as fellows:
WAsuINGroN, February IS, 1854.
To the Senator's and Representatives m Con
grcss from the State of Wisconsin:
GExrLEMEY: On my arrival in this city OF
Saturday evening. the 18th Instant. my attention
was called to the memorial Of the Legislature o
the State of Wisconsin, passed April 10, 1852
asking of Congress the grant Of public lands to alc
in the construction of railroads in that State, upon
which memorial | understand the action OF the
delegation in Congress has been based and lind
on examination of the said memorial, that IS mol
m the form In ,caick Il passed The legislature cthe
said Stale.
1 would state for your information that ar I'M
portant amendncnt ,caS attached to the sad me
n.oral as IL finally passed setting forth the terms
upon which the State of Wisconsin desired land
grants in aid of the railroads within its borders,
lchich amendment does not noV appear az The me
mortal You will find memorial, passed April
IA. of the same year, and approved by the Gov
ernor, which embodies the principles of the a
meudment referred to- | would also state that
the memorial first mentioned was never presented
. TO me for Executive approval, but was sent in,
contrary to usage, and without my knowledge,
throuph the office of the Secretary of State. A
reference to the acts passed by the legislature OF
the State of Wisconsin, for the year 1882, copy
of which viii be found in the Congressional Lii
brary. will show that this memorial alone, Of all
passed during that session, did not receice the dP-
proral, and does not bear the signature OF The
Govtraor Of The state.
have deemed it my imperative duty, as the
late Governor Of the said State, to call your atten-
ton to these facts, leaving you to take such action
upon them as you may deem due to yourselves
and to the interests and honor of the State which
You represent.
remain, gentlemen, very respectfully, your
bedient servant,
LEONARD ]. FAREWELL.
That is a letter from the late governor of that
State; aud in looking through this book you Will
lind the facts TO be as he has represented them
that everything save this single memorial, so far
as / have examined it, has the sanction OF the
governor, in the way of approval, appended to 1t.
How does it happen?
MIR. EASTMAN, (interrupting) Will the
gentleman allow me moment for explanation
Mr.. LETCHER. Yes; but be brief.
Mr.. EASTMAN. deem it my duty to make
few remarks in relation to the matter Just allu-
ded to by the gentleman from Virginia. | will
be very brief.
Mr.. LETCHER. Be very short, | have but
few minutes left.
Mr.. EASTMAN. This memorial is published
bv, aud under the authority Of the State Of WIS
consin by the State printer.
Mr.. LETCHER. / stated that myself.
Mr.. EASTMAN. And u copy is sent here
under the great seal of the State, certified to by
the Secretary of State. Now, it must have pass
cd the two houses of the legislature. 1t received
the signature of the speaker of the house OF rep
resentatiyeS aud of the president OF the senate
was signed by the clerks Of both the house OF
representatives and the senate, examined by the
enrolling and engrOSSing committee, and then sen'
to the printer, at the city of Madison, within thIr-
ty DAYS after it was passed and now, at this late
day, when the governor has gone out ct Office, he
comes here, some two thousand miles from home
and in letter, states, from recollection only thai
which will impeach the acts of the legislature
which have been published to the world as par
of the laws of the State Of Wisconsin.
Mr.. LETCHER. And that's the explanation
of the gentleman? The governor OF the State
Wisconsin says that his attention was called u
this matter at the time He informed me IN con
yersation, after examining the records, that th'
proyiso was there and shall show you VIVA
sort of a proyiso it was from another law Then
in addition to that, the gentleman over the way
saws that it is not usual for governors to sign such
things. How came he to sign all the acts, reso
buttons, and memorials, except this one. The
gentleman near me Mr.. DISNEY says that ne
was stupid in signing any of them. What, SIR
stupid in conforming his action to requirement
of the constitution of the State OF Wisconsin =
What sort of "a provlso was 1t!
"Prorided the terms of the grant SO made shall
in no wise prevent the sale OF such lands al me
minimum price, and IN the same quantities., at
which lands are now sold BY the United States
government"
With all due Difference to the opinions Of other
gentlemen, think that it is a very sensible pro-
yiso, and | think that it would be calculated to
prevent the public lands, donated to that State tor
the purpose Of internal improvements, from going
into the hands of corporations and spectators,
who would keep them out of market, and so man
are them as to make out of them the largest a
mount of profit | have the book here with these
memorials, and, as far as have observed, this is
the only one-standing out isolated from all the
rest-not having the approval of the executive Of
the State Ifeverything was fair in regard to This
road, how did this happen2 will tell you how
understand it came about. The Secretary OF
State of Wisconsin was in favor of unlimited
grants, and was opposed to the proviso which has
been appended BY the general assembly: I'M
dersteod the governor to say that the proyiso was
taken off by some one in his office, and withheld
il from publication.
Is there not enough in this case to excite the
suspicious of this House Is there not enough In
il to demand at our hands that the bill under con-
sideration should 90 TO the Committee OF the
Whole House on the state Of the Union and that
the people of Wisconsin should have an Opportu-
nity of being heard? Let the people Of that State
decide whether they are for or against 1t. Let
MS have time to send to the State of Wisconsin
and get certified copy of the memorial, as it
passed the Legislature, from the Office of the Sec
retary Of State Give the people of the State an
opportunity of speaking out, and see how far they
sustain the governor in the course which he has
taken in regard to this railroad BILL hope, then,
that the House, taking lesson from what has al
ready occurred in the history of this case, will re-
Ter this bin to the Committee OF the Whole.
hone that the House, when the friends OF partc-
ular schemes have been heard to their own entire
satisfaction, will not allow the gag to be applied
when any other member desires to raise his voice
AGAINST a scheme which he believes to be ofdOubt-
fn character to say the least oft; that they will
teach this Committee on Public Lands that they
must take their chances with the other commit
tees 10 the House for the consideration and exam
ination of their bills. There is nothing in this
bill. it strikes me- that should commend it to the
favorable action of this House. | hope, sir, this
is the last time the Committee on Public Lands
will. attempt to gag the opponents of their bills.
and force them through the House under the oPe-
ration of the previous question.
But, sir, design, at proper time, to offer