Washington sentinel., 1854-06-06

to the brave men who fought our battles. IL
was justified on the ground that we could dis
pose of the public lands as we pleased, and 1t
was for the use and benefit of the old soldiers,
and for no one else. If we could give hity
millions of acres on the score of gratitude,
why may we not give ten millions on the score
of charity. The grant to the soldiers met my
warm approval and had my cordial support.
1t was an act of Justice not Of legal obligation.
The act before ushad my approvaland support,
also. 1t too, is one of justice, not to indiyid-
uals, bit to States. defend its constitutions
ality on the same ground that defended the
first net, and its justice on the further ground,
that it divides the land equally among the par
ties having a common interest, and for the
praiseworthy purpose of protecting those who
are unable to protect themselves.
! here leave the message, and recur for
moment to the history of this bill in its pas
sage through the two Houses of Congress. 1t
has twice passed the House, and twice the
Senate. 1t first passed the Senate, February
II, 1851, by vote of 36 yeas to l6 nays, and
was sent to the House, where it was defeated
by the rigid enforcement of the rules. Once
the rules were suspended--yeas los nays so,
more than two.thirds, but the House proceeded
to other business, and again, on motion to
suspend that rule, SO as to allow the bill to
pass the yeas were l08, and the nays 10. 1t
will thus be seen that in 1851 there was not
only majority of more than two to one in the
Senate in favor of the bill, but a majority Of
about two to one in the House also. In 1852,
the bill was again before the House, and passed
| by vote of SO yeas to 54 nays, almost two to
one. This session it passed the Senate again,
yeas %, nays, II, and was sent to the House,
and there passed-yeas 81, nays So. 1t will
| thus be seen that, before the Senate and before
the House, both being democratic by large ma
jorities, this bill has uniformly commanded
two-thirds Of the votes in one House, and near
| ly two-thirds in the other
| 1t so happened that the bill has not passed
| both Houses at the same session, or during the
same Congress-, until now, and therefore, it
was never before sent to the President for his
approval.
| Among the democrats who have voted on
this bill at one time, or at another, / find the
names of Borland, of Arkansas Downs, Of
| Louisiana Norris, of New Hampshire Rusk,
of Texas; Shields, Of Illinois; Soule, of Lou
isiana; Sturgeon, of Pennsylvania, and others
Of the Senate and in the House, Bisell, of
Illinois Cobb, of Alabama; Gilmore, of Penn
| sylvania; Ingersoll, of Connecticut; Peaslee,
of New Hampshire; Polk, of Tennesse; Church
| well, of Tennessee; Dawson, Of Pennsylvania;
| Florence, Of Pennsylvania; Seymour, Of Con-
necticut; Smith, Of Alabama Harris, of Ala
bama Beale, of Virginia; and many others.
| mention these things to show that if there
was error in passing this bill, it was an error
| very common among democrats. Nor can it
| be said that the constitutional question was not
raised. 1t was raised in both houses, and as
| fully discussed as senators and representatives
chose to discuss it. speak on this subject
after careful inspection of the record. Mr.
Borland defended the constitutionality Of the
bill in the Senate and he has been sent
abroad. Messrs. Soule, Peaslee and others
of its friends have received the highest marks
of the Presidents consideration and conf
| dence. e aan #sa sase@9 issyE
The President refers to two acts heretofore
passed by Congress, which he admits furnishes
precedents for the passage Of this bill. One of
these is an act passed March 3, 1919, granting
township of land to the deaf and. dumb, in
Connecticus and the other is an act passed
April s, 1926, making a like grant to the Ken
lucky asylum for the education ofthe same un-
fortunated class. 1t is worthy of remark that
the lands thus granted were necessarily located
outside of the States of Kentucky and Con-
necticut. And were in this, as in all other
respects, granted, Just as we propose to grant
these lands, and for an object very similar to
this, not think, SO priaseworthy.
The President admits that these are prece-
dents but adds, they should serve rather as a
acarning than as an inducement to tread in the
same path ! entertain the highest respect
for the opinions of President Pierce; but he
will excuse me if say that precedents set by
such men as James Monroe, John c. Calhoun,
VIM. FL. Crawford, James K. Polk, James
Buchanan, VIM. r. King Edward Livingston,
Levi Woodbury., Geo. McDuffie, and Others do
not serve as warnings to me, unless it be the
warning that the beacon gives to the mariner
Those great men, were bright and shining
lights, their example has illumined the path
we are treading. Mr.. Monroe was President,
ard approved the act of 1919. Mr.. Calhoun
and Mr.. Crawford were members of his cabi-
net, and all the others, as Senators or Repre-
sentatives, voted for one or the other of the bills
spoken of by the President.
II, in following the lead of democratic presi-
dents, democratic secretaries, ambassadors, and
senators, who have attained to the highest hon
ors in the republic, and enjoyed the highest
places in the confidence OF the people, I have
been led into error, hope3my error will find
an easy pardvn at the hands of my constituents.
have now, Mr.. President, performed an I'M
pleasant duty. 1t would have given me great
pleasure to have found my vote sustained by
the President, but could neither abandon the
vote had given, nor the convictions which
justified me in giving it, because the President
refusefto sustain what had done. have felt
called upon upon to defend my course This
| have done, how perfectly, is left to time and
the public Judgment to decide. 1t has been my
studied purpose to avoid everything that by
possibility could be construed into an attack
upon the conduct Of the President. If he is
right, the Constitution has been happily saved
from violation. IL he is wrong time will cor
rect his error. But whether right or wrong, !
have not word to say against the purity Of his
motives. He had his convictions, and he has
acted on them, and / am not the man to insin-
uate that he has been moved thereto by any
other than the highest considerations Of duty to
the country, and devotion to the Constitution.
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