Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-04-20
OTTUMWA, IOWA, THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1854.

improper and unconstitutional, and ,ha
u we wish OUR rivers, we must assen
TO tonnage duties on our 0aCn commerce
After draining the west TO perfect thu
improvement of eastern harbors, and
whilst voting annually, millions of dol
lars, to build lighthouses and break-wa.
ters, and to supper. navy, all for the
protection Of eastern commerce, the ives
is told that her commerce must languish
unless she commits foe de Sc by volun
tary taxation.
Mr.. Douglas has introduced bill in.
to the U. 5. Senate, by which The nine
States bordering on the Mississippi river
are authorized to bind themselves into a
conledetaIed commercial community, for
the purpose of levying these duties and
making the necessary mprovements. -
How he disposes of the frs. clau Sc oil
Article |, Section 10. of the Constitu
tlon, which declares that "no State shall
enter into any treaty, alliance, or coafed.
eratlon,' is not known. Or, how the
section of the celebrated ordinance of
l7S7, which declares that "ihe navigab.e
waters leading into the Mississippi and
81. Lawrence, and the carrying places
between the same, shall be common
highways. and forever free, as well to
the inhabitants of the said Territory as
TO the citizens of the United States, and
those of any other States ths. may be
admitted into the confederacy, wathout
any TAG, iap9st or duty therefor" is TO
be evaded, have not learned.
But, in whatever way these and many
other very serious objections are over
come, i, is enough for US to know that
the proposed plan is both impracticable
and Uni Just. Ii is system that is calcu-
lated to injure the west by deprecia,ing
the value of her agricultural productions
and mineral wealth to the extent of the
tax imposed. l, is hardly possible to
suppose that any one believes that the
system Is at all practicable. Who be-.
ileves that these nine States can act in
harmony on single question! How is
their business to be conducted! Is there
to be Constitution 10 bind them togeth.
er!-and new Congress 10 legislate for
them! Is there TO be new Supreme
Court 10 decide disputes arising between
them. and new Army raised and sup
ported to enforce its decrees! 1t seems
TO me that more absurd and preposter-
Gus project was never presented to Con-
gress, and more suicidal policy could
not be adopted by the West.
FoURTH.--1 regard the Homestead
DILL as benificen. in lis character, and as
calculated TO greatly advance the mate.
rial interests OF Iowa. But | cannoi
give my assent to all the provisions of
The bill recently passed by the House of
Representatives, and now pending in the
Senate. | canno. assent TO the princi-
pie of discriminating against foreigners
who come TO the country with bona
fae intention to become citizens. | do
not concur in the recent promulga,ions
of southern politicians, that our institu.
tions are in danger from foreign immi.
grafton, and | abhor the sentiment an.
nounced by Senator Butler, that Iowa
would be more prosperous with the In
s,itutlon of slavery, than with her indus
rious and patriotic German population.
believe that the Homestead bill now
under consideration in the Senate. should
be SO amended as to allow foreigners
coming TO our shores with the intention
TO remain, and who declare their inten.
ton to become citizens, 10 enjoy the
same advantages under law, as though
they were born on American soil.
FIFTH.--Bui the most important of all
the questions now engrossing the public
attention is the attempt to introduce slave.
ry into the Territories of Nebraska and
KanzaS by the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise act.
Let US briefly review the history OF
the Missouri Compromise, aud the rea-
sons given for its violation.
When the Constitution of the United
States was adopted, acquisitions of new
territory were never contemplated. -
Slave labor was then Improbable, and i,
was thought to be alike the interest and
the duty of the slave States TO gradually
abolish slavery, but in such way and a,
such time as might be most convenient
TO themselves. Upon the supposilion
that successful efforts would be made TO
accomplish this result, the north consent.
ed to the slave representation in Con-
gress, as provided in that instrument.
By the treaty with France, in 1904,
the United States acquired vast do
main. then kno wn as Louisiana. embrac-
ing the whole country between the Mis-
sissippi river and the Rocky mountains,
and bounded on the north by the British
possessions, and on the south by the Gull
of Mexico. That the Constitution nev.
er contemplated such purchase is suf.
ficien.ly shown by It's contemporaneous
history and exposition, and by the sole.
itude of President Jefferson, that il
should be amended solely to confirm this
acquisition. The commercial advanta
ges derived from the purchase, however,
were so great that the people of the coun.
try at once confirmed 1t, and the Cons,i.
tuition was never amended. From this
territory of Louisiana. which was bo',
with the common treasure of the ceun.
try, the Slave States of Louisiana, Ar.
l.. u :. l. A