The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-27

alton consideration Of those granted lands We have
iuhed our part OF the ageemen, and you wish 10
taunt US as t were gf You made the bargain with
when YOU had the power into submission. We
were Territory applying for admission into the Union
10 that hard bargain winch you imposed We did
agree TO H. We kept IL in good faith We taxed
your property We have been with the terms of
II end now be tauned II we had been grab
bing and stealing all the public lands within our reach II
is only to fept these charges that rose.
But, sr without going into that say, western man,
representing new State, IN which there many millions
of acres Of public lands, that willing abide by the
principle that Congress shall dispose of those lands such
manner aa prudent land proprietor would in The dspo-
siton OF his own estate and II cannot bring any OF
claims clearly within that principle the Judgment of the
Senate, we do not ask you to pass then.
But this is departure from the real point involved in
this IL pretended that the disposition that
is 10 be made in the bill of ten million of for the in
sane designed expected 10 enhaaee the value Of the
public domain. Ii Is not put upon the principle of land
owner enhancing the value Of his estate Il is put upon the
principle Of appropriation for charitable purpose that
the condition OF the insane appeals strongly sym
pahles; that have fundT enough in the treasury, and
lands enough belonging the United States; and that,
therefore, should either take those funds Of the
treasury or vote the public property for this charitable
purpose. Now, think when that proposition is made,
ought to stop and reflect to its tendency and its
sequences. can why, if you make app
preparation for the insane the message hns well said,
you should not make for the deaf for the dumb, for the
blind for the poor, for the destitute and needy whatever
their condition may be. The humane impulses that
would prompt do the one would prompt to do the
other and not proposition, therefore, that all Of these
objects Of charity that all these matters which commend
themselves to our humanity shall be Withdrawn from the
jurisdiction Of the States and brought within the and
and the influence and the protection of the federal
ment! think, sir, 1t is proposition to usurp If you
please, or you do not like that term to draw by your
power and your wealth within the circle of this govern
ment that which properly belongs the local authorities Of
the States, and which be better managed by them,
think that The great principle we'd and is that
we must look distinctly in The face. But reason
why, if this principle be carried out, should
fine it to the insane. Why not go further, and include
every who is destitute every who is incapable
Of taking of himsehe unfortunate aud the nfrm of
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. Will the senator allow me
to ask him question:
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. Does he not believe in our
constitutional TO give land the homelessi Is he
not in favor of the homestead bill IL. aa 4 a&I
Mr.DOUGLAS. do not choose to bring the discus
sion of other questions into the consideration Of this
ure The senator VIII find out when that bill comes up,
whether am for il and will be ready to meet
him. If do advocate IT, upon the principle that now adj
vance and can tell him that, if do not bring it within
the principle now lay down. shall not be for il if can
bring it within that principle shall be for it But do not
choose to have my mind diverted from the present argu-
ment by reference to other which hereafter
MIR. JONES, of Tennessee. hope my friend will not
get in passion about it.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Notat all. meyer in better hui
NOR in my fe Laughter
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee. know you always in
a good humor; and so am L. Laughter. But when the
senator asserted the principle laid down by him to-day,
having hitherto supposed that he my friend and ally
upon the homestead bill, WINS afraid about to
lose him and really wanted TO inquire whether was
in danger Of losing so valuable ally am with him
upon the homestead bill. am for this bill but, If
Congress has power the public lands
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Will the senator allow to ask
which side Of the homestead bill he is oni
MIR. JONES, Of Tennessee. am in favor of its pas
sage. Which side you oni
Mr. DOUGLAS 1t is unnecessary for the senator to
ask which side am, because he has told the Senate
twice that he is with me. Laughter
Mr. JONES, Of Tennessee. | thought was but l
wanted to find out.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. And now can tell him that he being
with the homestead bill when that question
up, will give him for his which he stand
upon and fear danger
Mr.. JONES' of Tennessee. Will my friend allow
to ask him the question again really loss know
whether he is for against the bill.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. can him 1t Is
unnecessary to attempt to divert me from my argument.
Mr.. JONES' of Tennessee. have no such desire,
the senator.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. l think was treadns on his corns,
and therefore he wanted to draw me off.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. beg the senator's pardon,
have no corns to be trod upon, aughter;l but sill
would like TO know whether he is with the
homestead bill for 1 am for 1t.
Mr.. DOUGLAS am not sure whether am with
hum or not, because am Of his posion but
8 he has pledged himself to be with he has right TO
ask further questions. hold HIM his terms, and will
LET him know his duty the homestead bill time enough
for him TO vote accordingly.
was saying, Mr.. President, that this bill involves
principle which must meet fairly in the face The
sequences To out Of II of importance. do
CONDITION oil The oil DEAL
or the dumb the blind, the poor VIII be benefited by
Withdrawing them from the jurisdiction Of the States, and
placing them uader the federal government, Then, again,
we 10 furnish the for the purpose OF building
asyums, aud hospitals and poorhouses, and public build
ings for these INDECENT persons, proper that those
means should lie under urisdictioni Whenever
you establish the principle that government furnish
the means, and another is expend the money you will
found system of extravaganza the like Of which you have
not witnessed in any branch Of this government.
hold that II the means To be furnished by this
government The jurisdiction be under and its officers
must be responsible to order that you may hold them
to strict accountability. But SIR, not willing In
wade the States and withdraw this class of people from their
Jurisdiction. believe thai their interests their safety, and
their comor require that should keep them where they
under the protection of State and local authorities
The States will do for purposes of phanhl opy and
humanity, and charity II left 10 themselves than this
eminent w ii the Jurisdiction the subject.
Nearly all The States in the Union erecting hospi-
tails and other charitable institutions My State has
made large expenditures and is establishing good
Of institutions Tor almost all hcsc classes OF peoples and
eevc nearly every other State in the Union doing
Wealthy also establishing asylums for objects
Of charity. They under the direction of the local
thorlcs they managed by the local auhorites and
those authorities will manage them prudenty and
economically than this government possibly can
Why, ar, this government Is to establish Institutions
for these purposes, how many you to ayef IL only
two, would be expensive TO take the Invalid
TO tho institutions perhaps, than would be 10 support him
FOR year, and you going establish IN every
neRhoohoud or every county, where your revenue to
come from by winch those institutions 10 be erected and
susianedf opens door for the extension OF the
Of tins government and It's jursdcton in derogalon of
the rights OF the States, wider aad fearful
tent than any bil proposition which have known
to be presented. But, that is the great principle, far
as could Judge from hasy reading Of that message,