Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-06-22


those lands, it would be regarded very cx-
travagant proposition on the part Of the new
States; and yet the present bill is infinitely
better for them, and infinitely more injuri
ous TO the old States, for by it you will, in ef
! feet give TO the States in which the public
Landslide every foot of such territory, and
you give to them, also, useful class pop
ulation, which you attract to them by tho
promise of 100 acres Of the public lands;
You take from the old States the most enter
prising portion of their population. and by
granting 10 every person who may become
on inhabitant or a resident Of new State,
You increase the strength and wealth Of the
new States. and their power in the Govern
ment, by adding TO the subjects oftaxation."
This short paragraph contains sentiments
of the most implacable hostility to the West
and her prosperity. yet it is perfectly in har-
mony with the feelings and expression Of his
colleagues and other members from the East.
The gentleman it seems, is becoming alarm
ed at the increasing power ofthe West, and
invokes Congress to check its further pro-
gress. Is it not a narrow mindid policy
and can it meet with favor in this Hall
whose object is 10 repress the growing great
ness Of any portion Of our common country?
Why, ask are not the new States entitled
to their due share ''of power in the Govern
ment?" Are not their people as brave,
virtuous. patriotic. and devoted TO that Cow
ernment as the people any Of the State?
But the gentleman deprecates the idea Of
adding to the subjects Of taxation in the new
States. Suppose. sir, Virginia was COM
PEELED, like Missouri. to keep up State
government, and extend her laws and the
jurisdiction Of her courts over vast extent
of country. more than half of which belonged
to the General Government and was free
from taxation; and suppose Virginia should
propose plan b. which these lands could
be disposed Of on fair terms and without loss
and the General Government should obsti-
natey refuse. Why. sir, you would then
hear the gentleman invoking the resolutions
of '9S, and preaching secession. ofar sir,
from attempting TO check the growth and
advancement Of the new States. a sound and
? liberal policy would induce the disposal,
on fair terms, Of all the public domain
within their borders at the earliest moment,
that the revenue arising therefrom by taxa
tion would enable those States to prosecute
with success their works Of improvement.
Gentlemen opposed to these grants tell us
with great candor that every road which is
needed might be built by private subscrip-
ton That is true in the older States
where they live, for there every acre of
land TO be benefited by its construction,
has an owner, who will subscribe to the
. stock liberallv. But in the new States,
, though every private landholder on the
route should subscribe to the utmost of his
d. ability, vet the Federal government owns
; so much of the very land TO be benefited,
. that the stock cannot be taken, nor the road
y built. Your public land system affects on
" the Western States; and unless admins
. tered in a liberal spirit, it is destructive TO
their enterprise-a b!ightine mildew that
e withers their blooming prosperity.
:. In view Of these facts, gentlemen talk of
Vt curailing the power and checking the pro-
n gress Of the western States. Why, sir,
+ aside from the injustice of such policy, it
! is vain to talk Of it. You cannot repress
i her rising greatness. The Mississippi val
= lev is destined to be the seat of empire on
Al this continent. BY narrow policy you
n NAV offer temporary obstrucions 10 the on
Il ward march Of the West, but her increasing
y population will ride over all barriers. Yet,
n patient Of injustice and wrong she COM
2 plains not; conscious of her growing power
she threatens not. The West is devoted to
5 the Union, and to every part of it, let your
y policy towards her be what it may. And it
d NAV be that, ere long, when congressional
Y action shall stir the elements OF dscord and
il strife; when the North and South shall be
arrayed against each other with I'll the BIZ
=, tcrness Of local animosity; it may be that
B" then, in the hour Of darkness and OF dan
70 ger, YOU may have to rely for safety and
> preservation on the power, patriotism and
fidelity of the West.
l ain pleased, Mr.. Chairman, TO find that
= the discussion of this policy by western
:, members is gaining for it strength in this
!, Hall. Several gentlemen who have uniform
:. ly opposed it, have given me assurance of
r their support to nv bill. They came here
= prciudced against the new States, and re-
carded these grants of land to their improve
4 ments as "greut give-away' scheme; but
u an examination of facts has proven other
,,e wise. Why, sir, it is nothing more than a
!. practice common among private landholders
!, of giving one piece for the Improvement Of
ID another, or the donation Of one town lot con-
itioned for its improvement, that those adj
l. acent may be benefited.
:, But, sir, in addition to the direct benefit
is arising from the improvement Of lands, a
~ larger view will show other and greater pc
w w cuniary advantages resulting to the Genera
j., Government. Give us, for instance this
-. grant to the Canton and Bloomfield and
;, North Missouri road, and you open an out
al lei TO great region Of country Of unequaled
% richness and fertility. In few years it:
~, ID surplus products win TEEN into the markets
ID and swell the commerce Of your country
Of This will, of course, augment your impcst'
"a and pour into the Federal Treasury gol-
4 den harvest.
Enable us TO build these roads, and devel
C. ope the natural wealth and resources of our
he State, and the waste place will be made vo
ir- cal with the song of the husbanlman, hi!