The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-10-24
McGREGOR IOWA, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER a. 1850

Speech Of s. A. Douglas,
AT DUBUQUE. OCTOBER 1ltn, 1860.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: have listened with emo
tons of deep sensibility to your beautiful
address. You have done me no more than
justice, in assuming that my public life has
been chiefly devoted to promoting the inter
ests of this great North West and yet, in
having that one grand object in view have
never lost sight Of my obligations to the en-
tire Union. (Applause.) l believe that it is
the mission of the North West to save this
Union from the fierce and hostile factions
that rage between the extreme North and
South. Enthusiastic applause.) Yes, sir,
our peculiar location, our geographical posi-.
ton, enables us more than any other portion
Of the country to bind this glorious Union
together. Bordering upon the Mississippi
and upon the great Lakes; with commerce
floating Southwark and Eastward, we have
an equal interest in the North and the South.
("thats So" and applause.) We can never
consent to any arrangement that would de-
prive us Of our Eastern trade. Nor can we
ever permit toll gate to be established on
the Mississippi river, that would prevent
our free navigation TO the gulf and upon the
ocean. confess that feel Just pride in
witnessing the growth of this great North
western country. I remember Iowa when
there was but few scattering settlements
on the West bank of the Mississippi river
l was personally acquainted with nearly
all the original settlers Of this Territory. l
took deep interest in their welfare, and
had the honor to write the bill that admitted
Iowa as State into the Union. CHEERS. }
After the State was admitted, you having
failed at the first Legislature to elect Sena-
tors, the Democratic State Convention of
Iowa, did the the honor to ask me to look
after their interests until your own Senators
should be elected. (Chcers.) think can
appeal with entire safety to the Senators,
not only of Iowa, but Of every North-wes-
tern State to bear testimony that have
never been faithless to their interest. These
remarks are not confined to Iowa alone. l
had the honor of writing and introducing
the bill that admitted Wisconsin as State
into the Union, and also the bills that ad-
mitted Minnesota, California and Oregon
into the Union. (Cheers.) l had the honor
W PSu OtiN uuVOSdtC dtu CARLY JllC
Senate the bills that organized the Terrific
ries of Minnesota, New Mexico, Utah,
Washington, Kansas and Nebraska (cheers)
While organizing those Territories, my at
tention was especially called to the land sys-
tem-upon which the interests and pros
perity uf all our new Territories and new
States SO much depends. early discovered
that our land system was vicious and defec.
tive in one particular. That portion of our
system which offers the public lands at auc.
tiop and places the speculator on an equali
ty with the actual settler, is unwise and un-
just to the people of the new States and
Territories. In no State Of this Union are
the misfortunes and mischiefs of that sys-
tenn of speculation more visible than upon
these beautiful prairies of Iowa. have Of
ten had occasion to say in the Senate of the
United States, and now repeat it to you,
that if had my way, there would never be
another public land sale on the American
Continent. tremendous applause.) Iwo'd
Homestead bill to ali our public lands, and
would allow the title to remain in the Fed
eral Government until some actual settler
would avail himself of the pre-emption and
the Homestead bill. (Cries, "that's right,
and applause.) l originated the idea Of q
Homestead bill when member of the House
of Representatives some 16 or II years ago
introduced the bill into the House, and
have renewed it in the Senate from time to
time, up to the last session Of Congress.
trust the day will come when we can cor
rect the evils of our land system, by confin.
ing the occupation of the lands to the act.
ual settler, and excluding the spectator
(Applause.) Iwould carry out that system
not only as matter of justice to the set.
tiers of the new States and Territories, but
as matter of public policy for the Govern.
ment The public lands ought never to be
made source of public revenue. So long
as hey have been made so, they have ten.
ded to embarrass the Government rather
than aid it. The land sales have been large
whenever the country was prosperous, and
they have beep nearly nothing when hard
times came upon US. In good times there
has been superabundance Of foreign goods
imported, and a surplus in the Treasury
arising from that superabundaace We
then derived 10, Is, 20 or 25 millions ol
dollars year from the public lands, ere.
ating vast surplus in the Treasury at the
very time when we did not want it; but the
moment pecuniary crisis came, and you
needed money, the whole source of revenue
from the land system failed you--hence these
vast sums derived from the sales Of the pub
lie lands, when we did not want revenue
has contributed in no small degree to tina,
system of reyulsions in our finances, which
has caused this country SO much of suffer
ing and oppression. l have urged in the
Senate over and over again the indispensa-
bic necessity Of con6ning the public land:
to the actual settler, and allowing no specu
lator to get possession except for cultivation
(Cries Of "good!' and applause.) My poll
cy always has been to make every inhabit
ant Of the new States and Territories land
holder, as far as it was possible to do so, b,
our legislation. "a voice, 'that's right D
After extending these privileges to the set
tiers, my next step was to confer upon tn,
settlers Of Territory all the rights Of self
government possessed by the people Of tn,
States. (Applause.) like to discuss tn,
question Of Popular Sovereignty with tn,
people of Iowa. (Cheers.) You have had ex
perience enough, first under Territoria
Government, and since, under State Gov
ernment, to understand the principles whicl
| propose to explain to you. l knew yol
when you lived under Territorial govern
ment, and thought you were just as intel
ligent, just as industrious, Just as virtuou
and just as capable Of self-government Al
you are now under State organization. =
(Cries of "true," that's right every time.
Applausc.) Why are not the people of
Territory capable Of selfgovernlnent as wei
as those Of q State? Who are the peopl
Of Territory? Are they not emigrant
from the old States' Are they not our broth
ers, our sons, and our kindred who hav
left their homes in their native land, an
gone into the wilderness to improve thei
fortunes. And is not man capable Of sell
government who enters the wilderness