The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-07-19
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
His Personal History and Public
Record.
Speech Of Hon. E. B. Washburne, Of U.S.,
Delivered an the United States House Of
Representatives.. Nay %, 1860.
(CONTINUED.l

Following this up, we find Mr.. Lincoln
ever watchful of the interests of the soldier,
proposing to extend the bounty land act,
not only so far as regarded the volunteers
TO Mexico, but to the war-woru veterans OF
1872; thus putting in motion that great
measure of public justice which was finally
melted out to those brave and patriotic men.
On the proposition to amend the bounty
land law of February IL, 1847, which was
passed before Mr.. Lincoln became member
of Congress, Mr.. Lincoln spoke as follows:
If there was a general desire on the
part of the House TO pass the bill now, he
should be glad to have it dOne-concurring
as he did generally with the gentleman
from Arkansas, Mr.. johnson, that the
postponement might jeopardize the safety of
the proposition. If, however, a reference was
to be made, he wished to make very few
remarks in relation to the several subjects
desired by gentlemen to be embraced in
amendments to the ninth section of the act
Of the last session of Congress. The first
amendment desired by members of this
House had for its only object to give boun-
ty lands to such persons as had served for a
time as privates, but had never been dis
charged as such, because promoted to office.
That subject, and no other, was embraced
in this bill There were some others who
desired, while they were legislating on this
subject, that they should also give bounty
lands to the volunteers of the war of 1912.
His friend from Maryland Mr.. Evans said
there were no such men. He (Mr. L. did
not say there were many, but he was very
confident there were some. His friend from
Kentucky near him Mr.. GaInes1 told him
he himself was one.
There was still another proposition
touching this matter, that was that per-
sons entitled to bounty land should by law
be entitled to locate these lands in parcels,
and not be required to locate them in one
body, as was provided by the existing law
Now, he had carefully drawn up a bill
embracing these separate propositions, which
he intended to propose as a substitute for
all these bills in the House, or in Committee
of the Whole on the state OF the Union, ut
some suitable time. If there was a dispo-
sition on the part of the House TO act at
once on this separate proposition, he repeat
ed that, with the gentleman from Arkansas
he should prefer it, lest they should loose
all. But if there was to be reference, he
desired to introduce his bill embracing the
three propositions-thus enabling the Com
mittee and the House to act at the same
time, whether favorably or unfavorahly,
upon all?''-C Congressional Globe, col, Is
page $50.
Thus it will be seen shat Mr.. Lincoln not
only favored the bill before the House, but
he proposed embracing the soldiers of the
war of 1872, and also to authorize the sol
der to locate his land in parcels, and not to
be obliged to locate it in one body; a most
just and liberal proposition.
On the great question of rivers and bar
bors, Mr.. Lincoln is eminently sound and
practical, and his views must meet with the
appreciation Of the country. On the 22d
day of June, r84S, be made a speech in the
House of Representatives, on the message of
President Polk vetoing the river and har-
DOT bill In reply to that part of the mes
sage OF Mr.. Polk touching the suggestion of
change Of the Constitution, he made the
following observations, which should sink
deep into the htrts of the American peo-
pie;
AS general rule, think we would do
much better to let il alone. No sIioht oc
casson should tempt US TO touch il. Better
not take the first step, which may lead to a
habit of altering it. Better rather habit
nate ourselves to think OF it as unalterable
1t can scarcely be made better than it is
New provisions would introduce new diff
cuities, and thus create and increase appe-
tite for still further change No, sir : let it
stand as il IS. New hands have never
touched it. The men who made it have
done their work, aud have passed away
Who shall improve on what they did ~
After conclusively replying to the arru
ments Of the message, Mr. Lincoln proceeds
with tie following eminently practical sup
gestous
Determine that the thing can and shall
be done, and then we shall find the way
The tendency to undue expansion is un
questionably the chief difficulty How 10
40 SohnetRua9, ana still not to do foo much,
Is tue desloeratum. Let each contribute