Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-03-03
Sale of Harper's Ferry Property.


The following proceedings took place in
the U. S. Senate on Wednesday last in re-
gard to the sale of the Armory property at
Harpcr's Ferry. The bill passed the Sen
ate with but little difficulty, and we hope
may speedily meet the same approval of the
House.
Mr. Wilson called up the bill providing
for the sale of the lands, tenements and water
privileges belonging to the United States at
Harpcr's Ferry.
: Mr.. Wilson. from the committee on mill
tary affairs, reported an amendment to do
nate certain portions of the lands to college
chartered by the Legislature of West Nir>
GINA, and that other portions now occupied
by religious and charitable societies shall be
donated to them.
Mr.. Hendricks did rot know for whatrea:
son this property SHOULD be given to West
Virginia, and also objected to the sale being
made under the direction of the Secretary Of
War, with no restriction whatever.
Mr.. Ramsey said this place was the scene
of the exploits Of John Brown, deceased, ard
in order to meet the objections of the Scna-
tor, he would move that the land be given to
the heirs of John Brown deceased.
Mr.. Hendricks Senator from Min
ncsota has Il perfect right to give away his
own property to the heirs ofJohD Brown OF
anybody else's heirs, but he (Nlr. H. objec-
ted to his right to give away the property Of
the people OF indiana and of the other pco-
pie Of the United States; property which had
beeu bought and paid for by the peoples
money.
Mr.. Fcssenden thought. it was rather
new wrinkle for member from one Of the
Western States to get up here and object to
grants Of land. Those States, both new aud
old, had received enormous grants of land
from the general government for all sorts of
purposes He had years ago attempted to
examine into the propriety of some OF these
grants, but he had to i've it up. In fact,
the Western members and the Western peo-
pie looked upon any examination into this
matter as a species Of impertinence. He
did not see anything unusual in this matter.
1t was only proposed to give to tho State of
West Virginia, part OF the State which had
originally coded the whole land, small por-
ton of land for educational purpose. This
institution which it was proposed to give
this land to had been regularly chartered
and had received large donations from private
citizens. 1t was very proper to give this as
sistance to it, and he was somewhat surprised
at this objection, considering the quarter from
which it came.
Mr.. Hendricks said the government had
made great deal of money by its Western
LANDS, but it had never made any by the lands
in Maine.
Mr. Fesscuden.-It never owned any in
Maine.
Mr.. Hendrick sit never owned any be-
cause Massachusetts, refused to cede any of
her public lands, as the other States did, for
the purpose of reducing the national debt
Mr.. II. then argued that the government had
been great gainer.by the policy pursued in
regard to the public lands in the West, and
had realized hundred millions from Indiana
alone, and also vast amounts from Ohio and
Illinois. lie had made his objection to this
bill in good faith and did not admit that
Western men were to be censured. Maine
had been wilderness at the foundation. of
the government, and that State and that sec
ton had, without realizing any advantage to
the government, been the recipient of its aid
in the shape of fishing bountics, &.
Mr.. Eessenden was not before aware that
Maine was wilderness when the govern
ment was founded; he had heard of people
who lived there during the revolution. In
regard to the fishing bounties, they had been
abolished, and he had hoped that they had
heard the last of them; but it seemed the
Senator from Indiana kept them stored in his
capacious intellect, and brought them forward
Oh all. occasions.
Mr.. Hendricks. said he would say no more
about Goldfish if the Senator would say no
more about public lands,
Mr. Fessenden said, every we'll" but went
on to repeat that the Western members com>
sidered it an encroachment on their reserved
rights if an Eastern man was put on any of
the committees relating to the public lands,
when
Mr.. Hendricks interrupted him to ask if
they had not made the bargain to drop goldfish
and public lands hereafter, [laughter,] al
though, Of course, the advantage would be
on the side Of the Senator.
Mr.. Wiley explained the provisions of the
bill 1t was not proposed to donate any of
the improved property of the government,
and before anything was given, the original
ccst was to be returned to the government.
Mr.. Conkling asked what was the value of
the property.
: MIR. Wiley said about million of dollars.
This was for the purpose of increasing the
school fund of West Virginia; they were
poor and ignorant there; they had been the
outside barbarians of old Virginia. They
were striving hard to educate their people,
and hoped the government would give them
this assistance.
The amendment of the committee vas then
adopted: