SPEECH
OV
HON. THOMPSON CAMPBELL. OF ILL.,
AGAINST
THE KEOKÜCK AND DUBUUUE MILEOAD.
DELIYERfiD
ÏN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAY 28, 1852.
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WASHINGTON:
Printed at the congressional globe office.
1852.
EEOKUCK AND DUBUQUE RAILROAD,
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Illinois, said s
Mr. Chairman : I do not rise for the purpose of entertaining the com¬
mittee with a political speech} and it is with considerable reluctance I
claim their attention at this tinie at all—not, sir, that I have any apology
to make for doing so, because since I have had the honor of holding a
seat upon this floor, I have occupied very little of the time of the House
or committee in the way of speech-making. And when I have done so,
it has always been on the question directly under consideration. But I
may be permitted to say this much, that, in my judgment, it would have
been much better, and more profitable to both political parties, if all the
political speeches which have been made on both sides of the House,
since the beginning of the session till the present time, had never been
made. I believe that time and experience will verify the truth of what
I state. After the nominations are made, and the presidential candi¬
dates are fairly in the field, they will find they have only been teaching
bloody instructions, which, being taught, will return to plague their in¬
ventors. What little political ammunition I have in store I intend to reserve
for the common enemy after the nominations are made, and the two po¬
litical armies are fairly in the field, led on to the conflict by their respective
captains; and I trust, sir, that neither before the nomination nor after it,
will we hear any more, at least from the Democratic side of the House,
of that painful crimination and recrimination with which we have too
frequently been entertained heretofore. Let us meet the enemy with an
unbroken front, shoulder to shoulder, to fight the battle, as we have been
in the habit of doing in times past, and we will have every guarantee
that a glorious victory will crown our efforts. These, sir, are the views
Uentertain of the policy, or rather impolicy, of members of the Demo¬
cratic party making antagonizing political speeches on this floor, which
can be productive of nothing but evil, and that continually.
It will be remembered, that in the early part of the session, the Com¬
mittee on Public Lands reported a bill for the construction of certain
4
railroads in the State of Iowa. The member of that committee who re¬
ported the Iowa bill, [Mr. Henn,] after having made a speech upon it
himself, m^ved the previous question. I requested him to withdraw his
call for the previous question, for the purpose of enabhng me to make a
statement of m^ views with regard to the policy of that measure, which
he very magnanimously declined to grant. I was therefore excluded from
saying anything upon the question at that time. But, for the purpose of de¬
fining my position more clearly upon this question, I desire now to say, that
the geographical position of my district impels me, as a matter of duty to
those whose interests I represent upon this floor, to resist the passage of
this bill with all the power—with aU the ability which I possess. And
I would further say, that this is the only opportunity which is afforded
me of giving to the House my views upon this question, or of partici¬
pating, indeed, in any \Ya.j in this measure before it is brought before the
House ; because, sir, the organization of this body has practically excluded
me from all participation in the preparation and arrangement of the busi¬
ness before it comes here to be acted upon ; and if I do not avail myself
of the opportunity of giving my views at this time before the Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union, from the course which has been
adopted in relation to these land bills, I am satisfied that I will be under
the necessity of folding my arms, and quietly seeing a measure pass
which will be of incalculable injury to the entire district which I repre¬
sent.
The western side of my district is washed by the Mississippi river for
two hundred and fifty miles—extending below Keokuck, the southern
end of the proposed road, and running up opposite to Dubuque, the north¬
ern end of the road, embracing both the upper and the lower rapids of
the Mississippi river. It is clear to be seen, that if this road should be con¬
structed, and the two points named in the bill should thereby be connected,
the trade and commerce of the river towns would be greatly affected,
and the prospect of obtaining a speedy relief from the impediments which
the two rapids offer to the free navigation of the river would be rendered
hopeless in the extreme. But, sir, independent of all local interests
which, as a faithful Representative, I feel called upon to protect, .there
are objections to this grant involving great principles—principles which
were applied to the Illinois gi'ant, and which shall control my action and
my vote upon every bill of this character upon which I may be called to
act while I have a seat in this Hall. It may be said, and it may be urged
against me, as one of the Representatives from the State of Illinois—a
State which has been the recipient of a magnificent grant of the public
lands for this same ostensible purpose—that my course in opposing this
grant is ungenerous ; but, sir, I will say to those gentlemen who urge
this as an argument against me, that the same argument may be used
against a large number of the citizens of the State of Iowa itself. At a
convention which was held in that State last fall, at the city of Burling¬
ton, where four States lying on the Mississippi river, and the Territory
of Minnesota were represented, a committee was appointed for the pur¬
pose of collecting information with regard to the river trade and river
commerce. I have received a letter from that committee, resisting, and
protesting in the very strongest terms, against the grant asked for in aid
5
of the construction of the railroad known as the Dubuque and Keokuck
road.
Mr. CLARK. Who were the committee?
Mr. CAMPBELL. I say it was the committee which was appointed
by the convention that met at Burlington last fall, in relation to the im¬
provement of the rapids in the Mississippi river.
Mr. CLARK. Do I understand the gentleman to state that he has
received a letter from that committee against the continuation of the
Keokuck road ?
Mr. CAMPBELL. I say that that committee has written me a letter,
protesting, in the strongest terms, against the construction of the Du¬
buque and Keokuck road.
Mr. CLARK. Read it.
Mr. CAMP HELL. I do not intend to read it at this time.*
*The following letter is the same referred to in my speech, and which the gentleman from
Iowa [Mr. Clark] desired me to read, which, at that time, I declined doing, for reasons which
I then entertained. Since that time circumstances have made its publication necessary. The
committee by whom the letter was written were appointed by a convention held at the city of
Burlington last fall, composed of delegates representing the States of Missouri, Illinois, Wis¬
consin, Iowa, and the Territory of Minnesota, for the purpose of urging upon Congress, at its
present session, the necessity, in a national point of view, of making an appropriation, in
money, for the improvement of the Des Moines and Rock river rapids, in the Mississippi river.
The committee are all gentlemen of the highest standing, and are all citizens of the State of
Iowa;
Burlington, Iowa, Feh-uary 18, 1852.
Dear Sir: The convention for the improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi river,
composed of delegates from Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota, which assembled at this
place on the 23d October last, appointed a committee, consisting of the undersigned, with
instructions to procure statistics showing the value of the commerce, &c., of the Valley of the
Upper Mississippi, and submit the same, with such other information bearing upon the subject
as might be deemed proper to our Representatives in Congress, at as early a period as possible.
Fully alive to the importance of this matter, we have been actively engaged in procuring the
necessary information, and hope to be able, within a short time, to forward such an array of facts in
reference to the necessity of this improvement, as shall commend it to the immediate attention, at
least, of every Western member of Congress. In the mean time, we take the liberty of address¬
ing you, as the Representative of an intelligent and populous district, interested, like ourselves,
in the speedy removal of the obstructions now existing to the navigation of our great river, and
of respectfully requesting your cooperation in preventing a sacrifice of the interests of the great
Valley of the Mississippi in the Halls of our National Legislature, for a grant of land to build
a railroad running from Dubuque to Keokuck, parallel with the Mississippi river, crossing all
its numerous tributaries, and, if following a straight line, crossing the great river itself at least
four times, traversing a section of country which, to say the least, is not densely settled, and
totally incapable of supporting a road even if built; a project which never could be carried into
successful execution if the State possessed the revenues arising from all the lands sold within
its borders, for the next ten years, to appropriate to its construction. But, sir, we will venture
even further with our argument. Dubuque, whence this contemplated road is to commence,
already has a connection secured to her, by means of the great central road of your own State,
with the Mexican gulf, and with all the southern and eastern sea-board. What more can she
reasonably ask.' Is it in accordance with any known rule of justice, to make this point, already
a terminus of one of the greatest railroads in the world, on the east side of the Mississippi
river, also a terminus of a like road on the west side.' By what rule, either of common sense
6
S
I say, then, that this is a local question, and it is a local question in
Iowa, as well as a local question which interferes with the district which
I represent. The bill which I intend to speak to is one that will be
before the House for its action—I apprehend to-morrow—or tlie very
next business most likely which will be taken up, and I therefore may
be considered as speaking to a subject which is really before the mem¬
bers of this House for their consideration, and for their investigation.
And, after I have made the statements which I intend to make, I would
appeal to every candid man upon the floor, to say whether he can in the
conscientious dischargè of his duty, give it his support.
The bill provides for the construction of two roads—one known as the
Davenport and Council Bluffs road, forming a connecting link in a great
chain of railways, by which the West is connected with the Atlantic
cities. Now, I desire to be distinctly understood, that so far as thjs road
is concerned, it shall have my cordial and enthusiastic support if I can
only have the opportunity of doing so, without at the same time voting
for this other road, the Keokuck and Dubuque road, which runs north
and south, and which connects two points on the Mississippi, and on the
Mississippi alone. I say I will support it, if I can have the opportunity
of doing so without voting for that road which, under no circumstance,
and in no connection, can I ever be induced to support.
or necessity, would Congress promote, by grants of land, the construction of such a road, com¬
mencing in a region of frost and ice, crossing all the natural drains of the country, and built at
an immense expense, to terminate in the same State where it commences, to connect no points
of any importance, either in a local or national point of view, against the protests of fully one
half of all the people of the State, and outside the State, of the whole Northwest? That spirit
of fairness and equity, which has long since been implanted into the principles of the Govern¬
ment, " the greatest good to the greatest number," would forever forbid so arbitrary a viola¬
tion of all we have been led to hope from Congress. That grants of lands should be made to.
Western States for objects truly national, intended to connect distant portions of different States
and sections of our Union, is fast settling into a fixed principle of our Government.
But it is to be hoped that, in all such cases. Congressional committees will carefully scrutinize
and discriminate in favor of worthy schemes and projects which promise to be of national
advantage. To your care do We commit these mighty interests, in which you, ourselves, the
convention by jvhom we were appointed, and the whole Northwest, have so deep a concern.
We conjure you to guard watchfully against insidious efforts, come from what quarter they
may; such as we have alluded to, to barter away our only hope of a free, uninterrupted navi¬
gation of the great Mississippi, for schemes of internal improvement, never intended, by their
advocates, to be aught but stepping-stones to high places and honors.
We beg you to expose, fearlessly and energetically, any and all of these attempts; and rely
upon receiving the everlasting gratitude and thanks of the whole population of the Valley of the
Upper Mississippi.
We are, very respectfully, your obedient servants,
HENRY W. STARR,
L. D. STOCKTON,
DAVID RORER,
J. C. HALL,
J. P. TALLANT,
W. P. COOLBAUGH,
Committee appointedby the Convention for the improvement of the Mississippi river,
Hon. Thompson Campbell, M. C., Washington, D. C.
i
1 désiré further to place myself right with regard to the position which
I have taken in relation to the pohcy of making grants of public lands to
aid in the construction of railroads in the States where the lands are lo¬
cated. Although the correctness of the policy is doubted by some, it is
sustained by the soundest principles of political economy, the correctness
of which is susceptible of the clearest illustration. In adopting this prin¬
ciple, I can see no conflict with that pohcy which the Democratic party
have incorporated into their creed in relation to the question of internal
improvements, and which, at this time, forms one of their cardinal prin¬
ciples. In my judgment, there is a clear and well-defined distinction
drawn between the General Government making donations for the pur¬
pose of aiding in the construction of internal improvements, with money
drawn out of the Treasury, and loaning its aid by donations of land,
made in obedience to a wise and prudential policy. In the one case, it
is a continual drain upon the common Treasury of the nation; in the
other, it is for the purpose of enabling the Government to sell and dis¬
pose of a portion of the public domain, that it may put money into the
Treasury. But this distinction may be met with the answer, that land
is money, or can be easily converted into money. Sir, the whole policy
rests upon the assumption that the land is only donated because it cannot,
be sold for money, but will remain in its unproductive state unless the
proposed improvement be constructed ; in other words, the improve¬
ment is necessary to enable the Government to convert its land into
money. •
While I adopt this principle in its widest and greatest extent, stiUIdo
not consider that evely work which any particular State, or any partic¬
ular class of individuals may see fit to project, is, as a matter of course,
entitled to a donation of the public lands for the prnqrose of aiding in its
construction. I mean by this, that the policy of granting public lands
to aid in the construction of railroads and other public works, is not of
such a general character as to be without its conditions, restrictions, and
limitations. It will be, then, to these restrictions, conditions, and hmita-
tions that I will direct and confine the remarks which I intend to make
upon this subject ; and will endeavor to show, before I take my seat, by
the most unanswerable argument, and the clearest illustration, that the
grant asked in aid of the Keokuck and Dubuque railroad should never
receive the sanction of this House. In the first place, I hold that the
General Government should not aid in the construction of any public
work which is of a purely local character. Secondly, that it is not the
policy of the Government to lend its aid, by donations of land or other-
wisOj towards the construction of a railroad which is intended to run
parallel with a great navigable stream, and particularly such a stream
as the Mississippi river. Third, that it is not the policy of the General
Goverliment to aid in the construction of public works, the direct effect
of which will be to sacrifice other great interests upon which the wealth,
prosperity, and hopes of vast communities are made to depend. Fourth,
the motive which stimulates the Government to part with a portion of its
domain, being the same that would influence a prudential landholder to
part with a portion of his estate for public purposes in order that the res¬
idue might be enhanced in value, the improvement for which aid is.
8
sought should be necessary to enable the Government to dispose of its
otherwise unsalable lands.
I propose now to invite the attention of the committee, while I apply
the principles first laid down to the grant asked for in the Iowa bill in aid
of the projected Keokuck and Dubuque road. Is the public work, for
which this grant of land is sought, of a local character ? ' The bill pro¬
poses to construct a railroad from Keokuck, at the foot of the lower rap¬
ids, on the Mississippi river, to Dubuque, a point about two hmidred
and twenty-five miles above the rapids, on the same river. The road,
then, when completed, would connect two points on the Mississippi river,
Keokuck and Dubuque, both within the State of Iowa. I would then
ask, by what principle, or by what policy, you would make a grant of
the public domain to connect two points, both located upon the Missis¬
sippi river, thereby connecting the river with itself? This towb of Keo¬
kuck, I desire the committee to understand, is located at the foot of Des
Moines river rapids, has a deep and abiding interest in the construction
of this road and in the prevention of the improvement of the rapids, so
that a transhipment will always be necessary at that particular point.
This town, growing and prosperous as it is, owes its very fife and exist¬
ence to the serious impediment which these rapids offer to the free nav¬
igation of the Mississippi river. The construction of the road, therefore,
as projected in this bill, would secure two objects which that locality
most desires : first, the prevention of the improvement of the rapids by
the substitution of a land transportation for an obstructed river trans¬
portation ; second, a transhipment at that point of all the trade of the
Upper Mississippi river.. As Dubuque is the northern terminus, it would
enjoy the same local advantages. And for the purpose of showing that
this is the intention of the originators of the measure, I will read a speech
made by one of the Senators from Iowa, [Mr. Jones,] at the other end
of the Capitol, when this bill was under discussion, in which he holds
the following language :
" In answer to an inquiry made on my right as to the situation of Burlington, I will state
that it is about forty miles north of Keokuck, and between those two points intervene the rapids
of the Des Moines river. One great object of the railroad is to get below the Des Moines river
rapids, which are a great obstruction to the navigation of the Mississippi river. Fort Des
Moines is not named in the bill, and I hope it will not be named. I trust the State of Iowa will
be allowed to designate the towns and routes for itself. "
I give the gentleman's speech entire. He says one great object of the
railroad is to "get below the Des Moines river rapids, which are a great
obstruction to the navigation of the Mississippi, river."
Now, if these rapids should happen to be improved by the General
Government, (and I hope that a bill which I have introduced to secure
that most desirable object will pass into a law before the close of the
present session,) I apprehend they would no longer continue to be an
obstruction to the navigation of the Mississippi river. What, then, is the
object for approaching the Mississippi below these rapids if it is not for
the only purpose of preventing their improvement, and obviating the
necessity of an appropriation for that purpose, and thereby continuing
the obstacles which these rapids present to the free navigation of the
river, for the express benefit of this town of Keokuck, and that alone?
#
9
Why, tliis town of Keokuck has taxed all "the trade and commerce of the
Upper Mississippi river since there was any trade and commerce there.
Eveiy barrel of flour, every bushel of wheat, and every pig of lead which
descends the Mississippi river, and every pound of coflee, every pound
of sugar, and every implement of husbandly brought back in return, are
taxed for the benefit of this town of Keokuck. There never was an
impost law, there never was a revenue law laid or collected with more
certainty than this town of Keokuck levies and collects its taxes upon
the trade and commerce of the Upper Mississippi river. Every city,
every town, and every hamlet, from the Des Moines rapids to the Falls
of the St. Anthony, are compelled, on account of this impediment to the
navigation of "the river at that point, to pay tribute to this town of Keo¬
kuck. The intention of this Iowa land bill—the intention of this rail¬
road, which is to approach the Mississippi below that point, is to make
that tribute perpetual. . , .
A work more purely local in its character, or more wholly and entirely
unnecessary, save for the local advantages which it is intended to confer,
and the individual aggrandizement which it is intended to work out, can¬
not be found on any railroad chart in this or any other country. Instead
of forming a connecting link in any system or chain of railroads, by which
the different sections of our country are united, or even forming a con¬
necting link between two States, it begips and ends in the same State,
and does not connect itself with any projected, or even imaginary line of
railroad, by which the West would be connected with the East, or the
North with the South.
I will now direct your atiention to the consideration of the second
principle that I have laid down.
Mr. HENN. I wish to ask the gentleman a question. Would he have
voted ibr the Illinois central railway grant if he had been in Congress at
that time ?
Mr. CAMPBELL. I most certainly would, and I intend to vote for
all those other grants which have not the same local objections to them
as the grant which I am now considering.
Mr. HENN. I would ask the gentleman if the Illinois road does not
commence on the Mississippi, and end on the Mississippi ?
Mr. CAMPBELL. The Illinois road penetrates the interior of the
country, and is the link in a great chain of railroad by which the lakes
of the North are connected with the Gulf of Mexico, in the South. It is
eminently a great national work.
No foreign State derived a greater benefit from that road than the gen¬
tleman's own State. By the urgent request of at least one of her Sen¬
ators, who moved the amendment himself, the road was extended from
Galena, its legal, just, and commercial terminus, to Dubuque, in the State
of Iowa, which, considering the injury it inflicted upon Galena, was in
every way an equivalent and full consideration for the support which the
measure received from the State of Iowa. The construction of this part
of the road will cost more than five times the distance on any other part
of the route, and will be worthless, in point of revenue, after it is com¬
pleted, Xvhich I am still disposed to think is a doubtful question. And,
sir, if I had had the honor of representing the sixth Congressional dis-
10
trict then, as I have now, thé road would have terminated, where the
laws of Illinois, and the laws of commerce, had fixed its termination, at
Galena, the great and only commercial depot for the extreme North¬
west.
Mr, HENN. On behalf of those gentlemen, I deny that they were in¬
fluenced by any such consideration.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I state, sir, that I have understood from honor¬
able men that it was insisted upon, as I have already stated, by one of
her Representatives, that the road should terminate at Dubuque, and not
at Galena.
Mr. HENN. I will ask the gentleman another question.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I will not give way any more. L appealed in
vain to the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Henn] when he moved the pre¬
vious question, to yield, but he would not do so. I do not consider
that even the strict rules of courtesy require that I should give way
now.
Mr. HENN. I will not trouble the gentleman any further.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I will next direct the attention of the committee
to the consideration of the second principle which I have laid down, and
which relates to the policy of our Government in making grants of lands
to aid in the construction of public railways which are intended to run
parallel with a great navigable stream. A glance at the map indicates
with unerring certainty the direction which this road is intended to run,
and must take. Connecting, as it does, two points on the Mississippi
river, it must of course run parallel with that strèam for a great part of
the distance, almost oil its very banks, and then only receding in the
same ratio that the stream deviates from a straight line. The region
of country through which this road is intended to penetrate, is already
supplied with one of the noblest, greatest, and most magnificent high¬
ways of which any country is able to boast, stretching through a valley
which, for wealth, extent, and variety of resources, is without a parallel
in the geographical history of the world ; with three thousand miles of
an uninterrupted navigable channel, save two partial impediments from
which it can be quickly and cheaply relieved ; with tributaries whose
sources spring from the Alleghanies on the one side, and from the Rocky
Mountains on the other ; passing through, and washing the sides of nearly
one third of the States of this Union, joining together, with its mysterious
links, various and distant parts of this great Confederacy ;—is it not justly
entitled to the proud distinction by which history has designated it, "the
mighty Father of Waters?" Without it, what would have been its great
valley ? And without the valley, what would the Union be ? Could a
curse more desolating in its consequences be pronounced against this our
highly-favored land than that which would consign to the thirsty earth
our beautiful rivers, and leave their parched beds a dry and dreary waste ?
Upon the banks of this noble stream, and parallel with this great national
highway, the State of Iowa, or rather the present Representatives of the
State of Iowa, propose to construct a railroad which is to run in oppo¬
sition to the mighty " Father of Waters." May I not appeal to the mem¬
bers of this committee, while they are under the discharge of their duties
to the whole people, to pause and reflect before they comply with this
11
most extraordinary request, upon the deleterious eSects it is to produce,
and will inevitably produce, upon other great interests ; which, if they
make no direct appeal to you for aid, certainly, most certainly, have a
right to invoke your forbearance and protection ?
I would now, for a very brief time, direct your attention to the consider¬
ation of another principle which I have laid down, and which I desire to
have applied to this grant ; and it is this : that it is not the pobcy ot this
Government, and it is not just in this Government, .to lend its aid for the
construction of any public work, the direct effect of which wiU be to
sacrifice and destroy other great interests which have equal claims upon
its regard and its protection. It is only necessary for me, sir, to refer
you to this map, for the purpose, of showing to the House the extent and
variety of the great interests which would be afibcted if you should grant
the amount of public lands which are necessary to enable the State of
Iowa to construct this road. Large cities, unaided by any patronage
from the Government—the result of the enterprise and labor of the coun¬
try—have sprung up on both banks of this great national highway, some
of which export the products of the country annually to the amount of
two millions of dollars, and flourishing villages, sustained by the richest
agricultural country in the world, not few and far between, but forming
almost a continuous line on both sides of the Mississippi river, within the
very region of country intended to be embraced within this grant. Why,
sir, on the Upper Mississippi river—and here I intend to make an appeal
to gentlemen who, perhaps, have an interest there, though they do not
discover it at this time—there are from twenty-five to thirty steamboats
engaged in the trade and commerce of that river. Those boats require
about one thousand persons to manage them, at an average salary, per¬
haps, of six hundred dollars a year, and run on the Mississippi for nine
months in the year upon an average. They are owned at Galena, St.
Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Wheeling, and Pittsburg; and, sir, I may
venture to say, that there is not a season passes but that new boats are
in construction at nearly aU of the points which I have named for the
Upper Mississippi river trade. They are owned by the navigators of
the river ; they are owned by merchants residing in the difierent cities I
have referred to, and by ship-builders located at these different points.
If you strike a blow, then, at this river commerce, you strike a blow at
everything which is connected with it.
This is an age of speed, and the pro"blem—if it ever was a problem—
that steamboat navigation cannot compete with parallel lines of railroad,
has long since been solved. You construct this road upon the bank of
this navigable stream, and I say to you,, that that day you strike down
this great interest, you strike down all those river towns ; for, from the very
day that this bill shall become a law, you divert from its accustomed
channel the trade and commerce of the Upper Mississippi river to land
transportation. Why, sir, it was upon the banks of this stream where
the first settlements of the country were made, and they have gradually
extended back into the interior, until the Government has almost ceased
to be a land-owner within miles of any of these great internal channels
of trade and commerce. Cities and towns have sprung up, not only
upon the banks of the Mississippi, but stretching far back into the interior.
12
And will this road have no elFect upon this interest, and this enterprise,
which commenced when the first settlement of the country commenced ;
which has grown with its growth—not hot-bed strength, but all the result
of labor and the result of enterprise? I say to you, are your prepared,
by a single blow, to strike it all down forever ? You may create new
interests ; you may build up new cities ; you may benefit other localities
but remember, when you do it, you do it at the sacrifice and expense of
other great interests, .which have as just and as equal a claim upon your
protection as any scheme of speculation possibly can have that can be
got up either by States or individuals.
Let me say to you, sir, that in the midst of all the splendor of railroad
enterprise, which is now dazzling the world, and is the beginning of a
new epoch that will mark the age in which we live, with progressive
events which will form the most startling page in the world's history, we
must not lose sight of a great commercial truth, which is, that the weights
of commerce will still be transported upon water, wherever water can
be found to float them. But, sir, if we come here for the purpose of
donating the public lands for all the indiscriminate purposes for which
grants of the public domain may be sought, without regard to the nation¬
ality of the work, without regard to its importance in a national point of
view, we at once plunge into the shoreless sea of internal improvement,
against the dangers of which the warning voice of the Democracy of this
nation has again and again been raised. I say, sir, that in making these
donations, and in making these grants, we must have an eye to the loca¬
tion of the work which is intended to be constructed thereby ; and, äs I
said before, thé chief argument, and the sound argument which the friends
of this policy urge—and I claim to be one of them, honest and sincere—
in favor of making grants of the public domain, is this : that the public
lands, on account of the want of natural facilities to take the products of
the soil to any market, renders it necessary that some public works
should be constructed for the purpose of enabling the Government to sell
and dispose of what would ^otherwise be its unsalable lands. The con¬
struction of these roads, then, brings the lands into market immediately,
the minimum price of the alternate section being raised to S2 50 per
acre ; and as much money goes into the Treasury as would have been
received if all the lands had been sold. This is the argument in favor
of making these grants ; and where this argument does not apply, I hold
that the grant should not be made'.
Now, sir, does this argument apply so far as the construction of the
Dubuque and Keokuck railroad is concerned? I will venture to say
that there never was a land district in any of the Western States of this
Union where the public lands have been disposed of more rapidly, or
where settlement has progressed more quickly than it has done in this
very region of country through which this road is intended to penetrate.
Do not the cities and towns which have sprung up on the banks of
the Mississippi river, and in the interior, as if by the " stroke of the
enchanter's wand," proclaim, in trumpet tones, the advantages which
nature, with a teeming prodigality, has bestowed upon this most highly
favored country? And yet, in the face of these pregnant truths, you are
gravely pressed to aid in the construction of an artificial channel, the
/
13
great object of which is to build up two localities, at the expense and
sacrifice of every intermediate point on the Mississippi river. The lands
have been sold as rapidly as it is desirable to sell the lands in any new
State or Territory. For what purpose, then, do you make this grant?
Do you make it for the purpose of getting the products of the country to
any particular market ? That is not necessary,, for it connects with no
place except the two points on the Mississippi river. Where, then, is
that necessity, which alone should prompt the Government to dispose of
a portion of its domain, in order that the balance might be doubled in
value? We find that no such necessity exists in this case. The land
Can be sold without it ; nature has provided the remedy in advance ; the
Mississippi river has enabled the Government to dispose of its lands. It
has settled the country, and on its broad bosom floats the productions of
the richest soil in the world, to the markets of the world.
But, sir, I understand that my time has almost expired, and I will not
be able to dwell upon this point to the extent I intended. I desire, before
I take my seat, to place myself in the position which I intend to occupy
with regard to these grants. If an opportunity is afforded when this
bill comes up, I desire to offer an amendment; but there is no prospect
of having an opportunity of doing so, because I expect it will be put
through under the high-pressure of the previous question, and, sir, I tell
gentlemen to look well to it. If we are to have a tariff" that will tax us
millions and millions of dollars, and that perpetually, for a few acres of
land to aid us in constructing railroad s which are to run in opposition to
the greatest navigable stream in the world, I desire to know it, and I
desire to know the names of those persons who intend to fix upon us
this tribute to the manufacturing capitalists forever and ever. Sir, if I
have an opportunity of moving an amendment when this bill is called
up, I intend to move to strike out all that part of the bill which relates
to the Keokuck and Dubuque roa:d, leaving the Davenport and Council
Bluff's road—which is a most meritorious and national road—standing,
and I would insert in its place Senate bill No. 155, which provides for
an east and wèst road, running from Burlington to the Missouri river,
and from Burlington to Peoria, in Illinois, and Lafayette, in Indiana,
thereby making a continuous chain of railroad from the Missouri river
to all the Atlantic cities. If that amendment should prevail, what then
would be the condition of Iowa? She would have the Illinois cen¬
tral railroad on the north, terminating at one of her principal towns—
Dubuque ; she would have the Davenport and Council Bluffs road pene¬
trating the interior of her State, and stretching onwards and onwards
towards the great Pacific ; she would have on the south this Burlington
and Lafayette road, extending to the Missouri river; and on her whole
eastern side she would be washed by the mighty Father of Waters.
The Government has already made an appropriation of a million and a
quarter of acres for the improvement of the Des Moines river by slack-
water navigation, which penetrates far into her interior and empties into
the Mississippi at Keokuck—the very point where this road is intended
to terminate. Is there a more beautiful system of railroads or improve¬
ments in any State or in any country in the whole world ? And I
here say to the people of Iowa, if the present opportunity of securing
14
this rich boon is permitted to pass by them, and if the cup should now
be dashed from their lips, the cause of their misfortune, the defeat of all
their well-grounded hopes, will be attributable to one cause alone—the
Dubuque and Keokuck road. Purge the bill of this incubus, and all oppo^
sition will at once cease, friends will gather around it, its nationality
will commend it to all parts of the country. Success must be the inevi¬
table result, and the glorious destiny of the young giant of the West will
be unalterably fixed, and the foundation of her greatness will be laid
deep and broad. But if other counsels shall prevail, the people of Iowa
will know the true cause of all their misfortunes.
I understand the committee have agreed upon an amendment, for the
purpose of satisfying the city of Burlington with a sugared pill. The
construction of this Dubuque and Keokuck road will prevent the im¬
provement of the rapids, and greatly affect the commerce and trade of
all the river towns located above them. The flourishing city of Burling¬
ton, in the State of Iowa, would be the first to suffer. They will sur¬
round it with this road, giving it a mere branch, because the amend¬
ment proposed to be ofíéred does not fix any point of terminalion on the
Missouri river. But let us examine the conditions of this bill, the terms
upon which this grant is to be made, with a little more particularity.
The route of the road has never been located by any legislative act ; the
route and the distance of the road are all, by the terms of the grant, left
for the future legislation of the State of Iowa. It may be insisted upon,
in reply to what I have said in relation to the course of this road, and
in denial that it will run parallel with the Mississippi river, that the
Legislature may run it in any direction it may see fit; but would this be
in conformity with the intention and spirit of the law making the grant ?
The bill, very ingeniously, fixes only two points, leaving all interme¬
diate points to be inserted by the Iowa Legislature. Am I not justified
in drawing the conclusion that the road will run, as near as practicable,
avoiding all natural impediments, of course, in a straight line between
the two points named in the bill? If they intend otherwise, what con¬
ception have you of the extent of the grant you are called upon to make ?
F or information upon that point, you are told by the bill to confide in
the future legislation of the State of Iowa. Sir, I oppose this bill be¬
cause it is opposed to the interests of the constituency I represent. I
oppose it because it will afford an additional argument against an appro¬
priation for the improvement of the Des Moines and Rock river rapids
in the Mississippi river. I oppose it because it provides for the con¬
struction of a road that will run parallel with the greatest navigable
channel in the world ; and I oppose it for its want of nationality, and
because it is entirely and eminently a local enterprise.
Note.—-On Saturday, the 29th day of May, the day following the
delivery of the foregoing speech, the following proceedings are reported
in the Daily Globe—the Keokuck and Dubuque railroad grant being
under consideration, and Mr. Hall, chairman of the Committee on
Public Lands, having moved the previous question upon the passage of
the bill :
Mr. CAMPBELL, of lllmois. I desire to make aft appeal to the genllemaft to witkdraw tho
15
previous question, for the purpose of enabling me to offer an amendment, which is to strike out
the Keokuck and Dubuque road, and insert what 1 hold in my hand.
Mr. HALL. I cannot do it, sir.
Mr. CLEVELAND. I ask, when the question is taken, that it be taken by yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER. Upon a second we cannot have the yeas and nays, but upon ordering the
main question to be put we can.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I desire to have my amendment read for the information of the House.
Mr. HALL. I must object to that.
Mr. DEAN. I move to lay the bills and amendments upon the table, and upon that I ask the
yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The question was then put upon Mr. Dean*s motion, and it was decided in the affirmative—
yeas 102, nays 68.
The amendment desired by Mr. Campbell, instead of the Keokuck
and Dubuque road, provided for a grant of land to aid in the construc-
- tion of a road from Burlington, in Iowa, to Lafayette, in the State of
Indiana, passing through Warren county, in the State of Illinois, and
extending west to the Missouri river. On the 9th of June, the following
proceedings of the House are reported in the Globe of the 10th :
iowa railroad bill.
The SPEAKER stated the question to be upon reconsidering the vote by which the following
bill was laid upon the table, viz:
Senate bill. No. 1. An act granting the right of way, and making a grant of lands to the
State of Iowa, in aid of the construction of certain railroads in said State.
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Illinois. I ask the unanimous consent of the House to occupy about
two minutes in making an explanation before this vote is taken.
[Cries of "Leave!" "Leave!"]
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. I object. We do not want any speeches.
' Mr. CAMPBELL. I am not going to make a speech. I ask but two minutes for explan¬
ation.
Mr. JONES. I withdraw the objection.
Mr. CAMPBELL; When the vote was taken upon this bill which laid it upon the table, I
was compelled to give what, at that time, and at all times, was a very painful vote to me. This
bill includes three roads in the State of Iowa. Two of those roads cross the State of Iowa in
an east and west direction. Those two roads, as I stated in a speech which I made here some
days since, should receive my cordial and enthusiastic support. But I was opposed to the road
called the Keokuck and Dubuque road, running north and south, because it is opposed to the
interests of the district which I represent. If I could have had an opportunity of voting for
the other two roads without, at the same time^ voting for the Keokuck and Dubuque road, I
would most cheerfully have done so. I regret the necessity which compels me to vote against
measures which I believe, in my conscience, to be right, because they are inseparably linked
with other measures which I believe, in my conscience, to be wrong, and which no association
can ever compel me to support. When this bill was introduced by the chairman of the Com¬
mittee on Public Lands, he moved the previous question upon its passage. I appealed to him
to withdraw the previous question for the purpose of enabling me to offer an amendment to
strike out the Keokuck and Dubuque road. He refused to do so, and under those circum¬
stances I was compelled to vote in favor of the motion to lay the whole bill upon the table. I
shall vote now for the motion to reconsider, with the understanding that when the bill is relieved
from the pressure of the previous question, 1 will have an opportunity of offering the amend¬
ment which I have indicated.
Mr. HAMILTON. I desire to know what is the question now before the House
The SPEAKER. The question is upon the motion tq reconsider the vote by which the
Iowa railroad bill was laid upon the table.
Mr. HAMILTON. I move to lay the motion to reconsider upon the table.
Mr. HALL. Upon that motion I ask for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The question was then taken on Mr. Hamilton's motion, and it was decided in the nega-
' tive-^yeas 77, nays 81.
" The question was then taken on Mr. Hall's motion, (to reconsider
the vote by which the bill had been laid upon the table,) and it was
decided in the negative—^yeas 82, nays 95;" Mr. Campbell voting in
favor of a reconsideration for the reasons indicated in his explanation, as
above reported. '