any special argument in favor of Wisconsin, but he took ground generally
against the policy of giving alternate sections of land, and enhancing
the price of the reserved sections. Now he [Mr. Lincoln] did not at this
time take the floor for the purpose of attempting to make an argument on
the general subject. He rose simply to protest against the doctrine which
the gentleman from Indiana had avowed in the course of what he [Mr.
Lincoln] could not but consider an unsound argument.

It might, however, be true, for anything he knew, that the gentleman from
Indiana might convince him that his argument was sound; but he [Mr.
Lincoln] feared that gentleman would not be able to convince a majority
in Congress that it was sound. It was true the question appeared in a
different aspect to persons in consequence of a difference in the point
from which they looked at it. It did not look to persons residing east of
the mountains as it did to those who lived among the public lands. But,
for his part, he would state that if Congress would make a donation of
alternate sections of public land for the purpose of internal
improvements in his State, and forbid the reserved sections being sold at
$1.25, he should be glad to see the appropriation made; though he should
prefer it if the reserved sections were not enhanced in price. He
repeated, he should be glad to have such appropriations made, even though
the reserved sections should be enhanced in price. He did not wish to be
understood as concurring in any intimation that they would refuse to
receive such an appropriation of alternate sections of land because a
condition enhancing the price of the reserved sections should be attached
thereto. He believed his position would now be understood: if not, he
feared he should not be able to make himself understood.

But, before he took his seat, he would remark that the Senate during the
present session had passed a bill making appropriations of land on that