He was inclined to desire that Wisconsin should be obliged by having it reduced.  But the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. C. B. Smith], the chairman of the Committee on Territories, yesterday associated that question with the general question, which is now to some extent agitated in Congress, of making appropriations of alternate sections of land to aid the States in making internal improvements, and enhancing the price of the sections reserved, and the gentleman from Indiana took ground against that policy.  He did not make 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 principle for the benefit of the State in which he resided the State of Illinois.  The alternate sections were to be given for the purpose of constructing roads, and the reserved sections were to be enhanced in value in consequence.  When that bill came here for the action of this House—­it had been received, and was now before the Committee on Public Lands—­he desired much to see it passed as it was, if it could be put in no more favorable form for the State of Illinois.  When it should be before this House,