Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-04
REPORTED FOR THE NATIONAL ISrELIIcxNcER.
Eighteenth Congress.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, ArRiL 90.

| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 70.
Mr.. Dickerson, from the Committee on
Commerce and Manufactures, reported The
bill To authorize masters of vessels, in certain
cases, TO clear out either AT the Custom House
at Richmond, or at Petersburg" with an "a
| mendment.
In pursuance ofnorice given yesterday, Mr.
Benton asked leave to introduce the following
bill:
Bill sell and dispose the refuse lands belonging 10
the United States.
Be II endcfed, &c. That the lands belonging
| TO the United States, which have been h.r.to-
fore, or shall be hereafter offered at public
sale, and shall remain FIVE years hereafter
without being sold at the minimum price of
one dollar twenty-five cents per acre, shall he
again offered at public SALE but shall not be-
sold Tor less sum than fifty cents per acre.
SEC. 2 .4nd be IT. further enacted, Tha, any
head OF family, or young man above twenty
one years OF age, or widow, being citizens of
the United States, may demand and receive
from the Register and Receiver OF the proper
Land ONCE written permission to take pos
session OF, and settle upon, any half quarter
section of land which shall remain unsold af
ter having been offered for sale at the mini
mum price Of fifty cents per acre, and uron
inhabitlng and cultivating the same for three
successive years, shall be entitled 10 receive
patent therefor, as donation from the Unit
ed States.
SEC. s. .4nG be II further enacted. That the
lands which shall Remain unsold after having
been offered for sale at the minimum price of
nifty cents per acre, may be sold at private sail,
Tor that sum, at any time before permission
shall have been granted to settle on the same.
In asking leave TO introduce this bill, Mr..
Benton said this was not the time to discuss
t-probabiy the fine would not come dur
ing the present session. In that event. what
Xya hf,v,o Il
the next session would turn the minds Of the
Senators 10 the changes contemplated, and
would prevent the necessity of delay. He
believed that change in the manner of selling
public lands was called for both hy the voice
oil the people and the interest Of the govern
ment. BY the present rule, said Mr.. B the
good aHd the bad land are held at the same
price. The best can be got FOR 81 e5 per acre :;
the 'CorSt cannot he had for i,ss. The mini
mum price of 81 25 per acre for all sorts of
land was arbitrary and unjust. Ii was unjust
To the people, because it prevented them from
getting The inferior land at a fair price unjust
to the states, because it che cked their popula-
ion, and deprived them of their right of taxa
ton UNJUST TO the nation, be cause il prevented
| the public Treasury from receiving the money
wRIch such land was worth, and for which il
would sell. The continuance of the rule would
give to the United States the f,bled position
OF the dog IN the manager. The rule should
be changed. The United States is great
land seller, and she should follow the practice
of all other sellers she should apporlon her
price to the quality of her land. When
quarter section has. been offered for wears al
81 per acre, and nobody will give that sum,
II is prootthat II is not worth II, and Justice.
10 the people, the states, and the Treasury re-
CURES that IT should be offered again at less
price. The bill introduced assumes fifty cents
per acre, rs the second minimum at which
such lands should be offered; and it proposes
to give away, without price, TO such poor per-
sons as may be willing to take and cultivate
them, the refuse lands which will not sell for
that sum.
The leave was given to introduce the bill.
winch was read, ard ordered To be printed
message was received from the President
OF the United States, communicating informa-
ton, in conformity -"-~I--.:-,.. ~
Hate, respecting moneys borrowed from the
several states during the late war. and the a
mounts of interest allowed thereon. The
message was read, and ordered TO be printed
THE TARIFF.
The Senate then proceeded to consider. in
committee of the whole, the bill from the
House OF Representatives, TO amend the sever
al acts for imposing duties on imports" toge.
Their with the amendments proposed thereto.
by the Committee on Commerce and Manu-
features of the Senate.
The first question was upon agreeing to the
insertion of the following proyiso;
provided also, that the provisions of this
act shall not apply TO, or be enforced against
Expectations of goods from ports or places
eastward Of Cape Good Hope, or beyond Cane
Horn, before the first of November next en-
suing"
Mr.. Dckerson and Mr.. Lloyd, Of Mass. ex-
planned the object Of the amendment; and il
was agreed TO.
The other amendments proposed by the
committee, ARE to change the duty on "Qnills"
from " one dollar per thousand" and insert
twenty-five per ceutum ad valorem;' TO
| change the duty or" States and tiles, for build
ings," from half cent each E" to twenty-five
per centum ad valorem = to strike out the
contemplated duties on flberts, pine apples
| oranges, lemons, and lines TO impose O. on
all window glass, imported in plates, uncut"
the highest rate of duties imposed by this act
on any imported window glass to insert the
following exception" except patent adhesive
felt for covering ofships' bottoms, which shall
be admitted, free of duty, until June 3Otb,
1896"
These amendments were seyerally explain
ed by messrs. Dickerson, and Lloyd, of Mass :;
and were agreed to, by the committee of the
whole.
Mr.. Mills then moved to amend the bill, by
striking ont the following clause " On iron,
in bars or Eolts, not manufactured, in whole or
| in any part, by rolling, ninety cents per hun
dred and twelve pounds weight"
| Mr.. Mills supported his amendment, at con-
siderable length, by showing the great impor-
lance Of this article TO all class Of the com
/ rnunify frouo fhe hurnhIaaf Iaborer M, 20