Southern planter., 1832-04-28
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

A maiden speech was delivered to-day Ia the
House by Franklin +. Plummer of Mississippi,
which created no little sensation. The history Of
ibs Young gentleman srather singular Atsxtoen
Ne left his parents, who resided somewhere in Mas
sachusetis, and afer various adventures, settled in
Mississippi, and was in q short time, ga Ia mode de
Patrick Henry" elected to tho State Legislature.
lie is now he member of the House from Msss-
sippi had often observed the young gentleman
and thought him screen one" To days oxpe-
renee has satisfied me that he bids fair to become
an ornament 10 his age aud country. lie ably, and
may say most conclusiycly showed, that although
We prded ourselves upon our Republican instiiu-
tons. we had prOped ourselves Migrate TO all the
laws Of honor and humanity.
By Mr.. Plummeris statement the following facts
appeared:-Tho heirs Of Elisha Winter and Sons
claim title TO two millions Of acres of land in the
Territory of Arkansas, by virtue Of deed Of con-
cession made TO them by tho Govnsrnor General Of
the Province Of Louisiana in 1897 The convey
ance, by prOyiso contained in the deed, was to be
void unless the claimants settled on the land within
one year from the date Of the deed. The claimants
we're put into possession by the officer Of the dis
irct, who was charged by the Governor with the
ecution thereof, and settled upon and cultivated the
land within the time stipulated BY clause IN the
treaty of Ideionso in 1900, by which tho country
was ceded by Spain 10 France, the claims OF all
lands granted by the Governor Of the Province were
confirmed, although they had not been previously
confirmed by the Crown. This confirmed Win
ter's claim, admitting that il needed confirmation
BY the treaty of Paris in 803, by which the terri
tory was ceded by France TO tho United States, II
vas expressly stipulated that the inhabitants should
be "maintaned and protected in the free enjoyment
oltheir property.n Congress, by an act passed in
1905, constituted a Board Of Commissioners vested
4. al s,t
made 10 individuals by the Spanish Government,
but confirmed their jurisdiction TO one mile square,
in consequence Of which limitation the Board was
not authorized to confirm the claim of Winters.
The claimants continued TO live upon, occupy, and
cultivate the land from the time of their settlement
until after the United States acquired possession,
and until the year 1870 In 1915 the claimants
petitioned Congress for a confirmation Of their Ii
Ties Instead Of granting the confirmation prayed
for the government brought the lands into market
and elected the claimants, or compelled them to
leave the lands granted TO them by Spain and rat-
fed and confirmed by France, which reduced many
orthe occupants to penury and want.
Buonapaftc, wiihthe peculiar sagacity and reach
ofmind which so eminently distinguished him from
common clay, and rendered him forever Immortal,
(Dr Claiming to the contrary notwithstading)
would not trust this government, and very wisely
provided in the treaty Of concession that the lnhab-
hnts Of the ceded country should be, soon as
possible, admitted to all the rights and Immunlles
Of American citizens, and also that they should be
protected in their persons, property, aud religion
have before said that the maiden speech OF this
young gentleman created no little sensation. say
pow that there is no man on the floor who has ac-
quilted himself more ably, or 10 whom greater
need of praise is due. In addition to all this, nc
is true friend to ''tho mass" aud holds to the
Ggreatesi good Of the greatest number" Mr. Plum
rner stated that he did not ask for charity, but he
demdndcd Justice