Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-03-07

Let the history of the past answer this ques-
ton. From the first of January, 1923, I'M
Ill the present day, averaging all the land
sales which had been made, the result was
that we had received two, three, four, five,
or, at the most six cents, per acre more
than what the settlers would be obliged to
pay under this bill. He was called upon to
decide between the actual settler, who had
spent his time and his labor in cutting
down the forest and preparing himself a
home in the wilderness, and the heartless
speculator, who might be anxious to de.
prive these hardy pioneers of the benefit
Of their toll, and to purchase the land which
they had improved. He could not hest
tate upon this subject. Past experience
had rendered it certain that the United
States will never receive more for their
land than cent or two per acre above the
minimum price and for this inconsidera-
BILE difference, he would not turn of the men
who have settled upon our public lands, in
order that they might be monopolized at
the public sales by spectators. Let the
actual settler have "the first cut" and suf.
ficient will remain for the companies of
spectators who attend the public auctions.
The amendment proposed TO make an in
vidous distinction, which had never been
made heretofore in our legislation, against
foreigners who had settled upon the public
lands. and had not been naturalized prior
to the first day of December last. Whilst
it granted prescriptions in such cases to
our own citizens, it excluded these foreign
ers. Why had this change been proposed
in our settled policy lie had observed
with regret, that attempts were now exten.
sively making throughout the country, to
excite what was called native American
feeling against those who had come from a
foreign land to participate in the blessings
of our free Constitution. Such a feeling
was unjust-it was ungratelul. In the
darkest days of the Revolution, who had
assisted us in fighting our battles and a
chewing our independence ? Foreigners +;
yes, sir, foreigners. He would not say,
for no did not believe. that our indepen-
dence could not have been established with.
out their aid but he would say, the strug-
gle would have been longer and more
doubtful. After the Revolution, emigra.
ton had been encouraged by our policy.
Throughout the long and bloody wars of
Europe, which had followed the French
revolution, this country had ever been an
asylum for the oppressed Of all nations.-
He trusted that at this late day, the Con.
gress of the United States were not about
to establish, for the first time, such an obi.
Gus distinction as that proposed between
one of our citizens, who had settled upon
the public lands, and his neighbor who had
pursued the same course under the faith
Of your previous policy, merely because
that neighbor had not resided long enough
within the United States to have become 6
naturalized citizen. He was himself the
son of naturalized foreigner, and parhap.
might feel this distinction the more sensi
bly, on that account. He was glad the
yeas and navs had been demanded, that he
might record his vote against the principle
proposed by the amendment.
The question on the amendment was ther
taken by yeas and nays, and decided in the
negative-for the amendment Is, against it
%, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Bayard, Clay of Ky.
CLAY ton, Crttenden, Knight, Merrick, Prem
tiss, Preston, Riues, Robbins, Smith of la.
Southland, Spence, Tallmadge and Upton -
| Is.
NAYs-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Brown
Buchanan, Calhoun, Clay Of Ala, Cuthbert
Fulton, Grundy, Hubbard, King, Linn
Lumpkin, Lyon, Mouton, Nicholas, Niles
Norvell, Pierce, Roane, Robinson, Sewer
Walker, Webster, White, Williams, Wrigh,
and Young-29.
| I'm Senate, Jan, 40
The Senate resumed the consideration @
the bill granting presumption to settlers o
the public lands. The question being on it
passage,
Mr.. WHITE entered at large into tn
support of the bill. Messrs. WALKER, Ola
of Kentucky, CLAY of Alabama, DAVIS
PRENTIss, WEBSTER YOU'VE, BENTON, Nc
KEAN and LYON, followed.
The question was then taken, and tn
bill was passed by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Brown
Buchanan, Clay of Alabama, Cuthbert, Flu
ton, Grundy. Hubbard, King, Linn, Lump
kin, Lyon, Mouton, Nicholas, Niles, MOI
veil, Pierce, Rives, Robinson, Sewer, Smit
of Connecticut, Tallmadge, Upton, Wake
Webster, White, Williams, Wright, Youn
80.
| NAYs-Messrs. Bayard, Calhoun, Ola
Of Kentucky, Clayton, Crittenden,, d.
Wis, Mexican, Merrick, Morris, Prenlis
Preston, Roane, Robbins, Smith of Indian,
Southland, Spence, Swift, Wall-l3.