Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-02-17
pRE.EMpTIoNs TO SETTLERS.

Mr. Clay Of kentucky observed that ihi:
was very important measure. and he presu
med that no Senator intended to press il. II:
discussion would take up a good deal Of time
and he thought that Senators should have some
time allowed them toprepare for it. lie would
propose TO postpone The bill, and make it tn.
order Of the day for next Monday week.
MIR. Clay Of Alabama thought that, if the
motion prevailed. it would be equivalent ia
postponing i, for some months to come. He
was satisfied that the Senator from Kentucky
did not wish to give the bill the go.by in that
manner. Tuesday week, Mr.. C.. said. was
SET apart Tor the consideration Of the impoItan,
measure in relation to the finances. Another
important measure, the bill relating to the
banks in the District Of Columbia was set fol
/ Monday; and other measures Of importance
would come up about the time named BY the
gentleman. He did not apprehend that this
prescription bill would occasion so much dis
cussion as the Senator supposed. There was
nothing novels in il, nothing extraordinary
the subject was we'll understood and this bill
was SO simple in its provision that he could not
see how j! could create any difficulty. The
obnoxious feature in the pre- empiion bill ofthe
last session.-.that relating to floating claims
had been stricken ont. and it now contained no
provisions to which any we'll founded obiec-
tions could be urged. He hoped the Senator
| from Kentucky would consent 10 postpone
ment TO a shorter day.
| Mr. Clay Of Kentucky said that the bill did
contain some novelty, notwithstanding. Ger
tainly, said he, we have had Prescriptions e.
nough; but 10 throw open The whole public
domain to every man who will call himself a
pre-emp,ioner, was novelty reserved for this
bill. He did not, however. intend to enter in
TO the merits oftlle bill, bnt he made these on
servations for the purpose Of showing that it
was not the harmless measure that gentlemen
supposed. IIe was sure tpat when they did
take it up it would not be one day nor two days
under discussion, but would perhaps occupy
them for weeks.
Mr.. Walker wished the bnl to have an ear
| ly consideration. becauee extensive land sales
had lately been ordered. and ithese took place
before The passage of the bill. many merto,i
Gus individuals would be deprved ofits bene-
fits. If Congress was disnosed TO give 10 the
.ctual settlers portion Of tho land improved
by them, it was important thai the bill should
pass at an early day. so that tie lands might
not he sold before the industrious cultivator
could have an opportunity ofsecnring his i'm
fprovenents. Mr.. w. c ,ncuaed by moving TO
make the bill the order of the day for Thurs
dav next.
Mr.. King Of Alabama YVES in hopes that the
Senator from Kenturky would have seen moth
| ing in this bill Of The alarming character which
he seemed TO appr bend. The bill Of the last
session. MIR. Il. said. embraced other and more
extended provisions thar were to be found in
/ the on before them. wllicl, occasoned the pro-
irlcted discussion the Senator referred To. II
was in the provision relating to the actual set
Element on which so much time was consumed.
Mr.. Il. believed that there was always dis
! poslionto give to actual settlersa portion of
! their improvements; and hehad hoped that for
SO small and reasonable matter the Senator
/ from Kentucky would have permitted it to
pass by quietly and without unnecessary de-
Law. The reason assigned by the Senator from
Mississippi was good one, and he hoped it
would have its due weight with the Senate.
| The objectionable features having been reno
we'd from the bill, he INDUCED the hope tina, it
would not have To encounter the opposition of
the Senator from kentucky, and tina, he would
! see the proprieiy Of either modifying his mo-
lion so as to olive il an earlier consideration. or
that he would accept tins motion of the Senator
| from Mississippi.
Mr.. Clay Of Kentucky said The Senator from
Alabama was certainly very coaxirg hut lie
could not view the matter in the same light
the Senator from Alabama did. lie would
undertake 10 say that we should have applica.
lions for the passage OF presumption laws 10
The end Of time. These people would 90 on
choosing the best parcels Of the public land.
and applying to Congress for pre.emption
rights, until they reached tho Pacific. We
had been told by the President, in hismessage.
as well as by the Senator from Alabama. ..on-
" pass this bill. and it shall be the last" Mr..
C.however, did not believe these claims would
ever cease. He thought the time rather short,
and would prefer that the bill should be fixed
for a later period.
Mr.. clay Of Alabama hoped that the consid-
Grafton If the bill would not he DELAYED he
yond Friday next The proposition. he said,
was now 10 moro simple form than it had
ever been presented TO the Senate, and he was
satisfied that majority Of the Senate would
approve oft in its present form, or with few
notifications. #
MI. Benton was opposed 10 any delay. II
the bill werc postponed for ~ o weeks, it mi :ht
be delayed for mouths. from the circumstance
Of losing lis place in the calander. There was
no Senator. he presumed. who was not fami-
liar with the snbjec, and prepared to vote at
once without word being said, as their minds
were made up on one side or the other While
up he would take occasion to say that he sho-
ped The practice Of the Government for the last
forty years would not be reversed or discon-
,inped. He was entirely in favor of the sys-
ten. The best evidence ofthe p,e.emp.ionist
wishing to become cultivator. was his 90
ing into the forest. cutting down tho trees, and
erecting his little cabin; he was in favor Of all
such settlers.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Claws
motion to postpone until Monday week, and
lost. ~