The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-02-06


third time, and without discussion were ordered
to he cngrossed, and finally passed.
Mr. Cambreleng, during tho debate tins morning
said the War Department was 50 poor that IL mac
funds to meet demand now due for contracts l.
the amount Of $4,000. This fact WI hurry one
of The bills through the Senate, and as Genera
Scott is in service upon the Northern frontier, hurry
the consideration of The other. Here is more ma
torial upon which to issue Treasury notes az
In the Senate, Mr.. Clay, of Ky, presented Pc
iiton from some ofthe shpwrighis OF Pennsy lyanin
praying Congress to make an appropriation LOT INC
completion Of the frigate Rartun. now upon the
stocks at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Mr. Clay
said that he sincerely regretted that 1t was necessary
TO discharge so worthy u body of men rs the ship
wrights Of country at this Indictment season.
The memorials were sent 10 the Committee on
Naval Affairs.
Mr. Allen, of Ohio, presented memorial from
sono citizons of Ohio, praying Congress to pass no
law against allowing American Citizens, upon their
responsibility, TO take part in the affairs Of
Canada, 80 that they do not violate any law OF the
United States.
Mr. Allen offered n Resolution calling upon the
Committee on the Judiciary to enquire into the OK.
pediency Of so amending The laws OF the United
Sates that foreign citizens coming into the United
States, be Immediately allowed all the privileges OF
naturalized citizens by enlisng in the army OF the
United States.
The Bill before the Senate yesterday in favor of
increasing tho United States Army was finally pass
cd and sent 10 the House for concurrence.
The two Bills passed by the House yesterday
making appropriations for the defence of the North
ern Frontier and the Florida War were received
from the House, and sent to the COMMITTEE OF FL
MIR. Wise, from the Select Committee appointed
two weeks since to inquire into the expedency OF
"Amending tho Constitution of the United States,
so that the President of the United States shall not
have power appoint members of Congress to
office while members, or for two years thereafter
Mr. Wise, as Chairman Of the Committee, reported
two resolutions which were unanimously reported
,Io Mr Vjsp ed
the resolutions and for reference to the COMMITTEE
OF the Whole. Both requests were granted, and
the resolutions will come up IN order
The Frontier Neutrality Bill, passed by the SEN
ate some days Since was reported by the Con@llttee
on Foreign Affairs, without amendment, ana sent
20 tho Committee of tho Whole.
a bill was reported and read three times, making
grant of public land for the erection of monu-
ment to the memory of GEORGE WAsulNGToN, IN
January e.
Tho SENATE was engaged oil day upon the Pre-
empton Bill.
The idea Of general presumption law was first
introduced by Gen. Jackson's administration and
the first law of that description passed in the
1880. A second general pre- -emption law was
passed in 1884 and the present bill is the third law
Of the Same kind.
The general idea of all these presumption laws
is, give the right to purchase quarte# section,
at the government price of dollar and quarter
the acre, 10 settlers who have already established
themselves upon the public lands, before they have
bean brought into the market
The pretence under which these laws passed
is to- secure the settler in possession of the home
which he has created in the wilderness; and to pro-
tect him against the extortons Of spectators, who
might bid against him at the public sales, and with
whom he might not be able TO compete.
The objection to those laws is, that they hold out
a bounty to trespassers upon the public lands that
they offer q reward 10 violations of the law, which
prohibits any settlement upon unsurveyed lands;
and that they totally destroy that control over their
property, which the people Of the United
States seek to exercise, by regulating the times and
occasions upon which the public lands shall he
brought into the market.
The practical result Of these laws has been, that
they have opened the door to series of the most
fraudulent specuations, and that they have almost
entirely taken away the control of the people Of
the United States over their own land.
These laws have created class of men, who
keep moving about from place to place, selecting all
the finest and most fertile spots in the unsurveyed
portions of the country, building log cabin here,
sowing a handful of corn there, and cutting down
few trees in another place, thus securing what
called prc-emption rights. These rights they sell
out for one, two three or ten dollars the acre,
the may be and then they move off in Il new
territory 10 secure TO themselves pre- .emptions.
All the precautions which have been attempted
by way of preventing frauds, have been totally de-
feated by system OF wholesale perjury, which has
gone great way to corrupt tho morals and destroy
the integrity of the people on the frontier. For
in which bona fide settler takes the benefit of
the law there are ten at least, in which it is pei
verified into system of the basest speculation.
Nevertheless, these laws receive very ardent
support from certain members of Congress, and that
for two reasons. In the first place, they wish to
secure popularity with the squatters and specula
tors at home, who, IN some parts of the new States
make up the bulk of the population; in the second
place, they have their own private interests 10
If report speaks true, there several
members of the present Congress who have made
great fortunes by specializing in pre- emption rights
and it is even said that certain honorable senator
lost not much less than half million of dollars, by
an amendment proposed by White of Tennessee,
and incorporated into the pending bill, whereby
those persons who had settled on Indian lands prior
to their cesson to the United States, are off from
tho benefit of presumption.
The debate upon this bill which is going on in
the Senate, arises upon amendments proposed in the
details of the bill, but it constantly DIVORCES in
discussion Of the general merits of the preemption
system.
The bill and the system of presumption in gen.
e,al, are zeaousy defended by Messrs. Walker,
Clay of Alabama, Benton, Upton, Young and
others while the weight of the battle on the other
side, is maintained by Clay of Kentucky, who de-
nouncos the whole presumption system as a system