The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-29

The bill 10 relinqush TO Alabama the two per cent
reserved by the act for her admission into the Union
to the Committee the Public Lands
The bill TO establish an additional land district IN
Alabama; 10 the Committee on the Public Lands.
The bill for the relief OF certain settlers the pub
lie lands who deprived OF the benefits OF the pre-
emption law Of June 10, 1884 TO the Committee on
the Public Lands
The bill to grant other lands TO inhabitants oftown-
ships deprived of sixteenth sections 10y Indian resersa-
tons or otherwise; to the Committee ON the Public
Lands
The bill to relinquish the interest Of the United
States 10 certain tract of land in the State OF Ala
bama 10 the Committee ON Public Lands.
The bill for the relief OF VIM. Jones, Of Alabama
To the Committee on Private Land Claims.
The bill for the relief Of James Smith OF Arkansas
10 the Committee on Private Land Claims
The bill authorizing the inhabitants OF fractional
township ten south Of range east, in the State
Of Arkansas to enter one-half section Of land for
school purposes; the Committee ON Public Lands,
The hill 10 authorize the inhabitants OF township
eight north Of range thirytwo west, IN the State OF
Arkansas, Ia enter section OF land IN lieu OF the
sixteenth section upon condition that the same is sur
rendered To the Uned States for military purposes TO
the Committee on Public Lands.
The bill TO settle the title 10 certain tracts OF land
in the State of Arkansas; 10 the Committee on Pub
lie Lands
The bin in relation TO donations Of land to certain
on Public Lands.
The bin for the relief Of Geo w Paschal; 10 the
Committee of Claims.
THE PUBLIC lands
The memorial presented yesterday by Mr., REl
NOLDS from the Legislature Of the State Of Illinois,
PRAYING a reduction IN the pnce OF the public lands,
came up in It's rder for consideration.
When Mr. REYNOLDS presented this memorial
he moved its reference the Committee on the Pub
Tic Lands with instructions To report bill 10 grant
prospective prescriptions 10 actual settlers, and TO re-
duce the pice 10 settlers according 10 the value oil
the land
Mr. X supported his motion at considerable length.
II was very interesting subject to the Western
States especially TO his own lie wished the new
States 10 be put on the same ground with the original
States That was all they wished--all he requested
was to give privilege pre- caption law TO settlers
He wished 10 benefit The individuals that live IN Log
Cabins Ii was settling the country and Ivy tins, II
was that revenue would be raised to the country
lie proceeded in a very animated strain urging the
necessity u this advantageous, not only to
the Setl!fr but 10 the country al large.
MIR Pic kENS regretted that his worthy friend hac
brought forward this subject There Is no ques'
ton that in future to be regarded before this House
of deeper and more abiding interest than the DISPOSE
ton OF these public lands In acting on the subject,
he could say 10 his friend that he legslated neither
for the resident OF the log cabin the prncey palace
bu, Tor the Justice and onor Of his country and 20
,erument, He regretted that he Mr. Reynolds)
should have moved these instructions at this period OF
short session.
The mex, Congress will bring here a new set OF
representatives Then the discussion OF the tariff,
and other great questions will be brought before us.
We will then have time to mature some measure
which will do Justice 10 the States. This question OF
the disposition OF the public lands considering the
census, is far different question from what II
was few years ago-t is now question Tor States,
not Tor indtridudis He was for aiding Congress
for redeeming and settling free colonies, not for
placing them the miserable condition in which they
had been fourteen years past, as annual mendcants
before ,hls body He wanted some fired, settled sys-
tenn and looked at it not a revenue question:
mere moneyed queston-but interesting the politics
the independence and freedom of the West. He
would prefer if wereto have a graduation bill, a
pre- emplon BILL, that it should be fixed in advance
and would prefer general system In advance. To
make the law every two or three years, according to
circumstances IL unjust, unwise legislation; and that
is the reason have passed the pre- empton and gra
duaon bills heretofore because system of leglsa-
ton could be wise that produces such temptations 10
injustice and Partially, He asked general system,
and preferred that the subject should come up next
Congress, broad principles which would do justice
to the government in general well the citizens
concerned He would not say what he would do but
would consider what is just, and would do his duty to
the States of the whole concderacy well to the
particular States concerned. lie had before stated
that he preferred the whole land question to be settled
on some general systemic give it up to the States
and that they should manage this internal system. II
was with the genius of this government to egls
ae on local interests. How was he and how Others
quainted with the local interests of the gentlemen
from Illinois and Indiana it impossible TO be
acquainted with it, He desired to op of this immense
branch of corrupt executive patronage connected with
the land system which has been exercised for ten OF
fifteen years He preferred to meet 1t at the next SEES
sion of Congress, He did not say he would not &c
for pre-emptiun system but he preferred some gene
ar,Is stu view
which should do justice to the States and the govern
mcnt.
He could not vote for these instructions they wer,
premature He wished the whole matter to be re-
viewed He hoped his friend would not press his in
structions. ..t
MIR. VIM. COST JOHNSON asked to have tn,
memorial read, and also the instructions-but suhse
quently requested the instructions only which wer'
read.
Hethen moved to strike out all after tho word IRE
mort :" and substitute the following, "to have the pro
cees of the sales Of the public domain divided anon!
the States in equitable ratio to be used by the State
for internal improvements, education, any other pur
pose as may be deemed proper by the sererai State
receiving SAID Distribute.
MIR JOHNSON hardly knew whether to express
pleasure regret at the propositions they had beer
made by the gentleman from Illinois and the sugges
tons which had been thrown out by the gentleman
from South Carolina; whether to express pleasure tina
this subject has been introduced this session.
gret that il has not been deferred to the But
was of those questions on which he had nature
his opinions--on which he had formed his judgment
and was ready to act. He thought ii question whicl
requires profound deberaton, and cautious and wis
! legislation, He had listened to the lamentations O
gentlemen from the far West-had heard them implor
this House to be kind and generous towards them
| had heard them make pleas, if they in tn
most detected state of despohdency--were impoverish
ed and almost bankrupt If Illinois (said he) has sui
! cred as the gentleman would make US believe, why i
it that Illinois has increased in population beyond an
other State Why is it that this Overwhelming It'd
of emigration has hoated to this State And why
! It that 1t is growing up into mighty empire in tn
! West VIII not this very fact dsarm him of all hi
! lamentations And when he appeals to sympth,
here he has ceased to be good generous TO hmsel
| his State or this House. What has been the his
tory Of every State IN the West Have they not en-