The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-07
Cmemtp=Strth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, Jan. s, l64l.
GENERAL PROSPECTIVE PRE-EMPTIoN SYSTEM.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the
bill establishing permanent prospective presumption
system.
Several amendments were offered and disposed Of
Which will hereafter be noticed.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN, of Kentucky moved the fol-
lowing amendments to the last section Of the BILL
providing that, no person, being alien shall be
titled to any privilege right of settlement Of pre-
empton granted by that act except such shall have
previously made oath in due form of law, declaring
his intention, according to the naturalization laws of
the United States to become citizen Of the United
States.
And that person shall take any right or benefit
under this act who shall not make OATH before some
proper officer authorized administer oaths that his
whole estate was not at the time of his settlement
worth as much five hundred dollars.
Mr.. CRTTENDEN said it seemed to him that the gen.
tcmen who Of the opinion that aliens shall be ad
mitted to this presumption privilege, must still think il
proper to require Of them that they shall have Of
fered legal evidence Of their intention to become c
zens. He did not what possible objections there
could be this if we did not adopt such course
but if we proceeded the principle of general and
universal philanthropy these provisions might not be
necessary but if we proceed on any idea of confn
ing benefits to those who now, are to be-
come, citizens of this country, this measure high
ly necessary He wanted some legal evidence Of their
intention to become citizens. What other inducements
can we have to give them this land We have been
told that to those fleeing from the oppression of TO-
reign land, we are to grant-what Tour lands.
That we are somewhat indebted to foreigners who
will come without the intention of becoming citizens
and enter our lands That their breasts the bull
warks that to defend against hostile tribe Of
savages. Are the breasts Of foreigners the buwarks
of our countryl No, sir-no, sir, (said Mr.. CD He
trusted in God, that stood in need of such bull
warks. Our own breasts-the breasts of native and
naturalized citizens, will always be buwark sufi
cient, and reduced the cessity of pur
chasing from any quarter of the world foreigners to
offer us their breasts for protection. We want no
such foreign buwarks-not but require foreign as
sistance-but he was opposed to holding out induce
ments to reigners to among for this purpose
As TO the other amendment This bill is sort of
provision for poor want it to be so in truth
and in fact-and his amendments were calculated not
to make the rich richer but to benefit those who are
really seeking home, and want TO build on the land
That It should afford to privileges, who would
not swear that at the time Of settlement he was not
worth five hundred dollars. He wanted that there
should be some limit of this character That an act
nomindiy, for the benefit and advantage of poor men,
shall not furnish opportunity for speculation 1t
happened yesterday, that while the honorable Senator
from Alabama was urging us the propriety of pass
ing this hill he received letter from an old constitu-
ent who some years ago moved from Kentucky to
Missouri, saying" Let know Immediately whe-
ther presumption law will pass this year There is
a story here that will pass, and men with good
houses rich men, quitting their settled homes and
houses and moving of and making other settlements
with view to make purchases by this law. There is
a very good piece Of land not far from me- and will
break up and move to that TO secure it, And (con-
tinued Mr. O. am urged to give HIM information on
the subject for this purpose Many removals are max
ing-good houses, log cabins and (tor what he knew
brick houses, were left for the purpose of erecting log
cabins other lands. 1t cannot be the purpose and
intention of the Senate TO afford this opportunity
settle men, who in comfortable circumstances for
the purpose of enriching them. Ii to be very
proper, therefore, that in passing this law should
limit it's benefits to those who stand in need
Mr.. TAPPAN, of Ohio, offered an amendment to
be inserted the end Of the first section if the amend
ment Of the Senator from KY, (Mr. Crttenden) fail
viz "That person who shall be the owner of land
and quit his residence, to live the public lands
shall acquire right to pre-emption on the public
lands
Mr. BUCHANAN had not supposed that the few
incidental remarks which he made yesterday on the
subject now before the Senate would have brough,
the Senator from Kentucky, or any other one in
reply. He should proceed to make one or two very
brief observations in reply TO the Senator from Ken
lucky; he had not intended to say one word on the
subject having often discussed it and was entirely sa
iisfed with opportunity of giving in his vote. He
should vote either for the first or second amend
ment. He held it, that the very best indication
which foreigner can give of his intention Of becom-
ing citizen to 90 into the wilderness and settle
on and cultivate tracts Of land there and his nten.
ton could not be manifested by more decisive act
He transfers his home from the native country-poes
into the West---cuts down the tmber-erects dwell.
ling he would not say log cabin )-becausc he was
not remarkably fond of that woodland makes manifest
his purpose to live and die your soil Tha. was
perfectly sufficient for him Mr.. b. and he would not
debar him from il for not having gone, and declared
his intention to become citizen lie did not under
stand this violent opposition that was manifested in
some quarters of the Senate to foreigners What has
been the history of this codntry7 Who achieved the