The Arkansas banner., 1843-09-30

ullOll, upon the Sublect of national politics.
 Among other things discussed by the Governor, the subject of the Distribution Bill, and Mir. Claws course upon the public lands, formed prominent part This part of tle Governors speech seeras to have given great offence to an anonymous contempt lble senbber in the last North Arkansas sign ed "Loudon," as well as to the Editor of that print The Governor stated, that MT. Clav had ever been opposed to pre-emptien rights, and to the cra- daation of the price of the public lands Is this de- nled by any intelligent whig, any where? Look at the journals, and it will be found that he never voted for either, separately or together Mr. Clay was the author of the distribution policy. In his first bill there was no provision for graduation for pre-egn-
 ton rights or for donation of 800 900 acres of the refuse lands. In his second bil there was no provi- sion for graduation, rF for emption rights but to carry his bill, he was induced to grant to the new States, the quantity of 500 900 acres of the refuse toad In his third and last bill, he introduced into the Senate, which was on the 10th of June. 1s4I. and an account of which is to be found at pare 30 of the journals of the Senate, of that year, we find no provision for graduation, or for pre-emption rights His bill has this tie, GA bill to appropriate, for limited time, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands of the United States, and for granting lands to certain States.'' Here is nothing about graduation or ffeemption rights; but the old offer of 5o0,oO0 acres of the rese lands to certain States On the 18th of June, (see page 42 Senate Journal, this bill was referred to the committee on public lands. On the 24th of June, (see page 6l, Senate Journal) Mir. Smith, of Indiana, the chairman of the committee OF public lands, reported back to the Se- nate, the land bill, aeih amendments. One of these amendments was-the pre-emption clause This was the last action had upon the Senate bill. On the 22d day of June, I841 in the House of Representa- tves, MT. Johnson, of Maryland, from the commit tee on public lands, reported to the House. precise copy of MT. Ctay's original bill which was GA bill to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public lands of the United States and for granting lands to certain States See House Journal, of lS4I, page l75. On the 23d of June, lS4I, which was on the day after Mir Johnson had reported the land bill to the House, and the day before the Senate committee Senate committee he, Mir. Johnson, moved to re- commit the bill "to appropriate, fer limited time, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands of the United States, and for granting lands to certain States to the committee on public lands See House Journal, page lS3. On the 2ith of June, the same day the Senate committee reported, Mr. John son, from the committee to which was recommitted " the bill to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, reported amendatory bill to ap- propriate the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, and to g7aat pre-emptioa rights See House Journal, 1Ss. This amended bill of the House was very nearly copy of the bill of the Senate, as amended by the committee on public lands, in that body; and were the first bills upon the subject of that ever had pre-emptioa clause at taehed. And why was such clause attached, at that time' The answer is, that the bill could not have passed without such amendment 10 Mr. Claws bill. The bill, thus amended, was debated, for se- verdi days, in the House of Representatives, and passed that body on the 9th of July ls4I, by vote of il6 for, to l0S against it. On the 7th of July the bill of the House, to appropriate the proceeds of tAc public lands and e sfat l5i:o. ss,tto was sent from the House to the Senate and on the 5th, it was referred to the committee public lands On the i2th of July, (see Senate Journal page S6, Mr. Smith reported the bill back to the Senate, :. uih amendments. On the 9th of August, the bill was considered; and again, upon the Ilth, (see page 1851 when Mir. Young, of Illinois, moved the following amendment, viz
 s's Sac Ind De it further enacted, That where | any of the public lands of the United States have re- mained unsod for the space of fifteen years after the termination of the public sales, the may be en- tered end purchased by actual settlers the follow ing terms and conditions, to wit: If settler is de- sirous to purchase for his residence, eighty or less than eighty acres, he may enter and purchase the same at fifty cents per acre if he is desrous to pur- chase quantity over eighty, and not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres he may enter and purchase the same at seyenty-fye cents per acre; and if he desire to purchase quantity over one hundred and sixty acres and not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres, he may purchase the same at one dol lar per acre but no settler shall purchase greater quantity than three hundred and twenty acres at a price below the minimum of one dollar and quarter per acre, as now established by law.
 :. SEc. find De a further enacted, That before any settler shall be allowed to enter and purchase land at the reduced prices aforesaid, he shall file affidavit with the register of the proper land-ofce, under such regulations the Secretary of the Trea sury shall prescribe, that such applicant is at the time, intends, within six months, to become an actual settler the land proposed to be entered and that such applicant makes the entry in his name, for his own benefit, and not in trust for another. And if the said purchaser shall not within the said six months, settle, and in good faith reside upon the land entered aforesaid, the same may be entered and purchased, in manner aforesaid, by any other person desrous of settling the sae at the reduced prices aforesaid, by any other person. whether he intends settling thereon not, at the price of one dollar and quarter per acre: Prorided, That if, before the expiration of the said term of six months, any person who had entered land as aforesaid for is unable to make actual settlement thereon, he may acquire title to the land entered as aforesaid by paying such additional sum therefor as will complete the minimum price of one dollar and quarter per acre, now fixed by law
 This proposed amendment was voted down; Full lon and Serer voting for it. and MT. Cay against it On the 18th August, (page l6l,) MT. McRoberts, of Illinois, offered the following amendment, viz:
 sThere shall be granted to each.of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, quantity of land which, together with the amount such State has already received exclusive of the 10th sections for school purposes, shall be equal to the quantity granted by Congress to the State of Ohio to wit to the State of Illinois, four hundred and ninety two thousand acres to the State of Indana two hundred and eighty-eight thousand acres to the State of Mi