The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-11
ELECTION or ELECTORS or PRESIDENT AND VICE
PRESIDENT

Mr. HOUSTON observed that no had no hostile
feeling whatever 10 the bill introduced by the gentle
man from Ohio. Heyoled for il at the last session
and might do again; bot The bill 10 which he bac
referred equally important for the country, anc
should he acted ON at as early period as possible
lie therefore moved 10 lay aside the bill with regurc
10 the election ofeleetors, which regularl,
before the committee and take up the bill fol the grad
! uatlon OF the price Of he public lands
MIR. DUNCAN asked if this question was debate
ble2
The CHAIR informed the gentleman that il wal
| not.
| Mr.. HOUSTON with the expectation that the bill
| OF the gentleman from Ohio would probably be dis
posed OF IN the OF hour, withdrew his mo
| ton.
| The bill 10 establish uniform time for holding
| elections for electors of President and Vice Presi
dent IN all the States Of the Union read and the
several amendments heretofore offered being with
drawn, 1t was finally laid aside to be reported TO the
| House.
THE pusLIc LANDS
On motion Of Mr.. HOUSTON the committee
took up the bill 10 reduce and graduate the price OF
| public lands, according TO certain specific periods OF
entry.
MIR. COLLAMER opposed the bill on the ground
mainly that II was not shaped to benefit the poor
settler, and that there were already something
Ike one hundred and thirty millions of public lands
offered for sale. The better disposition Of them
would be to make an arrangement with the new
States 10 give them alternative sections, to aid in
king internal mprovements-and this would result il
benefit TO them as well as TO the General Govern
ment, as We have now more than hundred times
as much land in market than the amount OF the sales
| annually
Mr.. SAMPLE replied; and in the course of his
remarks referred TO the fact that there are now mil
hons OF acres OF land in the West situated that they
would never be disposed of unless such proyi-
sion should be made is contemplated by this bill
ii the lands should be graduated according TO their
value, settlers would fluid IL their advantage not 10
60 farther than Illinois and Indiana but fId in the
reduced price, an nducement TO remain III those
| States with their friends.
Mr.. }. w. DAVIS, in auson TO The remark of the
gentleman from Vermoni( Mr. Collamer thar the bill
was not shaped with view to benet fiji the poor ,elter
contended 1t was; and this evident from the
| mere truth, that when man was unable TO pay a
dollar and twent y-ve cent. acre he would lie be-
nehted by purchasing at twenty-five fifty cents, or
at one half the price under the existing law. A, to
one hundred and thirty of public lands being in
the market,the gentleman had founded the uut
of lands IN the market with that acquired by tresty
The prominent consideration with hun was that ius
ce should be meted to the people ofthe West wei
as the entire country, and IN doing this there
better plan 10 accomplish the object than by reducing
the pIce OF the lands to the actual cuvator and
tier, and he asked favorable consideration of the
bill the ground that the lands which il referred
had been in market twenty thirty years, and were
not worth as much some Others which had been
but one or two years in the market-iheIefore their
prce ought 10 be graduated.
! MIR VlNTON addressed the committee in opposi
ton to the bill This subject had been before the
House for the last twenty years, from time to time
and discussed, and often rejected. If the bill now
before them should become law, it would not il
his opinion increase the settlement Of the State.
single individual, nor the sale of the public lands
| ppl acr he Mt ~ attn la,uu
| Mr.. FlCkLlN obtained the floor but gave way
| for the committee TO rise.
| The SPEAKER resumed the Chair, and the pro-
gress OF the committee was reported TO the House.
] MIR. HALE gave notice of his intention TO intro
duce bill To abolish the Office Of Commissioner OF
Public Buildings.
And, at twenty minutes TO three O'Clock, the House
adjourned.