The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WEDNESDAY,, Feb. 5, 1915.

Tor the reduction Of postage when our Reporter LETT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WEDNESDAY,, Feb. s. 1915.
Aiier our paper put 10 press yesterday, the
bills from The Senate relating 10 revenue cutter, and
steamers-to amend an act providing for the enlist
ment Of boys IN the naval servieeand restricting he
grant Of pensions ia certain cases, were seyer,Uy
read twice and appropriately referred. Among the
petitions presented was one by Mr.. Tilden Of Dame,
Eaton and two hundred and forty other citizens nj
Trumbull county, Ohio, praying for the emission Of
one hundred and fifty millions Of Treasury notes I,
be loaned TO tho States in proportion to their free
population, as circulating medium also the oei
tion Of John Boden Fitch praying for grant Of land
Or money TO himself and the other hers Of John
Fitch, in consideration Of the great national benefit
conferred by the said John Fitch the first inventor
of steam navigation IN this county,
Mr.. STRONG presented the petition Of the M
habitanls OF Sag Harbor, IN the State Of New York
for the erection OF light house on GARDENERS Is
land.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
This morning, the House resolved itself into Com
mittee Of the Whole the state Of The Union (Nr
Boyd 10 the Cbar) and resumed the consideration Of
the bill TO reduce and graduate the price Of the public
lands TO actual settlers and cultiyators.
Mr.. HAMLlN, Of Maine, expressed his belief
that the disrlbuiOn OF the proceeds Of the sae Of
the public lands was conuptng ia It's tendency ami
| taxation upon the people u supply the vacuum m
the YreSsuTy thus caused as calculated TO produce
one OF the most disastrous effects on the community
that ever resulted from the action of legislative as
| semby. This being his view, he was opposed to any
| system which would, directly OF indirectly, effect
this object. Ia relation to the proposition now sub.
Intled, he should vote 10 the affirmative as he was IN
favor of graduating the public lands To the Lowest
standard. Whatever policy Government might
adopt that was 10 be preferred which would prevent
he from nj b.n a..
speculatng classes and secure TO the actual settlers
home and at the same time increase the funds Of the
| nation lie believed that the result OF graduation
would yield much to the Treasury, as the dsp,sl.
ton Of the lands 10 individuals under the present
| system.
Mr. HOUSTON observed, that, notwithstandn,
all that had been said this subject the graduation
principle was SO simple TO be understood by boy
twelve years ofsge. He answered objections which
had been urged against this bill. Ifgentlemen should
take the trouble to investigate they would find that
in one Of the resolutions Of the old Congress by
which the cesson Of the lands was invited they would
discover that the main object that they should
de disposed Of for settlement and from the earliest pc
Rod OF tire country 10 the present time almost every
prominent public man had been in favor Of reduc.
ti"n OF the price Of the public domain. They were
bound as trustees, TO make proper disposition OF
these lands, according to the specifications 10 the
deed lfthere be no specification, they would have
to do that which prudent man, man Of foresight
and sagacity would, II the property were bis own
admit that they had offered the public lands at too
high price, and for more than they were worth.
Beside comforting benefits actual settlers, the
States themselves would be benefited by the passage
OF this b-as they would derive revenue from lands
now subject TO taxation. He adverted to the fact
that in lSll, by an act of Congress- Tennessee was
made the agent for the sale Of public lands
IN that State, and they were disposed Of
not for dollar and quarter, but Just ninepence per
acre And this was not the only instance Of the gra-
duation principle sanctioned by this Government
The lands acquired by the Chckasaw treaty was
another-at first the price was one dollar and quar-
ter, but in three years fell to seventy five or fifty
cents. The consequence was, the population IN tins
region had become dense, and the Government h,d
been benefited by the money which had come into It's
Treasury.
Mr.. MCDOWELL argued in favor of the bill
The poor man, with small SUN, could not buy
enough Of land from the spectators which sup
port his family, but graduate the public lands, and he
could go with little means, with thirty or forty dol
lars, and acquire sufliclency Of soil, which, with
prudence and industry, would make him comfortable
and happy. The principle involved in the PROPOSE
non now before them, would invite large number Of
Individuals struggling with proverty in the East
and haitstarved, 10 the fertile regions of the West
TO secure farm on which TO support themselves and
families They would thus get rad of their feeling Of
dependence which made them slaves. He desired Ia
transplant, them from Of corruption and degra-
ua'io 10 the valley OF the Mississippi, where, breath
ing the pure air OF heaven and possessing plenty they
would be rsgeneraed and reformed, and become free.
men aud citizens in fact. Many who had gone 10
the West in poverty, had become rich and eminent
Tor usefulness, and now had to thank God that
he mad ever put IT into their hearts to emigrate.
Mr.. RATHBUN opposed the bill--preferring to
adhere to the present system. He did not think the
effect OF this measure would benefit the poor espe-
clally The rich would, in many cases, purchase the
ahds and sell them at an advanced price, credit
and this would insure the very thing against which
the friends OF the bill were DESTROYS TO guard.
The hour to which the debate was limited having
expired the committee voted on the amendments; n
substitute for the entire bill was agreed to.
And the committee rose and reported that fact TO
the House.
1t enocts that all lands which have been in market
len years, and upwards of twenty, and remaining I'M
sold, may be entered at one dollar per acre. for not
exceeding one hundred and sixty from twenty
years to thirty, seventyhve cents for the same guam
tlty-thiriy and upwards fifty cents, for not exceed
ing one hundred and sixty acres-there is provso
that nothing in the bill shall apply TO lands in the ter
rtories, interfere in the alternate sections resery
ed under the existing law.
On this substitute the previous question was moved
and seconded; when
Mr. VlNTON moved to lay the bill upon the table,
The yeas and nays were taken, and the motion
was sustained yeas l03, nays 81.
So the bill was laid upon the table.
The House again went into Committee Of me
Whole (Mr VInton in the Chair and took up the
bill making appropriation for the Indian Department
and fulfilling treaty slipulations with Indian tribes.