The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-14
THE OREGON TREATY.

which was read for information;
Resorsd That the President be requested TO e0mmun
which he may have CONCLUDED With the British government
II any in relation tbs Oregon territory; also any cor
ornmens the subject Of said territory also any nstrgc
tons which he may have given to- or communications he
in relation to that subject except such correspondence in
sruchon and eommuncsoas as may have been previous
Ily communicated to this House,
| Mr.. s. asked the yeas and Maya on his motion,
which were refused.
| And the question icing taken, the rules not
susPende l, and the resolution was not received.
| THE GRADUATION BILL.
The House resumed the consideration Of the bill
to reduce and graduate the price of the public lands
The pending question was on the amendment OF
Mr.. CoBB.
Mr. COBB now modified his amendment to read
as follows
That all OF the lands Of the United which shall have
been in market for ten than years prior TO the
passage Of THIS act and still remaining unsold shall be
subject to sale at the price OF dollar per And
all Of said lands which shall have been may hereafter
be 70 makt for fifteen or more than heen Year.. sore
the price Of seventy Ave cents per acre And all Of SAID
Tor tSsny or mort than twenty years as Aforesaid and still
remaining unsod shall be saect TO sale at the price Of
been may hereafter be In market for twenty-five OF
more than yhve years aforesaid and still remain
ing unSold shall be subject to sale at the price oftwsn
SIC. 4 Ind >, Il farther Enacted, That every person
the aforesaid the United
states unsr the provisions oil this act shall be required
hs to affidavit before the register receiver OF the
lprOper land office that he she enters the for his
her for the purposes of actual settlement and cul
ovation by and for him herself Tor the Of ad.
accent iaTn plantation owned and occupied by him
hee and that together with said entry he or she has not
acquired from the United States under the provisions VI
than three hundred and twenty Of LAND
according TO the pubic surveys thereof and any person
taking such oath, by ada'i shall swear falsely in the
PREMISES he she shall be subject to all Of the pains aud
penalties OF perjury ProVidsd That nothing herein
tanned shall be consedto prevent any person IRON enter
ing the lands OF ths ned states the
dollar and twenty five cents per acre as now author
ICED provided by law; ind Pr0rid,S also. That the
hail proclaim and oder for sale In any year
shall three millions OF This act sln take
effect six months from and after its passage
acts as provide for an exemption from the imposition OF
taxes upon land sold by the Umited states for five
and alter the day sale be- and the same are hereby
repealed
Mr.. C. having s.a'eu The object of his amendment,
demanded the p,eyIous question.
| A urIGf conversation followed between Mr. COL
LAM Err and the SPEAKER on IoInt of order.
Mr. JACOB THOMPSON moved that there be
a call of the House, which was ordered,
And the roll having been called, l73 members an
swered 10 their names.
Ga motion Of Mr.. RArHBUN, all further pro.
ceedIngs on the call were dispensed with.
Mr.. MCKAY appealed to his friend from Geor-
gia, MIR. CoBB,l TO withdraw has demand for the
previous question for one moment.
Mr.. COBB withdrew for the purpose (he said)
oil enaOlInR the gentleman 10 oHer MS ainenument,
= and on pledge that he would renewIi.
Mr.. MCKAY said ne would not abuse the pryi-
lege granted him by his friend from Georgia Oy
making a speech, but he did hope the House would
permit HIM to make one or Two remarks IN explana-
; ton of the amendment he desired to offer He
would premise by saying that he had always been
the uniform and consistent friend Of the existing
land system in this country. Your public DOMAIN
, Is rich resource, belonging to the government. /
am unwilling that any material, radical change
shall be made in the system OF administering IT. In
saying this, however, l wish TO be understood as
always having been equally the uniform aud unwa-
veruiy friend Of the principle of graduation believe
II ~ founded Ia "a justice. We all know-those
of who live 10 the oid States to be sure II was
never my good fortune ~ have Visited the new
States) that StaGs, lands are Of divers
| qualities. They are not of the same quality, and
therefore viii not command the same price; there
. should DE difference made, aud perhaps the best
rule you can adopt on the subject, applicable to the
ands IN the States, by which to arrive at their
value, Is that of the time during which they have
been exposed to sale | am therefore prepared to
vote for bill embodying this principle; think, how
ever that of the propositions before the House
go far, and introduce this change too rapidly and
too radically. think we should make the experiment
gradually. What | representation charging
on topic which covers 80 wide field, and on
which might well occupy an hour, but will not)
what propose by my amendment. Is this: that
all the lands which, on the LIST OF December next,
shall have been offered for sale for twenty
years NC touu'eu " ~, anu lei ~ y ~ e'o
years; then be reduced 10 10 cents LOT announcer hVe
years; and at the end OF this last time they shall
come down TO 81 cents, and there remain: Tins is
merely beginning to see how this principle OF
graduation VIII WORK, ana ii The experience OF the
government should prove 1t to be favorable In Its
operation then it be enlarged. There 9TH
er provisions upon which he would not dwell. He
sent up the following, which he offered as an
amendment TO the amendment OF Mr.. CoBB
That all public lands which shall have been offered for
sale twenty years OF more on .he first Of pecember egh
esn ns Gaa % o The term Of ye YEAR, ali the
before described lands then remaining unsod Shall be sub
eot to entry seventyfve cents per acre another
term OF Ave years and al such unsod al the end OF the
las. meI ON S, rs1 yn w That he nusnv Of
which the President Of the United states shall hereaitrr
proclaim and offer for sale in any one year. shall not ox
coed 200 600 Of aeres f ,1 ri, mon ,v.rv reano
:, ma o ~ id lands sbicb shall lake nlace bv the
of this act the occupants or settlers up