The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-07-10
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
STURGEON.


WAsHINGroS, July 8, 1886
The day, after the morning business was occupied in
tho discussion OF the bill for the reduction and gradua
ton of the prices OF the public lands
Mr. JoHNsor of Md spoke for the space oil an hour In
BIr Ba.x.E replied summing up various statistics of
land sales to show the feasibility of the proposed scheme
of grsdatons.
Mr. CsIrTrNprs, in a strong argument reviewing the
whole ground of the operation OF scheme resisted
its adoption either pom considerations of national
diency or justice to the old or States.
Mr. Niles was opposed to the bill He thought its
pblic lands but bill csds them after limited Pc
ROD to the staos in which they lie With great energy
and reduction proposed 1t was not the policy the
Government 10 get rid of the public domain soon
possible, but TO hold on TO them II part of the
70 hold to hsm, TO keep them for the benefit of
the poor and Of the smgran from abroad He hoped
that this trust would continue for all time 10 for
was not broksn.up establishment in trade that was
necessary TO wind up
MIR CALHOUN replied and considered the great point
OF the poltical influence growing out OF the
disposition OF the public lands, first nducemen TO
the adoption OF the graduation principle The votes OF
the settlers upon the public lands in the absence OF
system. might control the result OF Presidential cleo
tons and the earlier the deposition of the public lands,
the earlier the removal Of this powerful element IRON
our political elections.
Mr. BENTON maintained that the settler upon the public
lands and his hardy family of and daughters
Of infinitely more value TO the nation than the lands
themselves Tor without the selers the lands would DO
Of value at all Therefore, it would be but Just to the
settler who had built a cabin, planted orchard and
maintained family, TO give him his lutte estate, to
knowledge his title H. confirm his right in it but
ablo to DO tive could not afford it-and,
therefore we had to compromise well as we could
otherwise should be theirs without the charge cent
Mr. J. Nj CLAYTON said that all this discussion OF the
land system TO him
"Was like thIice told tale
Told in the dull ear OF drowsy man.
But after all hat ne ha heard Of the increasing power
OF ihe new States all that he enabled to make Of
this bill was that il a bill to cede away the public
lands 10 the State in which they lie.
Mr CRIIrENptN followed in argument illustrating
the inequality the distribution OF the public lands
der this bill If they to be given away, all the
States equally entted but under this scheme the
whole OF the residue OF the public lands the end of
limited time would be coded some eight ten states
TO the exclusion of all the In the of his
Presidency.
Mr. YuLEE correct an error of the Senator from
Kentucky, regarding the of Florida. He had
derrated 1t. The state of Florida covered Of
900 square miles and 0O0this would be nearly
thrsyseven millions OF acres large body OF these
londs was OF pine barrens, which never if you kept
then IN market till eternity, would sell for than rs
cents per acre Another large portion was the ever,
OF acres OF refuse lands This would argue that
Florida was deficient in resources, for the fifteen mil
hons OF good lands left equal TO fifty millions any
where else usugher) With some details upon this
point Alr. Y. yielded 10
Mr. CRIrrENpEN, who said that according to this cal
culaon the hes, lands in Kentucky being valued at $50
per acre, and the Florida good lands valued three
person VINO, by tus graduation BILL shall only hun
dred acres Will get $4,000 worth OF land TO the exclu
sion oil every boly else.
MIR fuLEE reJoined in explanation.
The question was then taken Mr.. Clsyton's amend
ment striking out the proviso Mr Calhouns amend
men which provides Tor cedng the lards unsold alter
they shall have been reduced by graduation, to IS
cents tue TO the States in which they lie The ef
feet OF course would be, after such lands reduced
TO IS cents per 10 keep them at that price instead
after three years of surenderng them the states
proposed by Mr.. Calhoun.
The amendment the amendm ent wa, adopted and
the Senate agreed that the residue OF the unsod lands
should not be coded to the States which they lie 81
90 as iollows:-
teas-Nlessrs Archer, Atherton, Cameron, Clley,
J; Clayton, NJ CLAYTON, Corwm Crittenden, Davis,
Dayton Dickinson Dix, Evans, Fairfield Greene, Hun
tington Johnson, of Md, Mangum, Morehead Niles,
Pearce, Penny backsr Phelps, Simmons, Sturgeon Tur
Nays-Messrs Allen. Ashley, Atchison Bagby, Bar
row, Benton, Breeze, Bright Calhoun, Chalmers, Han
negsn Hou ston, Johnson of La Lewis, Rusk Semple
SEWER WeScott, Woodbridge. and Yulee-20.
MIR ASHLEY moved TO make reduction from IS to 10
cents per acre as the ultimate minimum price
Ar DexissoS thought that could DO a subject for fu
turc legislation
Mr. ASHLEY withdrew the amendment
MT CALHouss amendment, as amended, then
agreed to, 81 TO 10.
Slr CRIrrE<pEs moved an amendment providing for
decision upon the claims upon the public lands OF all
or any OF the States, by the Supreme Court Lost-I7
to27.
And the bill as amended was reported concurred in
and ordered TO be engrossed for third reading 90
Ycas-Messrs. Allen Ashley Atchison Atherton
Bsgoy, Barrow, Benton Brecse, Bright Calhoun Chal
mers, Dickinson Dix Fairfield, flanagan Johnson of
Nd Johnson, OF La. Lewis Penny hacker, Rusk, Sem
pie, SEWER, Turney, Westcott, and Yulee-2o
Nays-Mcssrs. Archer, Cameron, Cilley r. CLAYTON
y VI clayton, Corwin.C rtsnden Davis, Dayton Evans,
Sreene, Huntington Mangum, Niles, Pearce, Phelps,
Sim mons, Sturgeon, pham, Woodbrdge-20.
The bill provides that all public lands hch shall have
been in market ten years the LIST of March, lsI shall
sell at one dollar and at periods of three years
each succeeding all lands still remaining in shall
be subject TO periodical reduction of rs cents till
dnoed to 70 cents the acre at which they shall stand
similar process sale Settlers allowed six months
grace at every stage OF the sales.