The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-10

inc revenue OF the natloni ana al the same lo 80 "
carry on this process of selling the public domain
as in the fastest manner possible TO fill up popua-
ZION and subject the domain 10 the uses and purposes
| of civilized man. Ii was system which had never
belonged TO the wing or democratic party. II had
never been made party question here, ana ne
could not bring himself to believe that il was now,
for the first time, TO be made the creature OF party
He believed it would still be kept free from IT,
Mr.. ", now remarking that the argument OF the
gentleman from Vermont, Mr, CoLLAMER, had
rendered il unnecessary for him to go into some
details which he should otherwise have entered
upon, proceeded TO presest some general views m
relation to the operation OF the land system, ana
which would govern his course in voting, as he de-
| signed 10 do, against the passage Of this bill.
| Mr. JACOB THOMPSON lin the course Of Mr..
VS. rmarks) inquired of him whether he believed
1t TO be the duty OF the government TO adopt policy
which would dispose Of the public lands, or to adopt
policy which should hold them up and reserve
| them from salei
| Mr.. VlNToN. | say it is the duty Of this gov.
eminent, as trustee, TO dispose OF the public lands
for what they are fairly worth. And 60 even fur
Iher, and say that if we can hnd out what price
would in the greatest degree accelerate the growth
of population and the civilization Of the country,
that is even more important consideration than the
price
Mr.. McCLERNAND addressed the committee lin
remarks of which we have full report, which will
soon appearl in advocacy Of the bill generally, and
1
Mr. BR0CKENBRoUGH advocated the bill,
lin remarks Of which report is in course Of pre-,
paration,) measure Of justice To the settlers OF
our new lands, and Of general equity, eontending
that the lands should be sold at their intrinsic value
| and repudiating the idea that the government in
character Of specuator should demand an enhanced
price, in consequences of sd AGENT improvements and
settlement He replied TO objections raised against
the bill by Mr. VMros, Mr. STEPHENS and others
Mr. RATHBUN read from table before him
statement OF the respective quantities OF land re-
naming unsold, afer exposure for different specified
periods going to show, he commended, that time is
no test Of value. He gave many other sta.
uscs Of the lands and argued that the effect Of this
bill by throwing some seyenty-two million acres
| into market at the graduated prices would forever
prevent further sales, other than at the minimum
price. He would consent to a graduation according
To fair value and unier all proper restretionS; but
approved Of retaining the main features Of the
lsting land system, which had worked generally so
we'll. He gave notice Of substitute amendment he
should offer when in order.
[ A full report Of his remarks will be given here
| after.l
Mr.: SAWYER also gave notice of his printed
| substitute for the bill.
Mr.. CHAPMAN, Of Alabama, followed in advo-
cacy Of the bill, expoundng and advocating its
general principles, and referring To its benefcent
practical operation in the Chckasaw country, where
II has been applied contrasted with the effects of
the general law in the Choctaw territory, in the
State Of Alabama and generally. He urged the bill as
tending to promote settlement, the general ends Of
equity, and the prosperity Of the country. This
no new system; distinguished senator from Mis-
| souri,, Mr.. BEsros was the father Of it; and his
mastery argument in its support, when first introdu
ced many years ago, he had never heard answered.
MIR. DODGE read from register Of former pro-
| ceedIngs OF Congress, an amendment to land bill
proposing the principle Of graduation embodied in
this BILL and purporng have been offered by Mr..
ron IIe uire.l of
correct
Mr.. VINT0N explained that he had offered it sa
better proposition than the bill then under consider
| hOn, and which II was generally supposed would
pass But his speeches uniformly showed that
he occupied the opposite side.
Mr.. DODGE proceeded to advocate the bill, read
ing further from formcr debates the pre-emptos
| bill especially reply Of Mr.. Polk to Mr.. VNroN,
which latter gentleman, he said had always occupied
| similar ground in opposition to the presumption law
| that he now brought against this. His Territory
felt no particular interest in this BILL but he urged 1t
as matter Of justice, strict justice, which, how
ever il might be defeated now las appeared proba-
BILE from the cnmor that had been raised against it)
would hereafter force its way the ground Of its
Intrinsic merits, and must ere long become law.
Mr.. ADAMS, of Mississippi, indicated this
question one that ought to far above all party
considerations, and involving the discharge OF
high and Important trust with which this gov
eminent had been invested in regard to these lands.
They were authorized to "dispose" of these
lands, and it should be al a fair price. court of
equity, if it could be brought under their cogni-
zance, would compel the government to dispose of
| these refuse lands at reduced prices. Much had
been said about the vast amount--the 1873, 000, 900
of acres Of public land now in market; but the fact
was, not over 81, 600 900 of this worth anyhng,
or would ever be sold. But very few of the pub
lie lands now subject to entry were worth 81 IS
per acre. Alabama and Mississippi had paid mil
lions Of dollars than their actual value for the
public lands within their respective limits. He re-
piled to arguments of gentlemen who had preceded
him, and expressed the hope that this system Of in
justice and impolicy would be abandoned and
substitute in lieu thereof system which would
tend to the settlement and development of the re-
sources of the country, and greatly enhance the
revenue from this source. ....
Mr. MCDOWELL, of Virginia, obtained the floor
but five minutes remaining Of the time allotted to
debate-and devoted that brief period to an expla-
nation Of the provisions of his proposed substitute
(Which will be found in another coumn,) and to
advocacy oft, as in his opinion, best designed TO
accomplish the three-fod object the government
had in view in accepting this trust-yz., to dispose
ofthose lands for revenue, to subject them rapid
ly as possible TO State jurisdiction, and to bring
them within reach Of actual settlers at their fair
value.
The hour of two having arrived, the committee,
in pursuance Of the order Of the House, proceeded
to vote on all amendments pending, or to be Of
fered.
Mr.. A. JOHNSON moved to strike out from the
first section Of the bill, the following words:
'Untl the first day ofMarch, 1859"
The fundamentally ayes SO, noes sO--was re-
jscied. ,.....
Mr.. BRINKERHOFF moved to amend the same
section by making the year in the seventh line read
1852 instead of 1850 Rejected.
Mr.. SAWYER offered the following amendment
to the Sd section:
find be il further propidcd That every person sp
plying to enter any Of the aforesaid lands the United
States under the provisions OF this shall be required
first to make affidavit before the register the
proper land Office that he she the for his
or her own for the purposes OF actual settlement
cultivation by and for him herself for the
adjacent farm plantation owned and occupied by him or
herself and that together with said entry she has
not acquired from the United States under the provisions
OF this act more than three hundred and twenty
land, according to the public surveys thereof and IL any
person taking such OATH by affidavit shall falsely
In the premises he she shall be subject all of pains
and penalties of perjury Popided That nothing herein
contained shall be construed to prevent any person from
entering purchasing the lands Of the United states
prce OF one dollar and twenty per acre now
authorized and provided by law This act shall take effect
six months from and after its passagel