The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-05
TwENTY-NINTH CONGRESS,
First Session. ~
IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, May S, 1886.
The journal having been read

TO certain land ella ms entered IN the name of John
Rice Jones; which was read, and referred TO the
Communities on Private Land Claims.
..,. PETITIONS.
The PRESIDENT also presented the petition Of
John s. Smith, soldier in the late war, praying
to be allowed arrears of pension; which was
terred TO the Committee on Pensions.
Mr.. CAMERON presented a memorial Of the
Board OF Trade Of Philadelphia, asking for some le-
gslaiion TO prevent the introduction Of infectious dis
eases by vessels landing emigrants at our ports;
which was referred 90 the Committee on Com.
merce.
Mr. CoRWIN asked permission to withdraw
from the files Of the Senate the petition and papers
Of John +. Moore; which was granted.
PILOT LAWS.
Mr.. DAVIS presented petitions from ship own
ers and masters OF Newburyport, Salem, and Ne"
Bedford in the State of Massachusetts; and OF sixty
eight ship-owners and masters OF Nantucket, Mas
sachusetts, praying that the pilot laws OF 1887 may
not be repealed; which several petitions were laid
upon the table.
AGRICULTURE OF FLORIDA.
Mr.. WESTCOTT presented memorial of cIti-
zens Of Florida, in relation To the introduction and
cultivation Of tropical plants In that State; which
was referred TO the Committee on Agriculture
THE HOUR or MEETING.
Mr.. SPEIGHT submitted the following resolu-
ton; which, being objected to, lies over one day I'M
der the rule:
the senate shall stasd adjourned, shall be II until
otherwise ordered
hEPoRrs OF COMMITTEES.
Mr.. ASHLEY, from the Committee on the Judi.
cary 70 whom was referred the subject OF lnquir-
ing into the expediency Of extending the jurisdic
ton ofthe United States district all the
lakes and nsvigabe waters of the United States re-
ported bill TO amend act entitled IAN act ex
lending the jurisdiction Of the district
tain cases upon the lakes and navigable waters con
meeting the same, approved February %, 1885,"
which was read, and passed to the second reading.
Mr.. A also, from the same committee, submitted
an adverse report upon the petition Of Moses Meek
er, and asked to he discharged from its further
sideration; which was agreed TO.
Mr.. LEWIS, from the Committee on Finance,
moved that said committee be discharged from the
further consideration Of the petition of VIM. B.
Bend; which motion was agreed to.
GENERAL ORDERS OF THE DAY.
The Senate considered the adverse report of the
Committee on Pensions, upon the petition of Sarah
Little; which report was concurred in.
| Also, the adverse report of the Committee on
Pensions, upon the petition of Ruth Frye which re-
port was concurred In.
| Also, the adverse report of the Committee on Fl.
nance, upon the petition Of jacob ID. Clark; which
| report was concurred in.
| JOHN z. SKINNER.
The "bill for the relief of JohL p. Skinner. and
the legal representatives of Isaac Greene" was read
third time and passed.
| SETTLEMENT OF PRE-EMPrIoN CLAIMS.
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Louisiana, moved that the
| prior orders Of the day be postponed and that the
Senate resume the consideration Of the "bill proyi-
ding for the adjustment of all suspended pre.emp-
ton land claims in the several States and Terrific
RES"
Mr.. HUNTINGTON objected to taking up the
bill at the present time, as the Senate very thin
and the bill very important one.
Mr.. ATCHlSON remarked that, though Of no
great importance to the government the bill was Of
vast importance to the individual claimants, and he
hoped the matter would be disposed of speedily
| as possible.
Mr.. BREESE hoped that the senator would with.
draw his objection, and allow the bill to be dis
cussed
Mr.. HUNTINGTON was perfectly willing that
the bill should be taken mp lifts friends desired.
Mr.. ASHLEY did not perceive any great neces-
sity for pressing the bill. His State was as much
interested in 1t as any other, but he had desire to
asked relative to the bill, and he was willing to
afford time fora satisfactory response.
Alter some further conversation it was agreed to
take up the bill.
The Senate then proceeded, as in committee of
the VIII ole, to the consideration of the bill.
ing of the bill.
The bill was accordingly read, as follows
BILL providing the adjustment of all suspended pre
emption land claims in the several States and Territories
whereas there exists vast number suspended
the several States and Territories in which the public
lands are situated upon which patents cannot issue un
der existing legislation and which accommodating
from year year to such extent produce great
Inconvenience to the public, well the general OPP
erations Of the General Land Once:
And whereas !, necessary and proper that all persons
Justly and eOuitably entitled TO patepts should
them and that all unjust and fraudulent entries should be
Cancelled and the land revert again and become part of
the public domain: Therefore,
Be enacted by the Senate House Of Representative
ge United States Of america in Congress assembled That
the of the General Land Office be- and hey
hereby, constituted board Of commissioner to exam
ING ana upon principles OF equity and JUSTICE all
such cases and to order and finally adudge
accordingly.
SEC .dnd be further enacted That the said board shall
arrange their decisions into two classes the first class
brace all such cases Of equity may he finally confirmed
by the board aforesaid the second class all
such the board reject and decide to be invalid
SIC 3. .4nd be il further enacted That for all lands
cred by entries sales which placed in the class
shall issue to the claimants and all lands embraced
revert and become part Of ths public domain T''
be lawful for the Commissioner Of the General Land
to order into market after due notice without the ormality
and of proclamation of the President all lands
the second class though heretofore Unprecedented
offered and such other isolated disconnected
parcels Of unoHered lands which in his judgment it would
be proper expose to sale in like ProUidd That
public notice Of at least thirty days shall be given by
land officers of the district in which such lands may
ated pursuant the directions of the aore.
said.
| Mr.. YULEE then rose and said that nasmuch
| as objections to the bill had been made Yesterday
by several senators, he had prepared himself with
some facts to which he invited the attention of the
Senate The subject referred to in the report
| OF the Commissioner of the Land Office, an extract
| from which he would desire the secretary to read
Cases OF suspension for various causes exist in all the
in birht
These have been accumuang since the
the present public land system and give rise the
time to an amount of correspondence very
to the operations oil the Office In many instances patents
withheld from claimants for wholly irremoy
under existing legislation and yet principles Of ubstan
ial justice the purchasers entitled their patents
utterly mpractcable 10 provide by law for par.
cular case aud as necessary that these
which sing from year year be finally disposed
would suggest that the Secretary OF the
Attorny General and the Commissioner of the cneral
Land Office be authorized by law together as board
ADD examine and determine all Of upon
principles fequity and justice In this way honest and
bona de purchasers will he able to obtain their patents
and claims that are unjust and neguabe be finally re-
jeced Some Of this kind is able 10 re-
nfis fron, nbarr