Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-21
q NJ fntp- Nintb Congress.
House Of REPRESENTATIVES, May 4.

presumption to actual settlers on the lands acquired
by treaty from the Miami Indians in Indiana; which
motion was agreed to.
And the question being on ordering the bill to a
third reading,
Mr.. G. DAVIS opposed it in a few remarks directed
particularly the description and value of the lands
and asked the yeas and nays:
Mr.. Thomas Smith explained briefly what the
condition Of these lands was, and strongly urged the
proprietv and Justice of the passage of the bill.
Mr.. CATHcAKT remarked that the gentleman from
Kentucky, who had so warmly opposed the bill, Mr..
G. Dayisl had stated to the House that these lands
were excluded from the operation of the presumption
act of 1911 in consequence of their extraordinary
value. Mr.. C. could not state what influences Opes
rated upon Congress at that time he not here
but he thought the for the exclusion of these
lands must be sought little further back In point OF
time. In 1888, the Legislature of Indiana, then
engaged In the prosecution OF supendous system oil
internal improvement, asked of Congress the right to
pre-emp these lands for the benefit of the Stae-that
Is that the government would sell the lands at 81 70
to the State of Indiana that she might by resale,
make an advance or speculation which she intended
70 use for the prosecution of her public works. But
the State had she obtained these lands, would have
extended her relief laws over them, she has over
her other lands and her citizens would not in tina;
event have been asking the protection of Congress.
Indiana did not, however, obtain these lands, and
she now comes forward by joint resolution and asks
the protection of her citizens at your hands.
The gentleman from Kentucky is much mistaken
as to the value of these lands, and he could
him, that far from their being the best in the State,
they far inferior to many large tracts which have
been pre-empted at 81 %.
The Committee on Public Lands have seen proper
so to amend the bill which he Mr.. CO. had introduced
rs to increase the minimum price from 81 % to 50
per This he regretted, Notwithstanding these
lands cost something than the public domain
generally, yet he did not consider them sufficiently
valuable to justify this increase.
The opposition of the gentleman from Kentucky to
this bill would apply with equal force to any pre-
emption bill which might be offered.
MIR. c. asked Will you not extend to these settlers
the same protection which other settlers upon the
pubic lands have received! He knew that the appeal
would not be in vain, and that this House would
for the mere hope of pitfu speculation which could
end in advantage to any one but the hearlless
speculaor expose this honest generous-hearted peo
pie to the risk of being robbed of their humble homes
Mr.. KENNEDY said:
Mr.. Speaker: After what has been said by my
colleagues Messrs Smith and Cathcart] | do not
wish to protract this debate. But being the only
person now here from my State who was a member
of the Congress which passed the general presumption
bill, from the operations of which these Miami lands
were exempted cannot suffer the remarks which fell
from the honorable member from Kentucky Mr..
Davis to 60 to the House without some reply
know that the reason why these lands were ex-
empted from the operation of that bill was not, as
suggested by that honorable gentleman " the high
v1lue," but that exemption made at the sugpes-
ton of the then delegation from that State under the
impression that the benefits which the pre-emption
laws granted to the actual settlers might be made to
enure to the State. | doubted then, and | am now
convinced that this policy Of robbing the settlers Of
those lands for the benefit of the State large
wrong. The State has since abandoned this idea,
and asks, that the same Justice which that law
melted out to settlers other public lands and which
would then have been granted to the settlers these
had ii not been for her own error as then and now
conceive it to have been may be extended to the
settlers on this Miami reserve. These settlers are as
good and meritorious citizens as any other of that
worthy class of who have invariably pioneered
our people into the heart Of the western wilderness
and am persuaded that their claim to Justice is only
to be fairly stated in order to a favorable
response from the members Of this House.
The only thing wrong this bill s that the mini
price of these lands raised from the usual one
dollar and twenty-five cents to two dollars But this
difference these settlers and will submit to, moi
because these lands more valuable than thousands
Of other tracts of land in the other Western States
which have been pre-empted, but because they cos
the government considerably more than the average
price of public lands ard because the hardsbips o
the frontier life not severely felt here il
other places more distant from the neighborhood o
white settlements.
One word as to the great value which some gentle
reserve choice tracts of land (but not more 81
than in other portions of the State y but taken
whole, do not believe that if this tract of country
put up at auction and knocked down 10 the high
est bidder tomorrow, that it would average dol
lars per 1t then resolves itself into this simp
question: whether this government will sell the
lands 10 the poor but honest settlers who have
their humble dwellings upon them with view O
making them their homes, or whether they will sufe
these settlers to be driven off by the opulent bu
less patriotic SPECTATOR, who desires to purchas
them for tn, sake Of future emolumentl
/ cannot doubt that the House will pass this bill
and know the House does not desire this discus
ton to be continued, and with view to speedy actor
on this well other matters of moment whic
call for the elaboration of the House. for tn
previous question.
On the intimation of Mr.. Davis that he desired t
submit some other remarks, Mr.. Kennedy Withdrew
his call for the previous question.
Mr.. G.. DAVIS replied briefly TO of these re
marks indicating the course he had taken and just
flying his opposition to the bill.
Mr.. PETIT made a strong appeal to the House i
favor of the BILL He expressed surprise that oppos
ton to it should come from a member who was him
self the representative of agricultural interest
and declared that he never would consent to tina
interest made secondary subseryien to any Other
be that other what it might
The previous question was then demanded an
seconded. And the main question was ordered anC
being taken, the bill ordered a third readin
nOU.
And having been read third time, and tie que:
ton being on the final passage,
The yeas and nays ordered, and being taker
were yeas 90, nays 46.
So the bill was passed.