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

ment and give II vitality, - what INC trainers Vi our
| constitution never Intended or dreamed OF, and
while this state of things existed no State could be SOW
ereign and independent. lie tnlsted therefore, that
| all who were favorable 10 the maintenance OF the
sovereignty freedom, and Independence OF the States
would aid IN relieving the new States as speedily al
possible from this odlous yassalage TO the federal
government. Mr.. S. said when similar bill was
before the House at the last session some gentle
| men from the old States conended that 81 25 per
acre was cheap enough for any land ht for eul1ya.
tion and the drt Of their arguments went TO show
that il would be Of little avail for the govern
ment to try TO FIX less pnes to benefit those who
could not pay 81 25 per This course of rea-
soning showed concusiyely TO his mind that those
| gentlemen were not acquainted with the practical
operation Of the present laws regulating the sale Of
the public lands in the States. Mr.. s. said he
concurred most heartily In the argument urged by
the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Judge
Shields in his very able report to the two houses Of
Congress at the commencement Of this session, IN
favor Of graduation and reduction, and he would
read from this report;
But few subjects of equal importance have been more
earnestly pressed upon the consideration OF Congress than
this and none have hitherto been less successful The
occasions by the Senate the resolutions Of legislatures the
petitions Of the people and the advocacy Of the hrt talents
Of the nation have failed yet obtain the inrOduc
ton OF system by which the public lands might be
rated according to qpaty and sold according TO value
Among those who eei the unequal operation Of the present
system, aud with whom the question not merely spec
uaiye the rePeated failures Of this iaSore project
been the moHIhcation dissppolnt
and they have been ready times to charge its oP
Ponents not with the want Of practical Information on the
perty Of the States This suspicion Is III founded
but unfortunately has sunk deep in the minds OF the
people Of that region and not removed In time yet
lead system rephssl dereditshls and Injurious
TO the character Of the whole county The present
proPious time TO terminate the agitation Of this qurson
with this view recommend the establishment OF such
graduation system a. will satisfy the reaSonabe demands
doing the slightest ustes to any other Of
country assume that the primary Object Of every en-
occupation settlement and that only to be
regarded secondary and subordinate object lneed
source to Indemnify The government for all Ouays and
expenditures incurred in relation to u To facilitate yet
and to such extent to bring its acquisition within
the limited means Of the great body Of hrst settler This
ps! q he Ss q@. public
has been found by experience to be only 81 N per
acre This looks somewhat absurd even 10 theory but in
practice ia not only absurd but radically unjust
resident capitalists select all valuable
district not previously secured by preemPOn and pur.
sqasnt settlers are Compelled to purchase interior land,
at 81 IS give exorbtAnt price to these cap.
IN such case There Is In fact competition except
amongst and they always .gaciOus enough
mated that about average Of Of the public
main unsslssbls being composed Of swamPs marshes.
residue or saeable lands may be divided according
quality into hvs classes As 81 n Is the average
80
that 81 IS per acre will DO sufficient minimum price for
lands OF the first class 81 for the second rs cents for
the third 50 cents for the fourth and cents for lands
the fifth class This will do away with the ngruity Of
holding lands Of kind and quality subject to sale
the same minimum rate The private owner Of psricu.
lar commodity who should act the principle Of the pre-
sent pubic land system would be regarded as mPolc and
which not so much absolute trustee OF the
public lands for the public have already stated that the
government In the exercise Of sng spirit Of lib
rraty, should be satisfied with naturalization for all
expense, incurred in relation to the public lands The
recommended n vant
do more than indemnify the government The estimate oil
tons exng.hinS he indian s and survey ins aSd .s
ling the public domain 10 average Of - cents per
u cents per oneenth being the whole Of the I'M
saleabe lands, the residue ninetenths will
graduated average Of 6t cents per
thus leaving OF ~ per acre meet ali
possible contingencies These calculations based upon
but Accuratein general and practical sense.
Thi. Will constitute specie. of sliding scale which
will CLEAN and clear out districts and give the
within reasonable time the control within
their limits 9eiscnSn; may perhaps be made to the
in particular states II will vest 40 500
in Ohio; 2so osS Indiana; 1855 O4 acres in
sssippi, i4 900 in louisiana ss5 acre. in Al
ALBANIA and ~ la6 in Michigan can obvate these an
d mates only comparatively iscondersSe portion Of mi.
large of land either alssbe vauae and that il
the government long superior lands can be obtain
ed at the same rate by going westward Is unworthy
worthless land be transferred parc States Is
the government to continue Its present machinery
the ponds lakes swamps marshes mountains, and rrec
Pices in the States forever lest renquished
they perchance include, here and there valuable
tract Of land which has happened to escape the vigilance
Of purchasers and specuatos for twenty-five years!
the contrary is the duty OF government to relinqu
these lands This Is the only way in which can
indemnify these States for the injustice already done
by withholding their lands long from settlement II will
be the policy ofthe States in instances even to give
bountes to settlers to drain swsmps and marshes and
he ands
and capable oconrutng to the support the local
governments The interference of federal the in
affairs of should prevented as much as pos
sble by Withdrawing the machinery of the public land
be This machinery exercises an influence at his tim.
over ten States and two Territories and will continue
g do so forever, unless there is change Of policy"
10 Mr.. s. said, if there ever was a time when O
L. measure Of this kind Should pass, this was the D.
1t proprlate time. We were now engaged in u war
n; and he commended that we needed revenue; and il
= this bill became law, many of the lands which
h had been long in market would sell, and the money
would be paid into the treasury II was the policy
at OF the government to make every man landholder
- He would then feel more interest in the defence OF
to the country He would have real interest 20 de-
ii fend. He would feel that the government which
a. watched over and guarded his rights, was worthy
y of his services in the battle field.
Sir, (sad Mr. So the present value of the lands in
most OF the new States has been given to them by
the toll the prvations, and the blood of the hardy
x and patriotic pioneers who first settled the western
country ana IL was que 70 them ana their descend
ants to pass the bill graduating and reducing the
sc price of these lands.
s Mr. s. introduced some statistical tables and facts
relation to the sales of lands in several of the new
States and the amount Of money paid into the treas
y ury, which were not furnished the reporter He
y also cited the opinions Of Gen. Jackson and Mr.
m Van Buren,, as expressed in their messages tc
,e Congress, in favor Of graduation and reduction.
,ae tCries Of Question, queston."l
y M STEPHENS wished to submit some re-
! marks, but was not prepared to go tonight He
Il therefore moved that the committee RISE
u.s. II was now near ocock,
At the request of Mr.. MCCONNELL. Mr. s
y having yielded the floor,
,'f Mr.. Nice. spoke for few minutes in advocacy o.
- his substitute, proposing to grant to every man
~ ~ maid, or widow, being the head of family, l6(
=, g acres Of land He considered this question one
= almighty importance to the rights and interests O.
!, the laborng, Industrious producing classes of the
= community" The unoccupied land In our confed