Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-07-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THE GRADUATION LAND BILL.

The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole
the state Of the Union, (Mr FrcKLrS, of Illinois, in the
chair and resumed the consideration of the bill graduate
and reduce the price Of the public lands.
Mr.. VINTQN, who entitled the floor occupied it in
speech marked by his usual ability and profound acquain
with the subject This speech will be given hereafter
He was followed by Mr. McCLERNAND, chairman of the
Committee the Public Lands who went into general
speech in explanation and defence Of the BILL and in reply
the views of Mr.. VISToN.
Mr. BRoCKENBRoUGH followed on the same side, but
obliged by ndspoon TO yield the floor before he had
concluded his argument in which he discussing the ee-
ments which entered into the price of land
Mr.. CHAPMAN Of Alabama, advocated the bill on the
ground of its practical operation he had witnessed in his
own State.
Mr.. DODGE spoke warmly in reply to Mr. V1SroS whom
he endeavored TO convict Of inconsistency.
Mr. ADAMS, Of Mississippi followed on the same side
when
Mr. MCDOWELL, of Virginia, who had but five minutes
LEFT before the expiration Of the allotted hour for debate
pied in briefly explaining the grounds Of bill which he
desired to offer substitute for that proposed by the
mitee.
The hour Of two o'clock round and under the order
Of the House, the debate ceased and the committee proceeded
10 or the various propositions Of amendment The bill
from the Senate il as follows
BE enacted By the Senate and House Of Representatives.
IF the United States Of America in Congress assembled
that all public lands which shall have been offered for sale
years the first day Of March, eighteen hundred
and shall thereafter be subject entry dol
lar per acre. until the FIRST day March, thousand eight
hundred and fifty all then remaining unsold shall be subject
to entry at seyentyvc cents per until the fir day of
March, thousand eight hundred and fythree and all
then remaining unsod shall be subject to entry at fifty
per until the first day of March, thousand eight
bred and iysx when they shall be subject entry at wen-
y-hye per until the first day of March, thou
sand eight hun, sed and iity-nine.
See. q find be further enacted That all public lands
which, after the first day of March, thousand eight hun
dred aud shall offered ten years
the first day of March, thousand eight hun
drcd and fifty shall then be subject graduation and entry
like nj like periods of three years and that
all public lands which shall have been offered for sale ten
years at the succeeding PERIOD any
qqen one, shall be subject in like manner graduation and
entry at like periods Of three years. they consecuvey
Proraded, Iat person. under the provisions
Of this act shall be authorized purchase than
section at the two lowest Of fifty and twenty-five
per
Sec. g. And be further enacted That upon every
on in the prices OF said lands which shall take place by the
graduating of this the occupants settlers
any OF the said lands shall have the right of such
graduated reduced prices which right shall extend TO pc
Rod OF SIX months from and after the dates which the rcspe
tive radson shall take place. and any land not entered by
the respective occupants settlers within that period shall be
liable to be entered purchased by any other person until the
next graduation reduction in price shall take place. when 1t
SHALL not previously purchased be again subject to the right
OF presumption for MONTHS BEFORE and on from time
TO time said reduction shall take place F0ud That
ng in this contained shall be construed interfere With
any right which has accrued may by virtue Of
granting to actual settlers the public lands
Sec Ind be further enacted, That all acts and parts Of
acts provide for exemption from the imposition of
upon land sold the United States for FIVE years from and
Amendments were proposed as follows