The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-18

States had in this question: but would venture to
that all that portion Of ten millions of the public lands lying
Alabama and without the parts coded by the two tribes
OF Indians woad not in ten years bring into the treas
ury of the United States under this any other system
of graduation, ten Thousand dollars. He not in the
habit of giving reasons why one State should be entitled
TO the special favor OF Congress- but would sate for the
consideration of the honorable gentleman from Illinois
that the lands sold in Alabama had yet brought bu
| Al 20 and fraction per He must insist upon the
amendments and called for the ayes and noes
Mr. BREESE said he could not of course vote against
the motion OF the honorable gentleman from Alabama
because it wcnld be immensely in favor of his own
State vet he sorry that the honorable gentleman had
| made the motion.
The question was then taken upon the amendment OF
MT bAGBY, and was relecedyeas H. nays 2o' as ol-
lows;
YEASMe,srs. Allen, Ashley, Atchison, Bagby, Breese
Bright, Calhoun Cas-, Chalmers, Fairfield, Hannegan,
Houston Johnson of Louisiana Rusk, SEWER Tumey and
NAYs,Messrs. Archer, Anterior, Badger ButleI Cam
ton, johnson, Of Maryland, Mangum, Miller Morehead
Miles, Pearces Phelps, Simmons Sturgeon, and upham-
MIR. YULEE presumed that the chief objection to the
amendment the fact that the reduction to the period
lie lands, without exception If they should make an
exception favor of that peculiar region OF the country
from which he came, he presumed the gentleman would
be satisfied There was peculiarly IN the lands OF the
four southern States OF Florida Mississippi Alabama, and
Louisana-that pine alone grew upon them, and that
they were not adapted to the purposes OF agriculture
|
or, many portions of them, for even so or % cents.
Some portions of those lands conveniently situated for
navigation purposes, contained growth OF wood which
might be valuable for timber, and Were worth 81 25
per acre; but these lands were usually taken up
as soon as offered for SALE Those lands which had been
ten years IN market they might be very sure were not
fitted for agricultural purposes and could never be taken
up at 81 % To obvaie the difficulty, therefore, he pro-
posed an amendment, TO read thus
B further enacted That lfpublic lands in the States
OF Florida, Mississippi Alabama, and louisiana, rated
pine barren land which shall have been in market ten
sold, shall be subject sale the minimum price of fifty
cents and that all of the same land which remain
sold the expiration of five years from the passage of this
act shall be subject TO entry al the minimum price OF TWEEN
y-iive cents
Mr., DAYTON said it seemed to him sufficient obiec-
ton TO the proposition of the honorable gentleman from
Florida, that implied partial legislation. He OPP
posed to the whole bill but if they passed any law of
this kind he would like to have general one, and not
one carrying out special avors.
MIR. fULEE would assure the gentleman he had no
idea of proposing partial legislation The portion of the
public domain referred to was peculiar and therefore re-
CURED peculiar rule OF legislation.
MIR, BREESE would remind the gentleman from Flor.
ida that the bill designed for general system of
graduation, applicable to all the public lands All the
States had peculiares His State had swamp lands,
and lands which were overlooked a part of the year
Other States had mountainous and rocky lands. He
hoped the amendment would be withdrawn
MIR. CRITTENDEN thought there was not so great
want of conference between the amendments WHICH had
been submitted. They were all of piece But he
would ask what was meant by Grated pine lands
Where, when, and by whom those lands rated'
MIR. IULEE replied they were reported al the land
office in conformity with the acquisitions Of the law.
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN asked if the gentemans amend
ment would not be little more specific if it should read
rated by the public surveyors pine barren lands"
Mr.. IuLEE: Agreed The alteration will be made.
Mr. CRITTENDEN had no doubt that the amendment
would be greatly 10 the benefit of those StatesFlorda
in parcuarif they should reduce the price still lower.
Mr.. BADGER hoped the senator from Florida, when
had passed through extensive barren land, did
to make the unkind insinuaton that North Carolina
in the situation as Florida and had no good land
"A laugh. North Carolina was modest State, and did
expose her good qualities to publicity She generally
sent her travellers through her poor lands Continued
aughter.]
MIR YuLEE. l passed through Raleigh, sir. IRE
Mr.. BADGER, The gentleman must have passed
Mr. ALLEN said that, in general bill of this kind
il utterly impossible to satisfy all the peculiar wishes
of gentlemen.
Mr. WESTCOT'T said, there were sixty townships in
the land district in which he lived that had been reported
by the United States surveyors of character that
would not pay for the surveys He did not conceive that
this law would be of very essential benefit to the people
of his State. For the lands there not worth
50 cents cents, ten cents even, of
them. They would, however, in some cases afford a
home to their citizens and make them freehoders; and
perhaps they would be disposed to purchase some valua
BILE land from adjoining States He had no idea that
the United States would ever sell more than very
small portion of the lands in West Florida, which had
been reported at the land office Ii the lands referred TO
had been worth enough to pay for surveying them the
United States would never have reported them
otherwise; for those pine lands were the most easy of
all lands to survey.
Mr. DAYTON said that although the amendment was
OF great Importance per il must be considered
important, by II they to introduce element
into their system of graduating public lands If they
to make special rule for pine lands, what would they
do with swamp lands If they exempted one class OF
lands in State why should not other States have the
same favor' The moment they introduced such
element in the system, there would be tell
ing where the confusion and mischief would stop. In
regard the pine barens they had of them in his
State, and he believed there lands of this
description in the State of North Carolina, which had
utterly unproducve had been represented they pro-
cured pitch, tar, and turpenne from the pine trees,
sometimes, he believed.
Mr. CALHOUN concurred entirely with the view
which had been taken by the senator from New Jersey,
that If discrimination should be made in case, 1t
would lead to endless confusion under that impress
Sod he should vote against the amendment
The question was then taken upon the amendment of
Mr. IULEE, and decided in the negative.
No further amendment having been offered the bill
reported TO the Senate, and the question being pon order
ing the bill TO be engrossed for third reading,
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, moved that be post
poned until tomorrow. The motion negatved
Mr.. CRITTENDEN then moved, with a view of OBJ
aing information which he desired in reference to
the quantity of land in Market to postpone the further
consideration of the bill until Monday next.
Upon division, the motion was agreed to-ayes 81,
noes 90
So the bill postponed until Monday next
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On motion BY MIR. DIX, the Senate then went into
ecutive session. and after time spent therein the
doors were opened, and
The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The Journal having been read