The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-28

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more for it. If il Is worth $4,000 TO the government
and II the Secretary cannot get for less and Is lmpor-
tan that should be had the bill authorizes The Secre-
tary TO give that SUN. presume that $4,000 would
scarcely be gwen by the Secretary. This limitation
placed upon IT, upon the ground that the government has
already $1,000 for the other moely OF the land
Ii is probable that this could be obtained for much less
than $4,000. do not pretend to say that Is worth
s. 600. only infer us value from circumstances: II
piece OF high land part OF the Mississippi, where
1t wi be valuable as private property more especially
with reference 10 its public but likely TO be IN de-
mand II not taken by the government. Now, II II Is
true, that government are about to dispense wan that
light house, il is not worth while Tor 10 egiate upon
IT, hope, therefore, that II may be postponed until III
formation can be had and this Information IS correct
the whole subject will undoubtedly be dropped. | take
occasion to throw out these remarks, that the bill may
not be peludced By the suggestions thrown out TO the
enhancement OF the value OF the land by the fact OF lis
Mr. DAVIS of Massachusetts, Mr. President the re-
marks made by my friend from Tennessee seem to imply
Jus, W VIVA Suppose everybody eonleciued before VIZ
posed emergency by which The United States would find
necessary to occupy it, II can gather anything from
the remarks OF my friend it is this that certain ndivd-
uas have stepped in and purchased the land with the
expectation that could be sold to the United States at
an advanced price Now the gentleman asks, is ii not
reasonable that the occupant should realize something
out OF the land? II not reasonable that he should have
some equivalent founded upon that emergency? Well
sir, will answer the gentleman by giving an illus
traton. II neighbor OF nine sHpposes that | am
in great need of certain piece of property, and
steps In and purchases it beforehand. in order 10
make speculation out of me, when the question
comes up whether am 10 purchase ii OF him not
will stop time 10 consider; and it will require
pretty urgent necessity, imagine. to compel me 10 pay
hve SIX or ten times much as 1t is worth Now, sir
the rule which would apply IN cases between indivld
nais, would also apply IN cases where the government
is concerned In where government supposed 10
have occasion for the OF certain property Tor the
building OF roads or orttcatons, or what not, parties
step IN and hope from that consideration To make
money out oil government say, then, that would
require, IN this case, very urgent necessity to induce
ypa fpp thnnt ha pnrih
Now, what IS thus property IN question worth There
be evidence before with regard its value
The honorable senator from New York states that the
residue of this portion of lan1ths 100 acres-atter
serving Is acres has been sold for little less than
thousand dollars. If that is so, it is to all the
argument of my friend from Tennessee of the great value
of this land 1t has been put into market and the price
of nearly the whole 100 does not exceed $1,000
ask, then, ii this upon what principle agree
to pay this exorbtan price, unless we adopt the views OF
the gentleman from Tennessee to pay the OF $50 900
for a site for light-h
Mr. DIX Gnerposng) said he was not absolutely Ger
tain that what he had stated trae about the property
being sold for less than 81 900.
Mr.. DAVIS of Massachusetts. The senator is doubt
correct in what he stated; but it is matter about the
precise amount paid Here the joint property of the
United States and individual each owning one half
the property. Probably they could not make partition
OF the property in the way suggested But they did not
hold that at all important, but procee led TO aix
value upon the property, which estimate is greatly be-
you'd the true value.
Now it is said that there is an outer limit of SIS 900
| w .
have again and again; and the result of set
ting outer limit is, that the party refuses TO sell I'M
less he can get the full amount of the outer limit
set by Congress and the Attorney General, any
body else who instructed by Congress TO buy the
land thinking that government would not have passed
such law unless the purchase was intended to be pc
rcmpory, gives the full amount Tor the property There
fore, if you pass this BILL you may consider yourselves
as giving $4,000 for this individuals interest If you
will show me that the property is worth tina, sum, and
that the government needs the land Tor the benefit of the
commerce OF the United States, will vote for the BILL
can have difficulty about the matter il these facts
be shown; but what desire is, some satisfactory evil
dence the first place that there emergency requr
ing to make thus purchases and second, that the prop
erty is worth the money we propose to pay for it.
Mr.. JOHNSON. feel very confident that the senator
from New York is mistaken in saying that all of this
land excepting fifteen acres sold by the government;
for am certain the government could not sell the land
Mr.. DIX. did not say--if the senator will allow me
to expainI did not say that this So only that so
understood the matter at the last session OF Congress
This bill has been taken up out of IFS place. and was
that it under consideration until friend
called my aeation to it, when said that had some
memorandum with regard to it. which not here |
may be mistaken in stating that the undivided half has
been sold for 81 900; but it either this lot adj
Joining between which there had been division |
will that the further consideration of the subject be
postponed until tomorrow IN order to give opportunity
for looking into this matter.
Mr.. JOHNSON. The gentleman is certainly mistaken ;
because according to the laws of Louisiana, where prop
ery is held jointly by two PERSONS the law provides that
either party has the right to make division and ii they
cannot adjust that division, the court shall order the sale
of the whole land This of those tracts of land
which cannot be divided, presume, because the light
house is in the centre of it. But ii it can be d-
vded, the government must acopt this should
have brought suit in conformity to the laws of Louis
lana PRAYING that the land be divided in order to
be sold That is the law of Louisiana Two
persons were appointed to estimate the value OF this
land but they could not agree; giving 1872 500, and
the other ST. 5000 According TO law, they appointed
umpire the majority decided upon $4,000 and 1t was
put up at auction and sold for that amount This, the
gentleman from Massachusetts, says is too high, and that
it may be worth perhaps thousand dollars. 1t would
be very difficult to get any tract OF land theeabous
Tor less than 800 per acre; and light house on this
point of land is of immense Importance account of its
being the highest elevation in that vicinity The land,
if sold for any other use. would probably bring that
sum. Ii would be valuable the site OF town, and
in all probability town will be built there. Its value
is not owing altogether TO the advantage Afforded for the
| erection of light house.
But sir the United States have taken possession oft
they hold it, but they cannot use 1t; nor be divld-
ed And the gentleman has remarked that the United
States have for it, Now, sir stated when rose,
that there very lengthy report which explains the
whole matter, and that if any gentleman desired, would
read it, But no one called Tor the reading
| Mr., BRIGHT inquired whether the gentleman knew
this to be anything more or less than sand bank
| Mr. JOHNSON. All the lands on the Mississippi are
been making for hundred years more. This high
land There is difference that | know of between
this land and all the lands for 30 miles above this place
They are all alluval. But II is matter how II was
made ii is there's and it is the only high land near the
margin of the Mississippi, and immensely vauableif
not for a light house, for town. There will be town
there and If had been for the house, it would
doubt
Mr. FITZPATRICK VIII the gentleman permit me