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

abandoned or was 10 be- BY the United States lie would
inquire II this SOL He understood MIR. Peyton owned
half of the land and The United States gave $4,000 for
the other half If the facts were he had been recently
informed. Mr. Peyton would have his half divided.
Mr.; JOHNSON. This is not the case; not TO my
Mr. DIX was not aware until my attention
called 10 the subject that tins the bill which was
called up several times last winter and postponed un
derstand that the government does not want this land
that the lighthouse upon is decayed and that they Will
in all probability select another site have not before
me the information which was IN my possession last
winter the subject but this Is not an application,
believe from the government al ALL but from the friends
OF this ndvldnai TO induce us to pay hun very large
sum of money for land which the government does not
want. will take pains to obtain the necessary nforma.
ton upon the subject have understood, moreover, that
the government has sold the other half OF this land with
the exception OF fourteen acres for few hundred dol
lars-less than a thousand dollars. hope the subject
may be postponed
Mr. 10 NSON | have no objection TO the postpone
nent but If the United States have abandoned this light
house, is and must be very recent As re-
CARDS the sale OF portion OF this land, think The gen
ileman is probably mistaken know that the govern.
ment had purchased number OF different tracts OF land
in different States of the Union, whicnwere not required
Tor public buildings, and some OF has been sold was
under The impression that h's land was not sold sup
posed that the government still held an interest in the
land, having built lighthouse upon 1t. l would not
object however. TO the posponemen
Mr.. BRIGHT. II | understand the case, this is the
subject which under consideration al the last
session; and unless the opinions OF speakers have
changed with regard 10 the facts, IT Is nothing more nor
less than proposition TO compel the government 10 pay
900 for piece of land which they do not want, and
for which they have no use. This the case last
session, when examined II, as understood II and
apprehend it is the now
Mr.. BELL | do not rise now, SIR Tor the purpose OF
opposing the proposition to postpone the discussion,
particularly if IT be to ascertain whether 1t be the
fact that the does no, want this land at all
but for the purpose OF answering some sug resonS that
think calculated to prejudice this clam IN the minds
of senators, before its posponement The only know
edge have upon the subject SIR arises IRON my iiend
| No. nIu sInn tho
seven eight years ago My recollection of what was
said nj that time gives what information have upon
the subject This point OF land that would be con-
siiered inrnsicay of great value account OF It's
being the only high land Tor considerable distance at
the mouth of the river The government considered a
matter of great Importance TO establish light house
upon this tract oil land and, supposing that they would
have the right and power to reserve IT, although It had
been already settled upon, and right was claimed to IT
under the pre,empon law OF the United states proceed
ed to build light. house upon it, at considerable cost
But the settler upon 1t tested the right OF the govern
men to appropriate This land themselves upon the
plea thai was important thus appropriate it and he in
timted proceedings to assert his right The district and
circuit courts of the United States IN Louisiana confirmed
his right TO the claim BY the order of the government
the district attorney had brought up regularly by BILL 10
the Supreme Court and was earnestly contended and
pressed there that the government under the views en-
lerained by the officers of the government had right to
exclude the claimant from the occupancy and owner
ship of this land. The Supreme Court, however. con
frmed the decision of the below, and decided that
the title the claim of this Fzgera was valid, which
was at that time in the possession and OF the govern
ment of the United States.
The other circumstance in the case have no know-
edge of, excepting have learned the facts from the
report at the DESK and stated by the senator from
Louisiana.
As to the injustice of this claim, alluded to by the
aor from Massachusetts, and other limitations OF sim
liar kind desire to say word What use, asked the
senator, has this government Tor any more than few
acres, if they want TO establish lighthouse there
Now put it to the honorable senator from Massachu-
sets Mr. DAvIs to say whether the value OF property
situated this not enhanced by the fact that the
government may need the land for pubic budings AL
low me to ask whether individuals who would become
purchasers who would become Pre-enptve claimants
may well include in their idea of the value OF the land
the Importance which il may have, being useful to the
government OF the United States Tor the erection oil
light house orfcaiion' ask honorable senators
consider whether purchaser, or sub-purclasers might
not very appropriately consider and include IN their idea
of the value of this property, reason for giving
increased price for the land the fact that in their nd
men il would become very important that the govern
men should this land and appropriate 1t to them
selves, and become possessors OF 1t al some reasonable
Truly it would be inquious for citizens TO exact an
exorbant amount for the land under such circumstances.
If these gentlemen have become purchasers under the
impression that the government will pay price for the
land in accordance with its value to hem have they not
right make their terms to correspond with purchase
made with reference to the public utility OF the prop
ery?
Again. sir who can estimate the value Of 100 OF
high land in this positions The honorable senators from
Mississippi and Louisiana can probably give in
formation upon that subject than myself. But have
these high lands upon some parts OF the coast OF
Missssippi-some of them below New Orleans, paricu-
ary-whch OF very great value. And when sena-
tors talk of $50 900 being eXoblan value Tor this
land it s only in reference to the present day and the
present hour Why, sir, those of auvIal land,
which will endure forever upon the banks of such
stream the Mississippi and at such point as that,
with a productive soil, if we estimate their future
value with any reference at all TO the value OF
such property in any part OF the Old World, and IN
parts of our own country-If we take the usual
of property thus situated, have already SAID,
this land upon the Mississippi will be worth 500 an acre
in short time, it il is think that very mode
or $3.50 will be considered the value OF that
enduring soil in productveness without reference
to any the government may have Tor It, In that
point of view, this valuation will not be eXorbiant as
gentlemen may think but in reference 10 It's Importance
for its public uses, (and these purchasers have right to
make reference TO that in selling to the government)
it is not at all So
New York ii is suggested that the government have
become joint tenants in these lands They have been APP
praised under OATH by citizens OF louisiana selected by
the federal courts acting under the authority OF the laws
of the United States, and estimated at the value OF
l5 900 and they have been purchased by the United
States at that rate. The question has been asked why
we might not have partition OF this property, and
have it arranged that the light house should stand
upon that portion reserved To tbe government, and
leave the owner of the other half TO get the vale of his
portion he | ask senators whether that would
be fair If they think this eXorbant value to be
placed upon this property you can say that you VIII not
give more than half much for that property Will you
deprive the holder of this claim OF his entire property by
an arbitrary decision of your own? You cannot do 1t.
The gentleman from New York Mr.. Dnl speaks of the
government having laid of fourteen acres and sold the
| ind. hat rity he