Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-13

cost of which, % cents acre. about S77 000 900
and for that part which sold having received l30 millions
the land operations Of the Government had proved
revenue TO the Government OF some ffy-three millions
dollars
For himself he was fee declare he had he did
desire this Government resolved into land
obbng machine II she received back what the land had
her he thought she amply compensated. So far as he
concerned he did not desire any thing but thought
the Government should re other sources OF or
support and ought TO take especial care that citizen who
desired and especially every citizen who has fought her battles
in the hours Of her trial and difficulty should be provided with
home.
He concluded by stating and briefly explaining certain
amendments which he intended to offer when in order.
/ Mr.. COLLAMER next obtained the floor. He said he
hardly knew whether on great question like ths he had
Of regret Of congntuaon upon the fact of few
members being induced TO hear and therefore so few to be
present to make disturbance Il question rather equ
vocal there being various considerations pro and No
doubt those who wished hear would attend and take the
Of informing themselves to those whose minds
made up to the thing whether or no. was very little matter
whether they heard not, il might disturb them.
He very ic inclined to disguise TRANSACTION, TO
speak with any obquity They might well their
opinions and feelings boldly to discover great deal of in
grDuity and perhaps some sinister moves unbecomng
character of gentleman in endeavorng disguise them
thereto he disposed look every subject directly in the
face dealing with with entire frankness and asking
cipocaon Of that rankness was matter of choice
with him that he broke the quiet silence Of the House but
the Committee Of Public Lands Of which he member
had had this matter under their considerations he felt it his
duty to speak of somewhat at large
There were in the contemplation Of gentlemen, various
projects standing directly behind this by which, if this could
not be carried alone intended to be aided and gentle
men who entertained very different viewhough they might
be of were uniting their efforts He thought
considerable body, upon different sides OF the House, COM
posed of very different materials, and actuated by very differ
reasons laborng towards the point and that
point was 10 get rid Of The public lands. That the
purpose Some frank enough to own iii others par
tally owned others disguised even 10 themselves and
havu aiunipc
Some were for dispensing wholly with dealings in the land,
and with from it under the impression that the lands
would thereby become cheaper and be settled more rapidly
their neghbohoods he charged them with nothing dishonor
able Another said As to the public land system, think it
Of land obbng business the part of the Government
and had better be gotten rid Of any way Another said he
thought the tendency OF our present system to accumu-
late large quantities in particular hands and thereby intro
duce the system Of landlord and tenant country, which
would be disgrace institutions. and he was in favor
of breaking it up for this The reason OF another
class was unless they could get the prices reduced TO
nothing, extremely people could never settle the lands
they desirous Of aiding them SETTLE and If they could
succeed they would throw our public domain open That
was their motive
But another considerable Glass; including, he apprehended
larger part Of this House than would at first be supposed
said that you have in Government like ours
large quantity money hand at the disposal OF the Gov
eminent but it is always becoming corruption fund 1t will
be at the disposal Of Executive power and patronage II will
always be used therefore Of corruption, for will
stick in the hands Of those who have the keeping OF it. They
contended that the principle comparatively limited
applied to the public lands. How Why, becauseit
would be considered that the party candidate who would
hold the largest promises of bribery by giving the
public lands when they power would be likely
their elevation He might well tell the truth
many and many man sat in that House who said, 81 am
disposed believe the lands have been used in this under
the idea that the larger the promises gentlemen hold out
their States and their people the better their chance for
election and because the OF public lands has
this tendency to corruption, for getting rid Of them alto
geher am for any system which will get them out OF the
hands of the Government do not care where they let
them CO."
Another motive might well be told while he was
about it. There some men in this nation who said
could get rid Of this S. O00, 900 or income
from the public lands would have protective tariff and
will them away for that reason, and the quicker
get rid Of them the better.
These few of the many motives which operated
the minds Of different gentlemen in voting for these vari
propositions There many rather more snis-
ter, which perhaps might have weight but might be unbe
coming gentleman suggest that they could be enter
tanned by any body Now, TO conscious Of this state
Of things, the minds Of gentlemen that could
very agreeable position be placed at the head Of
committee which charged with the taking of these
lands when he knew that to extent at least these
ous motives operating upon different parts OF this
House, all tending to the resu-hat 10 thwar him
the very about which they had been about by
the House. They had the committee the business Of
taking proper charge, prudential oversight OF this depart
ment and the motves intentions, and feelings Of the
il rather hankess part Bot matter the duty must
be discharged until it succeeded in squanderng away
the land they should take the best of IL they could
Now what this bill II a BILL he granted, report
ed from the Committee Public Lands What was il IL
time for them to what Why, it was
thing more less than this Government had made
by which had agreed that the soldiers Of the Mexican
war; who had served their periods faithfully dis
charged honoaby should have hundred and sixty
OF land. Well, Of them had happened to conduct
we'll that they promoted received commissions the Off
GERS OF Of the companies had died killed, and
they elected TO command and received their comms
sions and behold how other-he did not blame
any bodyhe Department here had decided that promotion
honorable discharge. He said promotion from the
line to be On officer and commission under the Govern
ment honorable discharge the soldier he ought
received bis bounty lands; but the Department had de-
cded otherwise and the committee had reported this bill that
he should have his lands He did know that any body
objected il. Butwha had been done Why, these men,
who entiiled all admitted, their lsnd to be
oyersIaughed by these propositions carry back this
provision the soldiers Of the last war; Of the Seminole and
Black Hawk wars of ali the under Generals Wayne
Harm~ ST. Clair ard ought TO have included those Of the
Revolution He asked what earth had this do with the
bill Had il any relationship to it None in the world
And why these poor soldiers be rod upon, rode
rough shod with which had nothing to do with them
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi interposcd and inquired
h the gentleman imputed that bis Mr Ts) object in moving
the amendment destroy the bill IL the gentlemen
indicate that he sincerely desirous pass
| the bill he certainly mistaken.
NJ, r. hal tb,~