The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-09


for a mere song. Everybody knows that the war
rants given fos bounty lands in the late war
were sold at twenty dollars. An alternative was given
10 the soldier by the bill passed granting bounty lands 10
the soldiers engaged in the Mexican war; take stock
the amount of one hundred dollars a warrant for 100
acres of land Ii was thought this would prevent their
depreciation but he had lately the warrants quoted
In New York al nlnety-hve dollars
Mr. Sl III, OF illinois, said, IN his district they were
now worth IA one hundred and twenty-tour dollars
Mr.. VlNTON One gentleman near me says they have
sold IN his district at sixty dollars and another says they
have been sold at forty dollars The idea that the sol
dlers would settle on the lands was erroneous ExPe-
Renee had dlsproved H. The spectators would buy the
warrants, and sell them to the land buyers at ie be-
low the government price of quarter section, and the
warrants would be paid into the land Office in the place of
gold and silver The spectators would make, perhaps,
hundred and thirty dollars by each warrant was est-
mated that the amendment would take fifty millions
of acres.
Mr. McCLERNAND The gentleman from Tennes-
see-upon whose authority the gentleman from Ohio
states that the quantity OF land to be granted 81 100000
acesmust allow to say, with all respect that he is
mistaken. The amendment of the gentleman from Mis-
slssipp MIR THOMPSON, so srenuousy contested only
embraces portion, not the whole, OF the soldiers of the
last 1t proposes to grant so OF land to each
miitaman, volunteer and ranger who served six months
more, and 100 10 each OF these soldiers who
served twelve months or more In the war OF ISL Inc
whole number OF troops thus to receive bounty is &c.,
s97 and the quantity OF land thus to be granted is $685.
$40 acres.
Mr. EMBREE said the measure would not take more
than hteth part of the public lands offered for sale
Mr. YINTON said the revenue hereafter wanted for the
expenditures OF the war; should it continue, would be
thirty or forty millions year But suppose we nave ,E
bills for the We have to pay twenty millions to
Mexico. Our debt will be 1870 millions; the interest
which will be six or seven millions. The regular stand
ing army must be increased We must protect Mexico
against the Indians. One OF the members OF the Commit
tee Military Affairs Mr. BURT had stated that after
the war; we could not reduce the army to less number
than twenty thousand. We could get back to the
old military peace establishment that existed before the
We could not suppose that the ordinary expenses Of
debt would be less than from thirtyfve to forty mil
lions year But must, in addition to this provide
sinking fund for the payment Of portion of the principal
of the debt Five or ten millions year must be raised
for that purpose What have we got with which meet
an expenditure of forty fve-and- forty millions year
If we throw away the lands what will the government
Could any one be deuded with the idea that imports
will increase in the same proportion with our increased
population We should not get thirty millions
ward to meet such an amount Of importatons :
Free trade it had been Proved would sell nothing abroad
except what necessity compels the purchase OF. What
Were we now sending abroad beyond the ordinary ex
ports' Nothingnothing in amount that would justify
the impor,ations OF this year large debt must be &C
cumuating against us abroad 1t was true that money
might be sent here from Europe, for investment in
our stocks and part OF Our debt to Europe might be
paid IN government and other stocks The stocks created
this winter this session, might 60 abroadbut this
process that must stop. There settled principle
that country could not, in the long run, import more
than it exported Credit for imports would cease at
obtaining peace, and the certainty OF continued demands
for large revenue, could not be prepared to pass
measure that would dry up the Of portion Of our
revenue-the public lands:
Mr.. BROWN, of Mississippi, rose, he said, briefly to
express his views in favor OF the bill reported from the
committee, though there were some features in it to
to soldiers who fought our battles poor equal for
their sacrifices, suferngs, and patriotism He did not
wish to run the government in debt by giving proper
compensation to the soldier; but, as the country was
rich-rch in landswe could easily pay these worthless
more than the miserable allowance of dollars
month month ne could see no why the militia
troops. All who served their country equally
tilled 10 its regard The country in different
and at the close of the late Its revenues and
sources were vastly increased and it could now better
afford to be generous to those who have served it.
The objection that spectators would profit by paying
the claims of the soldiers, was insufficient We must
not refuse to pay debts because creditors will
ssguander the money The gentleman from Ohio Mr..
VINToN had objected that the lands pledged for the
payment OF the debts and warned that we were not
to obtain sufficient revenues to meet our expenditures dur
ing the next year The gentleman had formerly estimated
that the revenue of the present year would fall short
of the estimates of the Secretary of the Treasury by
large sum- But the had already reached twenty
eight millions, and would exceed thiryone millions for
the year The gentleman from Ohio must pardon him
if he should disrust the correctness of his estimates
this occasion, for he might be as much mistaken as he
in his estimates at the beginning of this session
MIR. B. read the following statement, showing the
amount that the lands had brought into the treasury
the value OF those remaining:
Public lands sold (acres) 49, 8i6
Revenue from the $50 $50, l56
Cost at % cents Il $50 756
Lands an.od to which Indian title has been -.
Cost at % cents 1856 $50 7l2
Whole number Of acres sold and unsold 1888 2l5 Gas
Whole amount received so far $l30 $50 1856
Whole cost ~ 100 493
Nett profit $50, I49 $50
He was free to say that he did not want to this
government resolved into land jobbng machine. The
should be satisfied get back what the lands
had cost They formed fund from which the country
should compensate those who have served 1t, and give
them homes
His object in rising chiefly to give notice OF
some amendments which he should offer. They
as follows:
Insert after the words eighty of land" in line
private OF any company OF volunteers or militia, who acu-
ally served three months in said Indian or the war
with Great Britain shall be entitled to receive forty acres
of land"
That the benefits of the 9th section of the above recited
be extended first the unmarried sisters and after
them to the infant brothers under sixteen OF age oa
deceased officers, mnissioned officers, musicians,
and the and to the same extent
that the benefits Of said 9th section extended to
widows, children, fathers, and mothers OF said officers,
non commissioned officers musicians, and prvaes
That in addition to the bounty land allowed to volun
by the act of Ith February IS47, raise for limit
ed time additional military force and for other pur-
poses there shall be further grant each Of said voan
teers of forty for every three months service after the
first twelve months.
Who does not know that many soldiers who have
gone out TO fight battles have lett unprotected broth
and sisters under sixteen years OF age? He referred
pect of the acquisition through the expected treaty, of
New Mey and the CALIFORNIA; Those