The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-27

useless the United States obnoxious to human health
and constituted constant nuisance the portion of the
State in which they c What injury he would ask could
result to the United States from transferring all this land
the State of Louisiana for the purpose of being reclaimed
being made useful being made valuable being made health
full None whatever. Ii was plain proposition which
needed extended discussion which required aborious
investigation to enable any understand it, The sub
jec had been investigated the House of Representatives
and elaborate report had been made the subject Any
gentleman would understand the bill by a glance
at the report and in few moments they might
be prepared to the subject, He trusted that
no unnecessary delay would occur but that favora-
BILE action would be had upon it, These lands he repeated
of value the United States and he reason
why they should not give such direction to the bill as
would make them advantageous to thu State Of Louisiana
and by making them thus advantageous the State they
would be rendered advantageous the public large.
MIR. JOHNSON of Louisiana had but single remark to
make the subject lie hoped that there would be OBJ
lection to the immediate passage of the bill This subec.
had formerly been before Congress and able report the
subject had been made three four years ago. The lands
proposed to be given to the State of Louisiana
under water the river this time up and prevent
them from being overlooked would require the construc-
lion oevees for many miles the banks of the river and
at great cost of money The whole of these lands were
under water to the depth of from five to ten feet.
The lands totally useless, had remained for
forty years. and would remain for hundred years
to come unless such provision made for them
as was contemplated by that bill, He did not intend,
however, to detan the Senate but he hoped the bill would
be taken up he presumed there could be obec-
ton to it, The legislature of Louisiana had been for a
long time peonng Congress for those lands order that
they might be reclaimed.
Mr.. NILES inquired whether the bill was then up for
consideration
The VICE PRESIDENT stated that it was.
Mr.. NILES moved to refer it TO the Committee on Pub
lie Lands.
Mr.. BORLAND hoped that the motion Of the senator
from Connecticut would prevail He could ne
cessIty for committing the BILL The principle which
the bill based had been already settled. bill
the calendar containing the principles that had received
the unanimous consent of the Committee on Public Lands
and If referred to the committee would doubtless be
ported back without amendments and the time necessary
attend to it would prevent its passage at The present session.
Tosave me therefore, and to the passage of the BILL
he hoped the motion refer would prevail The founa-
ton which this bill rested was had been already sta
ted that the lands were in their present condition. utterly
vaueess the United States and only but njuri-
TO the interests of the State of Louslana-beng in
overhown condition, and creating disease The country in
which these lands lay ued by the condition OF hem
and that prolific of disease that the
lands asked for by the State of Louisiana Ii was to
them valuable the State of Louisiana and valuable
to the United States Also would be the of bringing
more money into the treasury of the United States in three
years. than would result from the public lands there in
hundred years without such provision. While they
of value the United States, they might be made of
immense value to the State of louisiana That State had
asked for nothing but what reasonable and fair
consideration of public policy The principle had been
settled by committees of both houses He hoped, there
FORE that good could result from referring the BILL it
would be at adopted
MIR. DOWNS wished to state an additional fact to what
had been added by member of the Committee Public
Lands in addition to what had been said regard the
pressure of time Individual members had been consulted
upon the Committee Public Lands and he believed every
had expressed his entire appreciation Of this bill.
There had also been very full and elaborate report made
in the House Of Representatives by gentleman from
Of the northern Sles entirely dsnteested the subject
He hoped, therefore, that the refer would
prevail If the Senate desired it, he would be glad that the
Mr.. NILES wanted the bill looked into by the committee.
He did not see how the Committee Public Lands could
approve of bill which had been under their consd-
Of sha Tho
essential point the bill the description of those lands
but that description very vague and there might
be valuable lands included He wanted it looked into
principe-a policy. Other States were IN
similar condition, and they should not adopt the principle
until after full examination He would not say that he
should oppose the principle after an examination
Mr.. DOWNS said that there uncertainty with re-
gard the lands for il to rest upon the discretion OF
Secretary of the Treasury unless he approved of the
transfer OF the lands, there power whatever He
thought, then, ii was sufficiently definite.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana expressed the hope that the
bill would be referred the Committee Public Lands
had already been examined, and fully examined at differ
OF the Senate having been before Congress for
thirty years The senator from Connecticut utterly
mistaken with regard to the uncertainty in the description
of the lands 1t was necessary that report should be
shed that they are not only overlooked but unfit for cult
Walton.
Mr. BELL wished to reply to gentlemen who did moi
understand how this bill could be Disseminated from gen
eral bill The inhabitants of Louisiana had immense
cost themselves, constructed evees upon both banks OF
the Mississippi great extent 1t had necessarily
suedn great profit the United States by rescung large
portion of the swamp land from the overflow OF the Mis-
sssppi, thereby enabling the United States to sell them to
advantage. There other lands unprotected by exist
ing evees and which Louisiana could expect to
tect by appropriation herself That consdera
for the passage of this special BILL He not
that would be safe present to pass general bill, but
he in favor of this particular BILL and especially
Louisiana had gone to so much EXPENSE which Other
States had incurred AT proper time he was willing
to go for cesson Arkansas Mississippi, and wherever
there might be land which would be made valuable IN ha
general bill This bill he considered standing upof
safe terms and he could therefore for it while, If
general bill pressed without restrictions upon 1t
he should vote against It,
Mr. BORLAND wished to make single remark with
regard to the uncertainty in the description of the lands l
the Land Office they known inundated swamp
lands unfit for cultivation and they could not be solo
at present by the government. The Commissioners o
the Land Office, view of this, had, IN his annua
report urged the proprety of such bill to reclaim lands
which positive injury TO the State and no ben
eft to the government. he therefore necessity
referring the bill again. The Committee Public Land
the last had considered it If they had time
he had doubt they would report unanimously IN favo
of it.
The bill then reported the Senate ordered to b.
and passed.
DEPARTMENT ARMY.
On motion by Mr. DIX the Senate proceeded consider
a. in committee of the whole, the bill concerning the pay
department of the army.
Mr.. YULEE moved to amend the last section, which
provides for retaining paymaster general, two deputy
ymasters general commission, the fifteen paymas
who under the acts IN force at the com
mencement Of the with Mexico, and ten paymasters
ito be selected from the additional paymastcrs in
vice. and the thirteen paymastes authorized by the
l7h june 1886 and the Sd March, l847,l by striking