The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-04

Mr. PRATT. Mr. Presieent l cannot consent that
the vote should be taken without stating my dissent from
the opinions expressed BY the honorable senator before
rsdciion OF The States references 10 property within
their limits have no doubt Of the power upon the part
OF Congress to give gratay, and that they may
any condition they may think proper to the donation
We may give gatuity TO the wife OF the soldier and
may say shall not 20 for The debts of the husband
think the principle OF the bill. as II stands. does not
conflict with the power which is vested in Congress
The question being taken upon the amendment, no
Mr. BERRlEN. | understand the amendment to be to
The PRESIDENT. II is.
Mr.. BADGER inquired what was the subject matter
to which the amendment related.
Mr.. DOUGLAS Mr. President | think can make
an explanation which will be satisfactory 10 all This
bill provides for settlers in Oregon, and here provision
band. Now, understand that the local laws OF Oregon
provide precisely the thing Ii is therefore entirely
mmateal whether the amendment be adopted reject
ed The legal effect will be precisely the same
Mr.. RUSK. MIR President, do not intend 10 detain
the Senate but ii that il is entirely compe-
tent for Congress TO direct the manner in which the doa
ton shall be enjoyed This bill directs, therefore, that
the wes property shall not be seized for the debts of
the husband That, in my opinion. very good prn-
clpe II is one which has been adopted by many States
and is being adopted every day by the most enlightened
States Of the Union 1t is true that this provision has
been provided by the territorial Legislature of Oregon
but they may repeal it. There is no knowing about that
cures an interest for the wife in that land that it shall
not be liable for the debts OF the husband 1t is good
principle-one which think Congress is perfectly
peent to adopt and hope will be retained in the bill
Mr.: HAMLlN agree fully with what the senator
from Texas has suggested that in making grant OF land
to the original settlers OF that section OF the country we
may undoubtedly provide for its protection against the
debts Of The husband II understand the senator from
Illinois correctly, such is now the provision OF the law
OF the Territory Then, we simply affirm what is the
law OF the Territory, IL we pass the bill with The pro-
L.
subsequent to this period of time. shall protect the
widow by our law when not protected there. Another
reason Tor rejecting the amendment is that wish this
bill to pass the Senate without any amendment what
ever should prefer il should pass precisely il passed
the House, though not in all respects corresponding
my judgment, than to the risk Of getting the concur
rent vote of the House upon any amendments we might
desire to make. hope we shall either make amend
ments whatever or make as few as possible,
The question being taken upon the amendment, upon.
division il was rejected--ayes II, noes "a.
The next amendment OF the committee was stated
follows:
Strike out the povso commencing in the 44h line Of the
Provided, aepthees transfers of title to land situated in
Oregon by alien aliens each other heretofore made
shall be of force effect except herein
provided.
The question being taken upon the amendment, it was
The PRESIDENT. The Chair will drec, the bill to
be read II has never been read as yet.
MI. DAVIS, OF Mississippi. Is there any amendment
pending
Inc PhESlDENI. There not.
Mr. DAVIS | wish 10 offer an amendment
The PRESIDENT The bill will first be read. Il
will then be in order
The bill accordingly read.
menls reported By the committee which passed
over by the Chair One is to insert in the 5lst line of
the 4th section the word future. TO provide THAT
all future contracts by any person persons entitled to
the benefit OF this act, &c, shall be void"
The other amendment in the I'd and Sd lines OF
the 9Th section TO strike out the words emgrang from
The question being taken the foregoing amendments
Mr.; BADGER desire to suggest couple Of verbal
amendments strike out in the 33th line of the 4lh
ton the word "donaed" and insert in its place given"
and also where the word in the lih line OF
the 10th section. have some little doub, whether the
word " donatedp may be considered regular English
word it is at best but denzen and would like to
have natural born one
Mr.. SHIELDS. would sugges, the word granted
Mr.. BADGER Very well will move TO insert the
word "granled."
The question being taken on the amendment. j, was
agreed to.
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi, offered The following
amendment, TO come IN at the end OF the bill
And that such portions OF the public lands as may be
designat under the authority Of the President of the
udl!ed States for forts magazines asenas dock YARDS
and other neednl public uses shall be reserved and
ceped from the operation OF this act
Mr.. DOUGLAS There could be no objection to ,ha,
amendment II II rs restricted to the lands not occupied,
cultivated and improved prior TO the passage OF the
but II that amendment ~ To authorize military officer to
take possession OF The seat OF government IN the Terri.
torres and declare reserved for military purposes, de-
prying thousands OF inhabitants OF the lands they own
II is TO take possession OF their houses their mills
churches and their school houses, should doubt very
much whether such dsceuopsr authority ought to be
given 10 the commanding officers on that coast. II they
are To be al liberty 10 take possession OF any town, and
declare II 10 be military post, without any regard 10 the
rights oil the citizens living in that town, without pro-
lectng The inhabitants IN the possession OF their houses,
and their other property certainly could vote give
that power to the department II the senator will restrict
the ndment that all servations not heretofore
taken possession OF, and which occupied by settlers
shall not be included. could then objection il
but hope that the amendment certainly in its present,
form, will not be adopted as IT will be liable to lead 10
great abuses
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi II the senator had listened
TO the reading OF the amendment, he would have seen
that II does not confer power upon the commanding Off
as is usual in such cases. TO the land for public
puposesoher wise the clam may be made for any place
which may be occupied by military garrison, and the
government will have 10 pay thousands OF dollars TO get
the land reserved TOR II any such case as the
aor supposes shall arise is to be presumed that the
church. the school house, the capitol, to convert it
into military garrison. The amendment proposes to
give the President that power which he has always had
such cases. and the immediate necessity for IL ia that
a collision has already arisen from claim being laid
upon the place which is occupied, as am informed, by
military garrison Is my purpose to avoid these claims
which necessarily will be laid upon these places and for
which the United States will have to pay unless we
guard against it, Now, II il happens that village
has upon place absolutely necessary for the
United States TO occupy, take il for granted uaging
from III. past that the house cultivated lands OF no
citizen would be taken possession OF for public by the
government without making due compensation therefor
Anothpr epctIn al tho ,dea