The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-15
: Warrington Cor respondencc.

Our WaShingtO~ Cor respOndence.
WASHINGTON, Aug IL, 1850.
Cession of the Public Lands TO actual Settlers
Speech Of Mr.. Walker upon his Bill to Cede the
Public Lands 10 the Bone and Sineu of the
Country.
AT the beginning of this session there was quite
rivalry among the "leading members of the
Senate, to lead of in the great measure of ceding
more Of the public lands in small parcels to actsal
settlers; and the coincidence was singular enough,
that every one of those moving secure the paer-
nifty of the measure, is considered as having some
prospects, sooner or later, of campaign for the
White House. Mr.. Webster, General Houston,
Mr.. Douglass, Mr.. Walker, and Mr. Seward, were
equally and enthusiastic for the great social
measure of giving TO every man locality, piece
of land, portion OF the SOIL for himself and his
postenty.
But the Compromise, with the Committee of
Thirteen, came numbering along Everything
else had to clear the track, and the great measure
of distributing the public lands per capita among
the people, disappeared in the fog, and was amoag
the things taken up, laid aside, and forgotten, till
resuscaed this morning by the enterprising junior
Senator from Wisconsin.
Mr.. Walker called up the bill providing to cede
the public lands TO the several States in which they
lie, to be by them distributed, in limited parcels, 10
actual settlers The bill provides;
l. That the public lands, except such may be
served Tor public buildings, &c, and excepting the
mineral lands, shall be ceded TO the States in which
they lie
q That the States shall the lands to actual set
tiers In quantity, to each occupant exceeding
leo acres. deductng the expenses of survey sc not
exceeding I've dollars. Every occupant citizen
OF the United States who shall have made decla-
ration of becoming citizen who shall be the head Of
family, or twenty one years of age and in each
person who Ia not the owner Of other land In the
United States, the quantity of which, together with
that TO be granted, would exceed one hundred and
sixty acres or less as the quantity may be limited by
such State.
from forced sale extent or levy ON execution or de-
cree, from OF by any court of law equity.
Owners of such lands inhibited from disposing OF
them to any person or corporation who would thereby
bseome the owner of more than 100 acres; and, fla
married man, shall in case be disposed of without
g. Evidence of the occupation and cultivation ofthe
land for year to be produced before deed given
g. School lands to be reserved from sale.
SEQ. .. Provides for supplying the State with the
maps plots, records SC, of the public lands the
government to be paid for the copying, transmission,
Sec. Q. PIescribes the ultimate surrender Of the
public lands by the general government to the States,
Mr.. Walker proceeded to deliberate speech in
support of the bill, upon the platform of the follow
ing fundamental principles.
l. That every person has right to live.
That to live he must have bread and clothing and
a place of shelter.
That the soil is the Of all the means of SUBJ
4 That monOpoies of the soil are ompstibls with
the equal rights Of all men to comfortable subsis
teDce,
Upon these fundamental automatic doctrines Mr..
Walker gave lecture of the most philosophical
character, and Astounding in the teachings OF the
great land reform movement.
All that we have TO say now is, that although
this measure may he premature, let this slavery
question be settled, let this agitation subside, and
this land reform movement will have strength
enough at the polls to carry II through Congress
by overwhelming maorties in both houses.
Whatever of social good, or social revolution,
may be involved IN the scheme, It Is one OF the
most important Of the age, and in itself one OF the
mos popular. Every man who does not own an
acre OF land will Of eourse be an advocate oil bill
giving him 100 Believing that good, and great
good, would result from such measure-that II
would rapidly increase the happiness, wealth, and
prosperity Of the country-we say To Mr.. Walker,
watch the time, and push the bill along.
WASHINGTON, August Is. 1880.
Il STAMPEDE Among the Slaves = Entoprising
agents of Gorin Sm,h in the Fieid-Brsk
business uith the Slarshoders.
The underground railroad agents of Gerritt
Smith have been doing a smashing business in
spirting away the slaves from this city and the
neighborhood In addition to the attempt Of Chap
n to carry of the servants Of Messrs Stevens and
! Toombs, Of Georgia, two slaves were discovered
by the police, yesterday, and brought to their
master, from a very snug retreat, though rather
warm, for this hot weather, under the floor of the
| kitchen Of II. S. Coke, Esq, one of our most
respecte citizens The slaves are the property Of
Mr. Colcock, Of South Carolina, and so valuable
| that he was willing to expend, If necessary a
| thousand dollars FOR their recovery.
These kidnapping operations are supposed 10 have
some particular design IN them, from their being d-
reced chiefly upon the property Of Southern me m
hers Of Congress. But the deprt of the sboli-
tonisis not confined TO the property Of the
members-they extend all over the neigh borhood,
and the advertisements IN the papers, for fifty miles
round Ne, afford some IDEA OF the extent of the bu-
siness Of the slavestealers
What is the RESULT Slave property is unsafe. and
becomes more insecure every day. Shareholders
are selling oil their servants Ia the traders in New
Orleans ana Robbie markets; and the calaboose of
Cannon X Co, and the depot Of Williams " Co,
are both better stocked. today, with negroes des-
tuned for the sugar aud cotton plant atoms Of the
south. than We have known them to be Tor long
time. And they are making money. They can
buy good, healthy men and women cheap for cash.
The demand for cotton in England keeps up the de-
maDd for slaves IN Alabama and Georgia, and
hessrs. Williams, Cannon 81 Co. are sure Of good
dividends The abolitionists, therefore, are play
ing into the hands Of the savedealers; and we
doubt not they like the game amazingly; but alas,
many poor dafky will have 90 exchange the COM
paratvely easy life Of house servant in Washing
ton for the active service OF the cotton Ids OF the
Iombigbee; and all on account Of the danger Of
he being spirited away TO the North, ifno disposed
Of 10 the South.
These doings IL the abolitonists are exasperating
the South, and in few days we may expect to
have some important disclosures made IN the dis
cussions Of the fugitive slave bill.
Our baltimore Correspondence.
BALTIMORE. Aug IA rSA