The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-07

the people whom il proposes to aid in behalf of
liberty in monarchical Europe, but IL will be for
an amelioration Of the laws Of naturalization 80
as TO give n vote to any man Of any country on
MS becoming permanently domiciled among us
There, sir, is where they viii find me, and they
will find that to that extent these sentiments of
humanity, these expressions Of our sympathy for
our brethren from distant lands are enjoined upon
as as duties by the law Of our Maker 1t is my
purpose, sir, TO labor to bring about that equality
IN the land in which we live, and so far may be,
in all other lands
Acting upon this broad principle sir, have
no hesitation in saying that there is no distinction
In my respect or affection towards men of this
or any other land--of higher or lower class
OF one race or anoiher-of one color or another
regard them all alike, respects social distinc-
tions-the institutions of Government, or the
opinions of society not affecting in my mind their
individual personal merit IL the Senator from
Georgia really feels the sympathy for free negroes
which am rejoiced to hear him proclaim, let him
bring in his bill for their relief and pledge my
self that the first aye in its fayorif none be Civ
en- before my name is reached in the alphabet
will be mine. IL his sympathies embrace class
which need them still more let him bring in his
bill for the emancipation and ameGoration of the
condition Of the slave in any District or Terri
tory, or show me how | can vote for it in his own
State effectively, and my vote shall be given for it
with more gladness and JOY than it has ever been
given upon any occasion in my whole life. Sir,
neither here nor elsewhere do | admit that any
rule OF Government or form of society authorizes
distinction to be made in our treatment Of men
for | hold to the sublime sentiment announced in
our Declaration of Independence that all men
were created equal and can truly say that my
hrst vote TO keep any in condition ofdegrada-
non has yet to be given, and that vote never will he
given in this place l have offered these remarks
dir President becduse tnOughtit necessary to vim:
dictate the proposition which have made TO the
Senate from the assaults which it has met in its in
direct appearance before this body on this occa-
sion; and when that proposition is brought before
the Senate in its proper form, and the Senate shall
be ready to give it due consideration, | shall
take pleasure in stating the reasons that have in
duced me to bring it forward"
Mr. Walker of Wisconsin claimed that he
had taken the first step in these movements in
the Senate, and called attention to his bill, pro-
viding for cessiOn of the public lands to the
several States. in which they lie.
The proposition which have submitted to
the Senate is to vest the public lands of the United
States in the States respectively, upon the condi-
ton, first that the Legislatures Of the States shall
provide by law that the land shall be conveyed to
actual settlers or occupants only in such quanti-
ties as to the States shall seem proper not exceed
ing 100 acres. And secondly, that the land shall
to whom it may be conveyed by the State, to any
other person. who thereby might become the owner
Of rnnrr than is Contemplated to be granted to
any one individual And, thirdly, that the land
shall be forever exempt from forced sale or levy
upon execution, or the decree Of court of equity
A further provision is that when these stipula-
tions shall be made by the States, the President
of the United States, when officially notified of it,
shall cause copies of all the maps, deeds records
and papers, affecting those transfers TO be made
out and transmitted to the marshal of the State
in which the land lies, whose duty it shall be to
deliver them to the Executive of the State upon
payment by the person to whom the grant is
made, of the cost of such transcription and trans
mission to the Government. After this has been
done, upon these limitations, the land shall vest
In the person to whom it is granted, for the pur-
poses contemplated by the act"
The resolution of General Houston was order
ed to be printed, and the Senate, after the trans.
action of some unimportant business, adjourned.