The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-07
LAND REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES.

/, SENATE, January 30, 1850.
The Senate was occupied, January 3Oth, with
an irregular debate on Land Reform, growing in
cidentally out of the following resolution submit
! ted by General Houston of Texas:
+" RESOLVED, That the Committee on Public Lands
be instructed to inquire into the expediency of
granting to each family, mot landholders, or the
owners of property worth the sum of 81 5000
citizens of the United States, or emigrants who
are now here or may arrive previous to the 4th
of March next one hundred and sixty acres Of
land and when said families shall have resided
upon the said land granted, three years contin-
uousy and shall erect buildings and clear ten
acres Of ground thereon, patent shall be issued
by the Government Of the United States free
from all cost to the grantee
Several propositions of similar character had
on former days been submitted A hill introdu-
| ced by Mr.. Douglass rninuis, ma proposed 20
secure grants of one hundred and sixty acres of
| land to andless men, under certain restrictions
and conditions Mr. Walker had given notice of
a bin to cede to the States the Public Lands, on
condition that they secure similar grants. Mr.
| Webster had introduced resolution contempa-
ting the same object, though not through cesson
to the States And Mr. Seward had announced
resolution to set apart portion of the public
domain for the benefit Of the Hungarian refu-
gees, and other foreigners fleeing from oppression
in their own countries. The resolution of Gen.
eral Houston went little further than any of
these--proposing grants of public land to all per-
sons, whether natives or foreigners TO the latter,
whether they declared their intention to become
citizens or not.
Mr. Foote, in reference to all these PROPOSE
tions, said he considered this last the beat bid
of the kind that had been offered. lie added,
that If the only effect of these propositions was
to strengthen the personal popularity Of their au-
thors he would be entirely indifferent.
General Houston assured Mr.. Foote that he
was entirely mistaken, if he apprehended that he
desired TO interfere with any other Southern gen.
tleman on the subject of bids; for certainly he
had no aspirations that would conflict with the
just claims of the Senator from Mississippi
Laughter
The General proceeded TO say that he had nj |
ways been an advocate Of the policy embodied in |
his resolution-that II was founded in q regard
for the interests Of the masses-that he thought
a substantial population, provided with homes,
more valuable TO country than millions Of acres
of wild lands.
Mr.. MANGuM of North Carolina, in view of
the various propositions made on the subject was
almost led to conclude that the newspaper repre-
sensations of speedy breaking up Of the Union
were true, and now every one seemed to be anx-
ous to engage in the work Of spoliation. lie had
not yet entered the arena as "bidder p-but he
might, when the various measures should come
up for consideration, move ms an amendment the
granting of three hundred and twenty acres Of
land. and as the tenure of slave property was sup
posed to be growing weak, he "would throw in
negro apiece TO each Of the settlers" Laugh
ter
Mr.. Seward called up his resolution proposing
to secure homes on the public lands TO the Hun
garian refugees, &c, for the purpose Of explain
ing what disposition he wished made Of IT, lie
did not care for action on IL till after the resolu-
ton of General Cass respecting the termination
Of diplomatic relations with Austria had been dis
posed Of
MIR Douglass Of Illinois was highly gratifed
with the favor shown TO the principle embodied In
these several propositions by Senators from all
parts of the country. lie suggested 10 the SEN
ator from Texas 10 allow bis resolution TO lie on
the table with that Of the Senator from Massa-
chuscts (Mr. Webster) no that when the report
Of the Land Commissioner was received both
might be taken up Mt once lie referred to the
bin he had brought forward Mt an early period Of
the session, providing for the grant Of one hun
dred and sixty acres to the actual settler who
should reside on and cultivate portion Of such
tract for the period Of four years In succession.
"That bill was read twice, and referred to the
Committee on Public Lands and printed. In
troduced that bill, believing that II embraced the
true principle upon which the public lands should
be disposed Of; believing that the justice Of II
would commend itself to the appreciation OF the
people Of every portion Of the country believing
that the man who goes into the wilderness, and
makes the first settlement, who erects his house,
who makes his improvements who undergoes the
to which pioneers are subject. iscntitled
10 the preference over him who purchases the
land merely for purposes OF speculation, and
waits for the price 70 rise TO make his fortune
from those who are to come after him.
al believe, sir, that this Is the true principle
on which the public lands should be disposed Of
q principle which 10 Of ~ much importance TO
the South ~ 1t IL 10 the North 10 one portion Of