The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-08

stakes and go to settle IN the western county, there
harm by permitting them TO have piece OF land there
and hold it. They will be then, at least ss well OF
they now, and il will do them no positive injury.
But he would argue that they will not derive the positive
advantage which those who young may derive, who
may choose to emgrae and settle upon the land Well
Of %en e'n n M IN al cases lot 'Gs
there IS about that they have reached that period in
ne wheh 70 settle upon piece OF land will be OF
but iille advantage 10 them anyhow But tho probsbil
lily is that they have heirs aud repre- who can
derived the benefit BY becoming actual occupants Of the
soil and then the difficulties enbars assment and injury
avoided which must arise to the western and land
holding States If different policy is pursued 1t there
fore becomes question between the States containing the
propose that the public policy Of the country shall be
settled in favor Of the States, through their interests or
the interest which they hold in their inhabitants can
not therefore, the force OF the reasoning Of the sena-
from Massachusetts,, who would have the proper pol
icy OF the government to be to give away the public
situation ID M s may not enable them 10 take full advsn
taxs 0 this bounty which proposed by the government
h h their misfortune, il any is to result from y and
of the country the individual interests Of every
case But thing certain: by the policy proposed
avoid the conversion of this into great scheme Of
speculation
The senator talks about the advantage it would be to
the resident OF Massachusetts who does not wish to
move TO have the ability and power when his exgences
may require TO dispose OF his warrant Let say to
the SENATOR that is the exigencies OF individuals which
have caused most Of these transfers. and the transfer ID
the injury Of the holder of the warrant, when these exi-
gencies most pressing and such will always be the
case whichever hs exgencles require him to dispose OF it,
the spec uator will derive the benefit the end Ii the sol
der away from home, with his warrant in his pocket,
and destitute OF the OF reurning if he is pressed
by debt and in want of food or aiment anything that
will contribute 10 his support, the support and comfort
OF his family the loss will be the amount which the spec
uator will give him for his warrant The speculator
the advantage the soldier when the pressure OF that
exigency over! He thea regrets perhaps that his exi
gencies such 70 press him TO transfer the sale OF
his warrant 1t is no benefit TO him that his exigencies
and necessities may be taken advantage OF BY the specu
lator.
The senator suggests that the effect OF the amendment
would be get from the sodiek that which would be
equivalent to acquiring homestead and home Why,
sir if could have all the examples before US OF the
have picture presented which would make revolt at
the idea OF making assgnabe II is but another
mode Of making currency OF the public lands Look ct
the OF the sales public lands and what
do you find You find the cash receipts diminished to
almost nothing, while the Of sales upon land war
rants is enormous But sir examine these retrns.
and see how few and how solitary appear the names OF
soldiers who actually select their own lands 1t is scarcely
ever done by them The warrants transferred. and
the transfer is matter of speculation upon the part OF
those who have the money to pay for the warrants and
who take advantage of the exgences Of the holder In
Decd the stand solitary and alone OF those who have
taken advantage OF the bounty the government has ex-
tended hem and located their warrants for themselves
cannot see, for my life that the pomptings OF phan-
hropy OF humanity could desire to this proviso de-
is not be passed for the benefit Of the soldier but for
that Of the specuator let i be put upon that ground i
appropriated directly asA bounty, and that the
should be the receiver of the gatuy instead
Of the speculaor These land warrants represent the
value of the land which may be acquired by Them but the
soldier gets but perhaps fourth OF that vaue-at any
rate not more than half Of IT. The other half or three
g 60 into the m sa.s Of ns
There certainly TO to be false view taken OF
this matter 1t to be supposed that the country s
scramble the soldier should get ptiance OF it, he should
be thankful for thatas though the sanction was to be
given by the government that whoever may take advsn
tage OF his services may derive large amount through
speculation upon his necessities.
SHALL sir before the final vote is taken upon this bill
offer an amendment which will operate 70 change it, en-
rive benefit through the grant OF the public lands, the
principle would equally apply more general scale.
We will, them when this amendment which propose to
offer comes up. the sincerity Of gentlemen who seem
80 anxious to furnish certain class OF citizens with
piece OF the public land We will whether these same
gentlemen willing TO donate generously to the andies:
people of the country, who perhaps in as great need
as these soldiers portion Of the public domain.
Mr.. TURNEY;, For the present. sir, we have under
who have rendered important military service 10 the
country And take it that II is altogether distinct and
separate from any other proposition Inc senate! ITO"
and to donate the public lands 10 all. Now, 90 Tor
this bill with the view TO reward the soldiers OF our
country believe reward is due to them. believe
they have been long negected and doing this act OF jos
ce now giving them this bounty, propose to give to
them in form that will enable them to derive some bene-
fiji from it Ii is insisted, however that they should not
have the power TO dispose OF this bounty land at all In
the event that such provision is adopted, then tato
it, this bill far concerns the soldiers residing In
those States where there public lands, s tAnu-
mount TO saying they shall not receive any public lands
at all The senator says they will preserve the warrant:
AS to the warrant il the holder goes and locates his
land and does occupy himself, he will have TO en-
poy some agent TO pay the taxes on IT. Ihe and may
prove unproducve and the soldier who poor ana pan
ness will be subject TO great embarrassment.
The IRON Wisconsin argues that IN consequence
OF the soldiers poverty and Distress he had the power
he would sell his land for the purpose Of purchasing
bread to e and therefore he ought not TO have
the power dispose Of it, The senator he may be IN
the condition of starvaon-he may be in the condition oil
want and in this condition OF want and distress he may
be induced TO sell it for less than its intrinsic value
order to sustain life in his declining years Sir this y ne
80 far as my will co. and, in giving Il to him, VII
not adopt the selfish policy OF saying that ne sna :~
crate and settle down in other States VIII eve wv
him. permitting him remain in the State wnere ne ~
resides and with liberty TO dispose OF tne warrant " ~
and upon the principle that the soldier Is man c.eeese
OF .egoyernnen Perhaps, sir we were candea'S
Office and had large crowd around OF men wno ~
performed military servce-sucn iof eAaihPo' =
a. IN. hattie of New Orleans-perhaps If We we!9 d-
drsss;nc such crowd OF PERSONS would not inYorm
he ,has thew were incapable OF self government, and
reouired guardian agent to enable them TO dispose
N their land warrants OF the tracts OF forty or eighty
OF land that those warrants covered but II we were
d;snosed TO give them bounty for services par
formed in their counrs CAUSE, would say, we MAKE
,he donation in consequence Of that military service. ana
not because disposed to give the land to sssy