The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-31

WOViulng BfdhtnS one nunuftu anu piAy dcteo ~
land TO the actual settlers should take possession OF
and reside upon and cultivate portion OF the tract o
four years in succession When introduced that BILL
read twice, referred to the Committee on Public
Lands, and printed introduced that bill. believing
that embraced the true principle upon which the pub
lie lands should be disposed of believing that the justice
OF this would commend itself 10 the appreciation oil the
people of all portions of the country; believing that the
man who goes into the wilderness, and makes the mrs.
settlements erects his house, makes the improvements, and
to preference over him who buys the land for specua
ton. and waits for i to rise, until the actual settler sbal
buy il of hims y clS gS e sta@ sT s
believed sir that that was the true principle upor
which the public lands should be disposed Ola prnci
pie important to the South is to the Northas
important to one portion Of the new States as Ia s +
reference to berality upon the question: so far as Tor
egners and emgrants concerned in order TO put the
avn o;,;zsns @ And az when the senator from Msssa
chusets brought forward aproposon being based upon
the same principle, rejoced TO see it, because il was only
involved, and Il showed that when he should have his
attention called to the subject and should have given the
subject the study of his powerful intellect and the
ton of his powerful name, the actual settlers might
hope that something was to be done for them. And
when the distinguished senator from Texas Mr. HoUs-
ToNl comes forward again in the same way, increases
the hope. And il the senator from New York Mr..
SEwARDl had embraced the principle in his resolu
ons should have greatly reoiced in the prospect Of the
passage Of the bill But regret sir that in his BILL the
foreigner and leaves the native-bom American unpro-
vided for He proposes to lift the foreigner above the
native he proposes to give bounty to the foreigner
over that OF the natve-born citizen.
When the foreigner shall come to my State and settle
upon the public lands Of that State. he is to get the land
free but when the native American goes to the same
State and settles by the side OF him, he is to pay bounty
for his land into the public treasury regretted to see
this SIR II was an unjust distinction drawn between
the native-bon American and the foreigner wish
10 see the foreigner who comes to make home
with us put upon an equality with our own citizens,
will receive him with open arms-wh generous aid and
hosPality--and welcome him into our midst, and
put him upon equality with the native born OF the
country.
This SIR, is what proposed in my bill; iswhat is pro-
posed by the honorable senator from Massachusetts this
Is what is proposed by the senator from Texas and
was in hopes that this principle OF placing emgrant and
native upon equal footing and OF encouraging the
tiers free while those that nonesdents should pay
the usual price, would become the policy OF the country
hope, sir, this subject is already before the Com
mittee Public Lands the form OF bill TO be duly
considered and as the senator from Massachusetts, pro-
poses discuss his resolution that the discussion shall
20 here upon the resolution OF the senators from Mas
sachusetts and Texas while the Committee on Public
Lands considering the bill before Them that they may
learn the of the Senate and be the better able to
frame the provisions Of the bill in accordance with the
MIR. CASS. desire to say word upon the subject,
and only word. l am glad to witness the readiness
to subscribe to principle in which coincide have
been highly grated with what has fallen from senators,
and almost all that the honorable senator from Illinois Mr.
DoUGLAs] says meets my hearty appreciation. believe
tnat The men owning land are among Inc most valuable
of our citizens believe that this country has reached
the situation in which proceed upon this great doc
trne; and that is what call the age of progress,
will say the honorable senator from Kentucky Mr.
CMYj When the honorable senator cane here IN 1906,
in the meridian of his days. accomplished, and great
deal morewhen saw him did not believe that the age
it will arrive when the public domain will be held for the
good of the people, and IN the best way. Mr. President,
have never been struck with the value OF character
have been in the OF the introduction Of this
systpm The honorable senator from Massachusetts
Mr. WEBsTER] has introduced resolution, the details
of which meet my own views; but, sir If had attempt
ed in this very place to introduce the same resolutions
should have been called the greatest demagogue in the
country in every whg newspaper from Maine to Texas
[Laugherl But venture TO say that, when the sena.
is not whig paper in the Union that viii denounce him
Mr.. BADGER, have a very sincere admiration for
the spirit OF enlightened philanthropy, humanity, and
hospitality that has presented itself in all quarters Of this
chamber do not rise TO say one word with the inen-
tion Of abang at all the srdor OF that hosPitabe spirit
the eloquence with which the claims OF hospitality
and humanity urged upon u.s. But being somewhat
OF plain matter offact man. wish TO call The attention
of the honorable gentlemen who have moved these var
Gus resolutions, TO give away the public domains, TO
this inquiry whether, when contracted the debts con-
nected with the late war with Mexico, did not pledge
the public lands OF the country and the proceeds OF the
sales OF those lands, security for the reimbursement
oil the loans and il did, how far is exactly consist
ent with that d-fashioned honesty however agreeable
may be with the higher claims Of hospitality to emil
-
zens OF the dreadful calamity, spoken OF by the sen
ator from Texas Mr. HousToS] OF being obliged to
work for their daily bread-how far II is consistent
with the claims OF old fashioned honesty, after having
made the loan and pledged the lands then o.urn round
and give then away without receiving any security any
compensation; in other words TO dispose OF the fund,
which we have pledged, without getting into pos
session any substitute for il that be applied TO the
constitution Of the debt for the Reimbursement of which
these loans were pledged 10 usl hope, sir, at least,
that this is not the esprit OF progress" which much
alusion has been made, that first To pledge our
domain to reimburse debt and then give away by
own action, without the consent OF the public creditor,
the very funds pledged for the reimbursement OF the
debt
simply throw this out proper subject Of consider.
alton or the senators who propose these resolutions and
for the committee have charge OF the subject.
shall be prompt and ready to aid anything reasonable and
proper the OF humanity and hospitality, and to
be very generous in the disposition Of the lands But,
according to all the opinions have always entertained,
the first place TO attend 10 the claims OF justice
and have no right to give away the lands to any
however mertorIous, until have paid the debts for
which they stand pledged
Mr.. SEWARD. Sir, regret very much that the hon.
orabe senator from Illinois MIR. DoueLAsl should have
thought necessary upon the present occasion, TO raise
question oil comparative merit between the native born
and the foreign citizen. II the question: however, must
be raised am free TO say, that to the extent which is
implied n the resolution which have submitted, give
the preference 10 the foreigner the emgant and that is
TO this extent: The who is expelled by tyranny
from his own land, consequence OF effort TO estab.
sh nationality and independence, give, in my sym.
pathes, in my admration in my respect, preference
over one who has lost nothing, done nothing, suffered