The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-31
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MONDAY, Dec. 80, 1850.

MONDAY, Lee. ~, lou.
Mr.. LASERE announced the presence of Hon
A. G. PENN, representative elect from the third
Congressional district in Louisiana, to supply the
vacancy occasioned by the death of Hon. VIM
HARMANsoN. Mr.. PENN was qualified and took
his seat.
Mr.. SlBLEY introduced "a bill amending the
act establishing the territory Of Oregon, and that
of establishing the territory Of Minnesota. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Territories.
Mr.. WHITE introduced bill granting a right
Of way through public lands. for the Buffalo and
Mississippi and the Northern Indiana railroad
which bill was read twice.
Mr.. w. asked that the bill should be put upon
its passage, stating that the public lands through
which The road would pass, was Of little value.
Mr.. SWEE'rZER moved its reference to the
Committee on Public Lands. Negatved
Mr.. COBB, of Alabama, asked Mr. WHITE to
accept an amendment granting right Of way for
n railroad connecting Charleston with Memphis
He declared his willingness to vote for the bill Of
Mr.. WHITE, and stated that the bill proposed by
him MS an amendment, was reported by the Com
mttee on Pubic Lands at the last session, and
WAS first upon the calendar lie feared however,
that when Il e calendar should be taken mp, tn"
bIll might he objected to, and ntded that the
measure was Of great importance to a portion Of
the peopie Of Alabama
Mr. WHITE declined to accept the amend
| ment.
Mr.. COBB then proposed the bill AFORESAID, ns
an amendment 10 that under consideration.
Mr.. WENTWORTH asking if the bill granted
anything more than rights of way, was answered
in the negative.
Mr.. WHITE asking if it was in order 80 to
amend the bill now pending. was answered by the
SPEAKER that 1t WAS not, unless the route indi-
Gated IN The amendment connected with that nam
ed in the bill.
The question arising on the third reading Of the
bill, objection was made and it was not read
,,,.n 1
the right Of way and public lands 10 Louisiana and
Mississippi, in aid of the construction of rail-
| road from jacksonville in the former State, to
Jackson in the latter.
Referred to the Committee on Public Lands
Mr.. McLANE moved the reference Of the re-
port of disappointment of the Coast Survey to
the Committee on Commerce.
AMENDMENT TO THE BOUNTY LAND BILL.
Mr.. G. w. JONES called for the consideration of
the motion, to suspend the rules for the introduc-
ton Of the joint resolution, authorizing the sale
and transfer Of land warrants to be issued under
the act OF August, 1850.
The rules were suspended. Ayes 1871, Noes 3Si
The resolution was then read first and second
time
Mr.. CALDWELL did not propose to detain
the House with remarks upon the general merits
Of the measure, it being evident there was large
majority in its favor He would simply remark
that the commissioner on pensions will not issue
warrants until there is action by the House, where
by he should determine whether or not to have
the words for sale and transfer printed on the
backs Of the warrants
Mr. CALDWELL moved the previous ques
ton, and under its operation the resolution was
read third time
Mr.. VINTON moved reconsideration Of the
vote ordering it to be engrossed and read a third
time.
Mr.. ViNTON was unwilling that his silence
should be construed into assent 10 this measure
IF desiring to make fortune, there no pro-
position he would sooner vote for. 1t takes away
from the benifclaries Of the late act, the only
curi,y Of any practical value. For quarter Of q
century, agents had endeavored to procure the
passage of Bounty Land bill but that Of the
last session did not suit them Ii granted an
equivalent to soldiers for their services. But the
present measure is urged at the solicitation OF
agents to put fortunes in their pockets.
| Individuals will become possessed Of regions OF
land as vast as counties States but warrants in
| the hands Of those to whom they issued, will
come down to forty per cent upon their true value
The bill Of the last session provided for the Is
sue of patent and the location Of the land by the
Government, free OF cost to the claimant Patents
for l60 acres would DO available, and would sell
! for what they were really worth. The law pro
posed, would require an explanatory law for the
protection of the Land office. Parties would die
and thousands oF frauds would be attempted.
Inc history OF all bounty lanu acts snoWeu ina
the benefits had gone to spectators, and the sol
der got but a song. BY his motion the act grant.
ing bountes to those serving in the Mexican wal
was so m odifed as that scrip for one hundred dol
lars could be obtained at the option Of the claim
ant This prevented the depreciation Of warrants
below one hundred dollars. In the act of the las
session nor in the one now proposed in amend
ment Of it, there was no such guard. Mr.. V. re-
peated that if the people were aware Of the provi
sions whereby they can obtain warrants wthou
the aid Of agents, they would oppose this mea
sure, which he characterized as one which vii
throw one hundred millions of dollars into hands
for which they were not intended.
MIR. CALDWELL stated that under the Law
as construed by the Secretary Of the Interior, no
one half Of those entitled to it's benefits would re
ceive them. People in his State, Of the highes
character. spurned the advantages at present ex
tended. The joint resolution would save bench
Charles from the grasp Of spectators. He kne"
not the history OF the gentleman from Ohio, bu
presumed he had some 100, 900 acres Of land fo
sale.
Mr. vINToN was understood to ask the gen
tlsman from Kentucky, il hs in'inatsd that n