The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-30
THURSDAY, JANUARY %, 1851.
SENATE

Inc senate resumed the considerat on OF thu
French spoliation bill, and after agreeing to the
foregoing amendment, ordered the bill to be en-
grossed--yeas 30, nays 26-as follows;
YEAS Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Berrien,
Bradbury Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Davis of Massa,
chusetts, Dawson, Dayton, Downs, Ewing, Greene,
Hale, Hamlin, Miller, Morton, Pearce, Phelps,
Pratt Seward, Shields Smith Soul6, Spruance,
Sturgeon, Underwood Upham, Wales, and Win
throp-30
NAys-Messrs Atchison Bell Benton, Bor-
land, Butler, Cass Chase, Clemens, Davis of Mis-
ssspp Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of
Iowa, Douglas, Felch Foote, Hunter Jones, King,
Mangum, Norris, Rhett, Rusk, Tsrney, Walker,
Whtcomb, and Yulee-26.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs.
Mr.. Johnson of Tennessee, from the Commit
tee on Agriculture, reported bill to encourage
agriculture, commerce, manufactures and all
other branches of industry, by granting to every
head of a family homestead Of one hundred and
sixty acres, provided he or she occupy and cult
waite the land for an uninterrupted period Of five
years.
The bill was read a second time, when
Mr. Johnson moved that it be referred TO the
Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Union.
This bill, he said ought to haze passed, instead
of the Bounty Land law, giving farty-cight mil
lions of acres of the public lands to the soldiers
Of the last war with Great Britain, and those en-
gagged in Indian wars not heretofore provided for
He set out with the general proposition, that
every man who wants land ought 10 have IL for
the purposes Of cultivation. His bill would have
given IL TO every description Of soldier who was
in a condition to cultivate and occupy il; and by
giving him the land the land Warrants would
have been kept out Of the hands OF the Shylocks
and iobbers
Although its progress had been silent, this
proposition has been steadily making its way into
the public mind and, from the vast amount of
letters which he had received be was satisfied that
the people are laying hold Of 1t. We find at the
other end Of the Capitol, and In oil parts Of the
country, men of commanding ability who are
coming TO the rescue OF this great measure lie
would conclude by calling on those who are friends
OF the people, who wish to protect ard promote
the interests Of the working men, who are willing
to stand by the laboring, industrial, and agrcul-
tura interests TO support the measure as the SUD-
stratum on which all others rest
Mr. billiard intended to address the House on
thissubect bat he not prepared TO do 10 at this
moment. lie would, however, now state that ne
regarded this as a great measure, not intended
for popular rewards merely 10 those who advocate
IT, but rs really and sincerely the true system
OF disposing of the public domain The Govern
ment ought never TO be landholder. It enjoys
wealth by making Its citizens rich, aud spreading
an industrious, active hardy population over land
not now populated. II would do more to make
the Government prosperous than any other means.
The source Of wealth TO the Government IL not
land, while hundreds Of thousands would be glad
TO cultivate It, Give every man home, make 1t
his interest to cultivate tho soil that be may sup
port his family in comfort, educate bis children,
and erect churches and school houses; and, when
we do this, We do more TO lay the foundation OF
national prosperity than by any pscunisry system.
lie was therefore prepared TO vote large body Of
public land 10 sotusi settlers, independent Of