The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-15


sailor and soldier would have claim much
higher than other classes Of our citizens. must,
however, be satisfied that these lands would first
go to the soldier and sailor, then to the native
American citizen, and lastly to those foreigners
who might be thus induced TO come here for the
purpose of settlement. But do not wish these
warrants TO get into the hands of companies
who would make them the means of taking up
the lands in the United States, by speculation
founded upon the importation of paupers into
the United States, for the purpose OF receiving
through them these warrants OF 100 acres.
agree with my friend, therefore, so far as he
holds that position do hold, however, that it
is the interest of the old soldier to secure his
land as it was originally intended; that it is not
his interest to make il assgnable that it is not
the interest of the government to make it as
signable and that to make it assignable is to
make it inure to the benefit of the speculator,
and not to the interest Of the soldier.
Mr.. BUTLER had no idea this subject
would be debated at this hour.
Mr. HUNTER. | hope my friend from South
Carolina MIR. BuTLERl will give way for mo-
ment.
Mr.. BUTLER Certainly.
Mr.. HUNTER. Task the unanimous consent
Of the Senate to move to suspend the sixteenth
and seventeeth rules in relation to the House
bills Nos. 46l, 462, and Ala, being respectively
the civil and diplomatic, the army and the navy
appropriation bills.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Is that motion amend
able
The PRESIDENT. The Chair is under the
impression that it will be amendable.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Then | move to in
clude the bill now under consideration.
Several SENATORS. No, no.
The PRESIDENT. That will be in order.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. will then move to
amend the motion so as to suspend the sixteenth
and seventeenth rules in relation to the bill now
under consideration.
The PRESIDENT. The original motion can
only be received by unanimous consent
Mr. UNDERWOOD know that make
no objection to that motion, but only move to
amend the motion, now that it is received
Mr.. FOOTE 1t is hardly in order to move
that suspension for bill before it has passed
The PRESIDENT. The Chair is under the
impression that a motion is received, even
though it be by unanimous consent, it will be in
order to move to amend it.
Mr.. WALKER. If that is the intention,
then do object to the original proposition.
Mr.. HUNTER. In that case, then, | have no
right to take the floor from my friend from
South Carolina.
Mr. DICKINSON. | understand the senator
from Wisconsin Mr.. WALKER as objecting to
the aendment of the senator from Kent lucky,
Mr.. UNDERWOOD, and not to the proposition of
the senator from Virginia, Mr. HUNTER
Mr.. HUNTER. understand that
Mr.. WALKER. Allow me to say
Mr.. BUTLER. / believe | am entitled to
the floor
Mr.. DICKINSON. Is not the question upon
asking the unanimous consent of the Senate to
suspend the rules in regard to the three bills
named by the senator from Virginia!
Mr. UNDERWOOD. WITHDRAW my motto
to amend.
Mr.. DICKINSON. That is right.
Mr.. HUNTER. Inow submit my resolution,
and hope that the question will be put now
that the senator from Kentucky has withdrawn
his motion to amend
The question being taken upon the motion to
suspend, it was adopted.
Mr. BUTLER. had no idea that this bill
would be debated after it had passed-not ex-
actly passed-stl the same thing, in the general
acceptation Of the term, for it has been ordered
to third reading. Now, if gentlemen, under
the rules of the Senate, choose to defeat it,
either one way or the other, let it be dis
tinctly understood that it is by means of the
rules, and not by the ordinary mode Of legisla-
ton.
Now, say the very best mode of distributing
the public lands is the mode indicated by this
BILL instead of giving to Wisconsin all the lands
that are in Wisconsin, to Iowa all the lands
that are in Iowa, or to Mississippi all the lands
that are in Mississippi. 1t is but rate of par
ttion to give it to the retired soldier-thns
making, in some measure, an equal distribution,
so far as it can be accomplished in this country.
will finish with one more remark and that
is in reply to the senator from Mississippi Mr..
DAVIS. He says that there was provision in
the original bill to give home to the old sol
der, and that it should not be alienable by him,
or subject to execution. Now, my friend from
Mississippi would be the very last man to allow
the principle of federal legislation to dictate to
the States what shall be the manner of success
sion or distribution of the private property in
their limits. Well, sir, answer for it, each
State has the proper right to regulate the de-
scent-certainly the right of succession.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi. That is broader
than my proposition
Mr.. BUTLER. The proposition of the sena-
tor was, that such should have been the provi
sion. | say that such should not be, and could
not have been, the proposition under the prnci
pie Of State laws.
Mr.. WALKER / think the senator from
South Carolina Mr.. BUTLER is somewhat mis-
aiken, and particularly in regard to the charac-
er of the legislation upon this subject by Con-
yress for we have passed bill, and it has be-
zane law, and | believe is now perfect law,
by which Congress did regulate the succession
,f property to limited extent. That is the
Dill providing for the settlement of land claims
n California, making donations or providing for
hat purpose, granting lands, and debating that
)ne-half should be the husbands and half the
entering into the connubial state,
f may so speak, and interfering in the property
relations between husband and wife. That has
been done at this session.
Mr.. BUTLER. But the State can annul it,
Mr.. WALKER Well, suppose she can-I
That does not do away with the force of the ar
yument for Congress may make grant to the
State, and impose what restrictions it pleases,
rs in the case | have named; and if the State
shall see fit to continue good faith towards the
donor, it would continue to succeed in perpe
tuity rs provided by Congress. And the meas
ure which is now about to pass-for | am not
going to speak out the time of the Senate, for