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

The PRESIDENT. There is a resolution
from the House on the table, by which they
nave resolved TO suspend the seventeenth rule,
80 lar AS applies to House bills 46l, 462 474,
and AIS. The senator can move to take up that
resolution.
Mr.. WALKER. ! object to that, for it does
not apply exclusively to the appropriation bills.
Mr.. BRIGHT. will then move to suspend
the rule, so far it applies to the appropriation
bills
Mr.. BRIGHT will then move to suspend
the rule, so far as it applies to the appropria-
ton bills, and hope there will be no objection
to that 1t is Indispensable that this should be
done
The PRESIDENT. That can only be done
| by unanimous consent
Mr.. BRIGHT know that but hope there
will be no objection.
Mr.. CLEMENS. object If this bounty
land bill is to be killed under that rule, intend
that something else shall 60 with it,
The reading OF the amendment was then re-
sumed and concluded, and the bill was read a
third time.
The question was stated upon the passage of
the bill
Mr.. WALKER asked the yeas and nays upon
that question:;
And they were ordered
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi. have some OBJ
|Jections to this bill, which | will state very
briefly. 1t will be recoected that in the be-
ginning, the origin of this measure the purpose
was to give to the old soldier home, and to
secure it to him free from execution, in order
that in the period of poverty, or in his old age,
he should not be homeless. Beginning upon
that as the basis, it met my most cordial sup
port The next steps that were taken were ad-
ditional to that, and do not 80 much meet my
appreciation. If it was for a mere gratuity that
this land was to be converted into SO much
money, then this resolution was unnecessary.
think, therefore, that every step that we now
take OF departure from the original purpose is
without foundation of principle upon which to
rest. 1t cannot be argued that it was an in
ducement to soldiers to enter service, for that is
too long past. 1t is thus mere gratuity. If,
then, you wish to give mere gratuity Of 80
much value, why, then, convert it into money
yourselves. Do not, in other words, give war
rant for 100 acres of land that is worth 5000 in
such manner that the recipient must sell it in
all probability for $50 or 300. The land is
worth 5000 for 100 acres to the government.
If, then, it is the purpose 70 give to the old SOL
der the value of the land in money, it is better
guaranteed, ii is easier for the soldier, more d.
rectly benefit to him, to give him the market
price in money, and keep the land, which is
worth more to the government for ourselves.
II the object of the government was to give a
| gratuity of certain number of dollars, we
| should have incorporated upon this resolution
and in the law provision such as was contained
in the law for Mexican bounty land warrants
that is, to allow the warrant to be converted into
money at certain rate below its market value.
The senator from Wisconsin, Mr.. WALKER
who has struggled so hard to preserve the pub
| lie lands at least from this mode Of granting
them, attempted some time since to secure his
object by an amendment; and its failure could
be accounted for upon the supposition that it
was the intention of Congress to give the old
soldier permanent home, aud to secure it to
him free of expense. think, therefore, that
that is the ground the principle upon which this
matter originally rested, and therefore ! am en-
tirely opposed to making these warrants as
signable.
Mr. ATCHISON. | think the senator from
Mississippi, Mr.. DAVIS in point of fact is mis-
taken-that it was not the object of the Senate
and the House of Representatives to give a
home, and to have that homestead exempt from
execution. That is not in this law, or in any
other law This attempt to exempt real estate
from execution, whether to greater or less ex-
tent, is a new doctrine, mere matter Of expert
ment. The prime object with me, and believe
with the most of us, in sustaining this bill, was
| not for the purpose of giving the soldier home,
and to exempt that home from execution, but
the object was to convert the public domain into
private property. That was my object and to
do this considered the old soldier worthy
object, or at least more so than any other, to
make this donation to of the public land This
was the motive that governed me in my vote
upon the subject
| Now, let us look at this matter. Does the
senator from Mississippi suppose for one mo-
ment that one old soldier out of thousand
would go to new State or a new territory
from the old thirteen States, where the most of
these soldiers reside, for the purpose of estab-
fishing HON there in his old age? No, sir;
that senator-and put it to his candor-will
at once say that not one soldier in thousand
would leave the State of Maryland, Virginia, or
Massachusetts, to go to Wisconsin, Iowa, or
Missouri, for the purpose of locating his land
warrant of 100 acres. The consideration, as the
senator from Arkansas Mr.. BoRLASD] suggests
is entirely too small: 800 would not pay his
expenses or the expenses Of his agent in ocat-
ing his land warrant of 80 acres or 100 acres
and he will not do i, for the purpose of making
it his home, although you may exempt that
home from execution. Now, sir, to state this
fact is full answer to the honorable senator |
1t may have been an inducement with him for
bis vote, but it was not so with me- or with any
other senator; for have always maintained the
bold and broad ground that to convert the pub
lie domain into private property is for the bene-
fit of the nation, Of the State in which the land
may lie, and for the benefit of the citizens of
that State I; and it is upon this principle that
have always voted for the proposition to convert
the public domain into private property. think
have thus answered the points suggested by
the honorable senator.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. ! will endeavor
to answer my friend from Missouri ms briefly as
he has answered me. If my memory is at all
correct, the original bin at the beginning con-
tanned the provision that have stated. think
it was then our intention to give the old soldier
home in his old age. But the senator asked
me il believed the old soldier would 90 out
to these new States for his quarter section of
land. We'll, sir, believe many of them would.
| | know Of no class that would be so apt to 90
| as the class we have selected. IL is that very
restless energy that made them soldiers that