The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-03-20


blI;x but that motion had already been
made, pending which
MIR Hall offered the following substitute
for the entire section:
"That every settler on the public lands
in the territories of Oregon and Minnesota
which were not surveyed at the date of the
settlement, who shalt, after the survey OF
said lands he ascertained 10 be on six
teenth or thirty-sixth section, set apart for
schools in any township, shall be entifled
to enter at the minimum price any other
quarter section Of the public ianis lying IN
the same land district, to which no other
person has the right Of pre-e,npfion, OH
making satisfactory proofof his or her re-
slence on such sixteenth or thrty-sixth
section, as required by the existing laws re-
lating to presumption rights, before the re-
gister and receiver of the land Office of the
proper district"
And sustained the motion in speech.
Mr. Stevens moved to strike out OF Mr.
Halls amendment the word Minnesota
Mr.. STEvExs.--l am informed by II gem
ile,nan lmhind me, who | believe is right,
that there is no law which gives pre-elnp-
ton right TO the unsurveyed land, but the
higher law which the gentleman from
Minnesota speaks of-Ihe law of the bowie
knife. Now think we ought not to recos-
nize that kind of higher law at any rate.
If we are to recognise Il higher law above.
we are not, at any rate, to recognise a
higher law below. | cannot go for that
| hope the whole,hiIl will he killed there
is nothing in it bat the encouragement OF
wrons-tioers aud trespa>>ers. | therefore
hope that the word 'Miunesnt,' will be
stricken out, and that being done, the whole
bill will he defeated.
Mr. Sibey said that the higher law tn
which he reierred was not any law of vio-
lrnce, nor that of the bowie knife, as stated
Ivy the gentleman from Pennsylvania, nor a
law from below; but the law of pnl;lic
opinion, OF public sentment-a higher law
which, he believed, existed elsewhere in
this country, as well as in Minnesota. This
public opinion was, il he SO mi ght tern, it,
on,n potent, and any enacted law, affecting
the rights Of person or property antagonis-
teal to it, would always prove n mere dead
letter. This public opinion in the West
was in favor Of granting to the settler on
unoccupied, and even on unsurveyed land,
The full benefits that had accrued from the
bestowal of his labor on the soil that he
had improved. 1t hal been asserted that
they had no right to protect wrons-doer-
that settlers have 10 business to go upon
unsurveyed land, and that GOvernmen.
ought not TO sanction or give protection to
such proceedings. But The settlement OF
the greater portion of our western country
and the mighty advancement of that region
in wealth, population and power, had been
the result of the encouragement that gov
ernment had extended to settlers OH the un-
surveyed lands, by The passage Of pre-emp-
ton laws from time TO time.
The question was then put; and sixty
three gentlemen rising in the affirmative,
it was declared to be lest.
Mr.. Stevens, of PENNSYLVANIA, de-
manded tellers; which were ordered
and Messrs. Fuller and Ewing were ap-
pointed. -....
The question was then taken, and the
tellers repor,ed-ayes 80, noes not
counted.
So the amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Si3ley asked if it was in order to
move an amendment, TO be inserted in
lieu of that which was striken out?
The chairman decided that Mr.. Halls
tute would take precedence.
Mr.. Halls amendment was not agreed
! to.
Mr.. Vinton's motion to strike ont the
second section, was put and carried in
the affirmative.
Mr. Bowlin moved to amend the frs,
section of the bill by striking out the fol
lowing:
"And to provide by law for leasing
the same for any term not exceeding
four years at any one time, in such man
ner as to render them productive, ane
most conducive to the objects for which
they were designed"
Mr. b. said take occasion here tt
say, that in regard to this matter, | an
but performing public duty for which
| have no relish. These propositions
have been before the Committee on tn.
Public Lands and have received no iavo
there. should not be faithful to ny
trust, were | not to state here, that thi
bill Was brought into another committed
unconnected with public lands at all, an'
forced upon the attention Of that com
mittee. l deem it my duty to state thi
fact as chairman Of the Committee on th'
Public Lands, but will assure you tha
it affords me no pleasure to place my
self in opposition to the wishes of tn
gentlemen representing these Terrific
ries, or the people of these Territories
believe, sir, that it would be impoliti
to appropriate the proceeds of thes
lands for the support of these Universe
ties. | believe it would be an impoliti
measure for country situated as l TN
derstand the Territory of Minnesota t
be. The Committee on the Publ
Lands came to Il e same conclusion, an
considered that it would be impolitic t
lease lands that were so magnificent
timbered, and which in fact rendere
them Of any value to the country.
Mr.. Sibley. The honorable chairma
of the Committee on Public Lands
entirely mistaken when he asserts tha
the provisions of the pending bill wer
passed upon by that committee. Th
subject was never brought before them
. at least so far as | have any knowiedg