The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
DErERRED DEBATE.
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY II. 1851,
BEHATE,
INDECENT INSANE.

INDECENT INSANE aHs
Ths Senate az in committee of the whole. proceeded
m Inc consideration o the special order, beng bill ma
Wing grant OF public lands to the several States OF the
UuoG for the relle ana support OF indgen' insane per-
Mr. pEARCE This bill was under consideration at
,he close of the last OF Congress-, and believe
,vss before the Senate u, committee oil the whole.
V.rous anendmens were offered and rejected. and
amendment 10 the third section had think been adopted
Az that stage Of the bill its posponement was moved TO
The second Monday Of the present session Oh the second
Monday OF this session lis further postp0nement was
moved and il made the special order for early day
in January 1t has now come up for the first time this
session do propose TO delay the Senate with any
d,scusson Of the bill rhe present time hops me
amendments will be gone through with, and then. il the
eccssoa requires it, SHALL before the vote taken, say
MI GWlN | am entirely opposed to the passage Of
this BILL but do wish to enter into discussion of
H. Is time is very precious wish to have test vote
aken upon the bill and therefore move to lay it upon
The table, aud on that motion ask for the yeas and
fhe yeas and nays were ordered. and. being taken.
were:
YEAs-Messrs Buler, Cass Davis Of Mississippi,
Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge q Iowa, D,usia Felch, Gwn.
Houston Hunter, Ione; King, Mason. khsu. Walker.
NAYS-Me.srs. Achlson, Badger. Baldwin, Bell Ben
Ton. Beren Borland BradtaT, Ghsss Clarke, Clay. Da-
Greene, Hamlin Mangun, Miller, Norris, Pearce, Pratt,
Rusk Seward Sheld. Smith Soale spruance, Turney,
Underwood, Upham and Waies-3S
Mr. CLAY. voted against laying the bill upon the
table, although am not fully prepared 10 vote for
The bill Its object in the main is benevolent one. Ii
is certainly subject entitled 10 consideration how far 40
large portion Of the public domain should be placed
der the direction OF single Individual.
Mr.. PEARCE II the senator froQ Kentucky will al
low me- will correct misapprehenslon under which
labos He supposes the bill places large portion OF
he public domain under the direction OF individual
that he is mistaken. 1t approprates ten millions Of
pcres to be distributed among the several States accord
the which The bill Drencribea M indi-
vidual is to have the direction Of it. at ALL but the
control is given to the States to whom il is appor-
Mr.. CLAY The fact is that | have not considered
bis measure with all the attention which its merits de.
nand. should like, confess, ample opportu-
ly TO consider and examine the bill. Twill not, how
vsr my account, ask that il shall be postponed
nsss 10 the general desire OF the Senate 10 consider
Mr. PEARCE. The po.,ponemen, Of this bill win
st.inly be fatal to it. regre, that the has
ot had m opportunity of examining the provisions OF
be bill But it must be remembered that almost every
sovAiOn--evsry one. believe. which was could be
be subject of contes-was considered and discussed at
last session Of Congress- The bill postponed to
session, and has been the special orders
ample opportunity has been afforded To members OF
be Senate 10 consider it, The senator from Kentucky
absent believe. at the time OF the former discus-
hon. hope therefore. i will NOT be postponed.
The bill then reported the Senate amended at
be last session. The amendment was addition to the
bird section OF these words -
And that said lands thus granted shall be sold with.
period Of three years after the selection has been
The question was on concuning in this amendment
Mr.. HAMLiN 1t seems 10 me that there ought 10 be
addition to that amendment, in order 10 make the bill
*. ua ,oa o. ns S
rice Of the government lands, to wit 81 25 per
we adopt the amendment we provide that the lands
sl be sold within three years II they cannot be sold
81 IS an acre within three years, what becomes OF
eml They would revert suppose. to the general
pvernment Some States under this provision would
able TO sell their lands and others would not II there
to be limitation OF The time when the land shall be
pd, seems 10 me there should be provision in the
II that they shall be sold for the most they will bring
propose TO amend the amendment by adding il the
ords:
Al tbs highest price which can be Obtained therefor
Mr. PEARCE. The operation Of the senator's amend
ent would be contradictory TO provision in the bill
a. the lands shall not be sold at price less Than the
minimum pnce OF the government lands The amend
en- Of the senator would provide that they shall be
ia Tor what they will bring. The senator ought 10
eciiy time at which they should be sold for what
~ will bring.
Mr. HAMLlN Say after two years.
Mr.. BERRlEN The idea may be accomplished by
liking imperative TO sell the lands for the minimum
zee within three years, and, after the expiration Of
teree years, Tor the highest price that can be OBJ
MIR. BENTON. five make this grant, Ie, us make il
rth something, and not blank paper for three years. or
any length OF time Whatsoever We have ii authen
aiy communicated TO us by the Secretary OF the Treas
that ninety live millions OF acres will be required TO
siy the warrants OF old soldiers in the late wars We
ow that these military land warrants are sold so low
ihe United States do not expect 10 sell one acre OF
lands al VI 20 until these ninety five millions OF
es are exhausted. The Secretary OF the Treasury
npu'es ha, will take, a, the rate the public lands
Y. been heretofore sold sixteen years TO get rid OF
se ninety hive millions. Now, il you put a condition
That lbese lands shall not be sold at less than 81 rs
acre, you make provision that they shall not be sold
All so long that continues in force II we make a
n' al ALL in favor OF i,s being available al once
There should be no limitation the amount al
ch these lands should be sold. any than there s
he amount al which specuia,ors sell their war
It's 80
Vhsn we first annexed the condition that lands granted
pu'o not be sold Tor less than the price which The
led States were selling lands, it was Tor The protection
ne sales Of the United States, because we were then
ne market selling lands. But are now out oI the
set Wecanno sell an acre, and shall no, be in the
tket Tor sixteen years There is no reason in the
~ wny we should put IN this limitation upon the
uno nave haned; and above all, there no reason
pulling N this limitation as TO render nugatory .
" which ~ for an eeemosynary, a benevolent and
'efsally useful purpose, when we put no sach mlia.
upon 'he act which granted much OF the public
70 SOLDIERS OF the late wars, which we all know
va immediately INTO the hands OF speculatorr, and,
am Told, al an average rate of about 33t cents per
" PEARCE The suggestion OF the senator from
SouI seems 10 me 10 be exceedingly proper. / was
~ - 70 .hls provso, which was amendment 10 the
When u was FIRST offered Ii wus carried apa,pst the
OF those gentlemen favorable to the bill think
one must be satisfied that such limitation the
would render II nugatoTy, and deprive the bill Of
aasaeer OF oen.yolebce winch it possesses. hope,
'e, 'ne senate, without amending the proviso, will
concur IN the amendment
v HAMLlN. would concur in the suxres,on OF
sns'o, IRON Maryland if the amendment can be re-
10y ne senate but desire 10 put q Limitation upon
ma 30 AZ TO render II less objectionable, " II