The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-28
CHIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS-.
SEC oND sxSsIoN.

Senate.
BY THE MoRAx MAGNETIC rKLEaRAPH
OFFICE CORNER BEAVER AND HANOVER STREETS
WAsHINsror, Feb 81, 1851.
PETITIONS.
Mr.. CHASE presented numerous petitions for the re-
peal Of the Fugitive Slave Law, and the abolition of
slavery In the District of Columbia Laid on the table
REMEDIES rArESrEEs
Mr.. DArroS called up the bill giving patentses rome
dies against persons who shall import from Canada and
the territories adjoining the United States articles and
produce manufactured by inventions Of patentses In
the United States Under tho present laws American
inventions carried into Canada and their produce
snd cold to the prejudice Of A msrioan patentsss
Mr. TuRSrr opposed the bill
Mr.. DArTos replied and the bill ordered to Be
ssgrossed.
NAVAL PENSION nrLL.
Mr.. PEARcr reported the Naval pension bill, and
OF pensions to privsteersmsn The aEendmsnt was
agreed to, and then the bill passed
Mr. Gsrrsr, from the comnittes on Military Affairs,
reported Joint resolution diyctng sword to be
Ringsoid late Of the United States Army After de-
bate, the resolution was order ed to be engrossed
nm MrIeAs IspnsNiIr s.p rosr hourr mLLs
OF the Mexican inden nifty and tor the establishment
OF poet routes Both were referred
ltABLirfEs OF sHir OWNERS
The bill limiting the liability of ship owners passsd
Yeas, 2s; nays, al
The bill to sid Louisiana In recisiming the over
flowed lands in that State was taken up and explained
Mr. SEWARD remarked upon the anomalous situation
OF the American republic ss land holder, as CON-
pared with other nations: He detailed the ciroum'
stances OF the discovery Of America and the division
OF IL by Spain, Great Britain, France Portugal and
other nations lie thea commented upon tho various
cessops OF public lands by States TO the United States
and the acquisitions OF Lousians aud Florids and
discoveiy OF Oregon Then the purchase Of New
In la nda
teen hundred and eighty four millions OF scres.
OF these, one hundred and thirty four millions
system OF the United States with regard to public
lands and dsduced that the annual average revenue
derived By the United States from public lands was
one and quarter millions He thought the time had
now TO settle principles with regard TO the dspv
siton OF public landswhether land should be given Ia
limited quantities as gratuities to actual settlers,
whether provision should be made against involsntay
aenations and whether the United States ought not
TO rtnQuish their to the States In which
the lands liel These questions involved other prnci
Piles II the lands we're granted should be TO actual
cotvators and occupancy bens the conditions Of the
grants. The quantity should belmited TO the amount
which such ocsupsnt can so cultivate and should be
points msntsinins that the public lands should never
be he'd as source of revenue but should be held the
govern ment for the benefit Of ,oci.y and the people
He considered that every who had land should
receive IL from the government; the government
should not thus tsx the people, iarm sold by the
Of ore dollar aud quarter per acre while n all the
land was given TO occupant, the government would
was nc sgrsrsni was not Tor any actual division Of
the public lsnds and wss not for taking from the rich
which by the pre- occupation Of and. would tend 70
ooviate any inequality, such principles had already
been adopted in several Of the States restraints had
been placed on the accumulation of land entails,
prmogeniture have been abolished. A partition Of
the domain was the principle adopted by all the
States Why not incorporate the same prinoi
PIE In the disposition of the public
lands He va. for an average limitation Of the land
to be poseessed by any to 90 The
opened the doors co speculson and the States bad
been greatly ipursd by .na bing held BY speculstors
In q ,tste OF unproductiveness The whole coxntry
injured By the Withdrawal Of the amount OF capt
tai inverted in the lsnds. II lands we're held only by
actua and cultvstors the result would bs
different and he argued that for the benefit Of society
ths Lands should be tree 10 ell Who desired to occupy
and cultivate them. The men who cultivated the soil
/ whom the State was TO depend for sup
port. II financial interest only was to be held By
4 defeated it.elf lie enlarged on these points and
urged that the policy II large sales very
i Injurious TO western States. Ne pursued tbs ar.
/ aument by ceptepdipg that gratuitous grants
to actual settlers was the true policy OF the govern
ment lie replied to Mr. Fslchs rsmsrKs and ststlst
cal statements that there would be- no revenue from
lands for yesrs, and that " grants continued there
! would be deficiency in the revenues 70 mest this.
He wss In favor Of retrepehmsnt Of expenses when
i there was deficiency In the revenue Cut down ex.
pensss but do not attempt 20 pay expenses by taxing
In s6vance the tight TO spltivate the soil lie then sd
vocatsd. at great 9Th the policy relnquishins
the public lands TO the slat,s Witch they lie on
condition Of being riv,n. tree cf charge. in limited
quantitse to actual occupants He pointed out this
justice and propriety Of such snd the great
berefts which would result th.rarom both 20 states
the community. and the general government. He ex
smned the question Of the power Fl IN
dispose Of lands and contsnd.d that tn. 20 was
| unquestiopsble.
| Mr. Cl.pHy moved 20 amend the bill by providing
that for every Representative In Congress there shall
be- Granted TO each Stat. 100000 OF public lard
Mr. Davies folio sed IN stiong opposition 20 the fast
progressing policy of giving swsy the rvblis lands
Mr. Murss moved that he bill h. laid the table
rpy pup,tc t.~ss ~ e1troRwG
The brl providing tor survey Of the public lsnjs IN