Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-15
DEBATE In THE SENATE.
In SENATE.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1851.
INDECENT INSANE.

,h on;dsrs,ion of the specia order being bill making
grant Of public lands the several States OF the Union or he
relief and support Of INDECENT insane persons
Mr. PEAkCE. This bill was under consideration at the
close Of the last session Of Congress- and believe was before
the Senate az in committee of the whole Various amend
mens offered and rejected and an amendment to the
third section had think been adopted Az mat stage OF the
hin ts reinforcement moved th second Monday Of the
session On the second Monday Of this session its
further pos.ponement moved md was made the special
order for an early day in JaDsy II has now come up Tor
the % time this session Ido propose to delay the Se-
nate with any discussion the bill at the present time.
hone the amendments vi be gone through with and them
if the occasion equys IL SHALL before the vote Is taken
Nh GWIN Jam entirely opposed to the passage of this
bill but do not~ish to enter into discussion of time
is very preco wish to have test vote taken upon the
bill and herore move to lay it upon the table, and on that
motion ~ for the yeas and nays.
The ys and nays were ordered, and, being taken,
YEIo-Messrs Butler, Cass, Davis Of Mississippi Dodge
of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa. Douglas. FslSh Gwin Hous-
NAYs-Mes.rs Atehson Badger, Baldwin. Bell, Benton,
lin Msngum, Miller Norris Pearee Pratt Ru.k Seward,
Shields, Smith. Soue, Spruance Turney, Underwood Up
ham. Wales-Ss
So the motion not agreed TO.
Mr. CLAY. voted against laying the bill upon the table,
although am not fully prepared to vote for the BILL Its
object In the main is benevolent is certainly sub
ject entitled to consideration how far large portion of the
public domain should be placed under the direction Of single
individual
Mr.. PEARCE. If the Senator from Kentucky will allow
me, will correct Misrepresentation under which he labo
He supPoses the bill places large portion Of the public do
main under the direction of individual In that he is
mistaken It approPrates ten millions Of to be distri
bued among the several States according the ratio which
the bill pesclibes No individual have the direction Of
at ALL but the control given to the States to whom it
apportioned
Mr. CLAY. The fact is have not considered this mea-
sure with all the attention which it's merits demand should
like, confess more ample opportunity to consider and
anime the bill will not however, ask that shall be post
poned unless it is the general desire Of the Senate
Mr. PEARCE. The posponemen of this bill will certainly
be fatal to it, regret that the Senator has had an oppor-
uny Of examining the provisions of the BILL But il
be remembered that almost every provson-evey be-
ieve which was could be the subject of coneswas
sdered and discussed at the last session of Congress- The
bill postponed this session. and has the special
orders since An ample opportunity has been afforded
to members Of the Senate consider it. The Senator from
Kentucky was absent believe at the time Of the former dis
cusson l hope, therefore, it will not be postponed
The bill then reported to the Senate amended the
last session. The amendment addition to the third
section of these words:
"And that said lands thus granted shall be sold within
period OF three after the selection has been ade
The question was on concurring in this amendment
Mr.. HAMLlN. II seems to that there ought to be an
addition to that amendment, in order make the bill har-
monous preceding section Of the bill provides that the
lands shall not be sold below the minimum price Of the Gov
eminent lands 81. per we adopt the amendment
provide that the lands shall be sold within three years
If they cannot be sold 25 an within three years.
what becomes Of them They would revert, suppose to
the General Government Some States under this provision
would be able to sell their lands, and others would If
there is to be Limitation of the time when the lands shall be
sod seems to me there should be provision in the bill
that they shall be sold for the they will bring pro-
pose to amend the amendment by adding it the words
AT the highest price which be obtained therefor"
Mr.. PEARCE. The operation of the Senator'S amend
men would be contradictory to provision in the bill that the
lands shall be sold at price less than the minimum price
q land Imam of Tho
would provide that they shall be sold for what they bring
The Senator ought to specify time at which they should be
sold for what they will bring
Mr.. HAMLlN. Say, after two years.
Mr.. BERRIEN. The idea may be accomplished by making
imperative to sell the lands for the minimum price within
three and after the expiration of the three years for the
highest price that can be obtained.
Mr.. BENTON. If we make this grant, we expect it is
worth something and not blank paper for three years. for
any length OF time whatsoever We have it authenticay
communicated TO us by the Secretary Of the Treasury that
ninety five millions Of will be required to satisfy the
warrants OF soldiers in the late know that these
military sold low that the United States do
not expect sell Of their lands until these
nneve millions OF acres are exhausted The Secretary of
the Treasury computes that will take at the rate the public
lands have been heretofore sold sixteen get rid of
these ninety five millions. Now, if you put condition here
that these lands shall be sold than 25 per acre.
you make provision that they shall be sold ALL
long that continues in force. II make grant all
am in favor Of it's being available once and there should
be no limitation on the amount at which these lands should
be sod any than there on the amount at which spe
culators to sell their warrants.
When annexed the condition that lands grqned should
not be sold for less than the price which the United States
selling lands, for the protection of the sales of
the United States because then in the market SELL
ing lands. But out of the market cannot
sell acre. and shall not be in the market for sixteen years.
There in the world why should put in this
limitation which is made above all limitation,
der nugatory grant which for eleemosynary benevo
lent and universally useful purpose, when put such
limitation upon the which grant much Of the public
lands to soldiers of the late wars, which all know pass
Immediately into the hands of specuator and am told
at an average rate of about 33} cents per acre.
Mr.. PEARCE. The suggestion Of the Senator from Mis-
souri, seems to me to be exceedingly proper opposed
to this proviso, which amendment the bill when
was first offered II carried against the votes OF those
gentlemen favorable to the bill. think every one must be
satisfied that such limitation the grant would render it
nugatoy and deprive the bill the character of
which possesses hope, therefore, the Senate without
amending the proviso, will in the amendment
Mr.. HAMLIN. would concur in the suggestion of the
Senator from Maryland the amendment can be rejected by
the Senate But desire to put Limitation upon the amend
ment to render it less Objectionable if should be
adopted | withdraw the amendment which offered and
propose to amend the amendment made n the Committee of
the Whole by adding at the end Of 1t the words prac
CABLE. Even if this amendment be adopted shall vote
against tho amendment which made in the Committee Of
the Whole.
Mr.. WALKER. This matter, so far, seems to have at
uacea the attention of Senators if this fund.- this land
we are asked appropriate, concerned only the Gov
OF the United States and its treasury have been
eAPecng 70 near some member from the States make
more general objection to this proposition to leave the price
n 0nds