New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-08
Lnnd-Wnrrnnt As-lgnrnent.


Our readers generally know that the late
Congress at it's former Session passed bill
granting donation or bounty of Public
Land, usually 100 acres, but for very short
terms of service as low as so and even 40
acres, to all persons who had served the
United States as Soldiers-( Regulars, Vol
unteers or Militia i'm any of our wars, and
who had not already received such gratuity.
They know also how strenuously and on
what grounds we opposed the passage OF
that act.
These wholesale donations of Land
having been voted, with an express and en-
phatic stipulation that the Bounty War
rants should in no case be assignable or
transferable, but must be located In the
name of the soldiev .--0"'iOn0d Vhoioin' q
,,IuggIe very soon commenced to repeal
that condition and throw this vast body of
Land Warrants open to speculation and
monopoly. This effort came near succeed
ing at the former Session, bat failed, and
was renewed Immediately on the opening of
the present Session. The pressure from
without in its favor was intense. The i'm
mense multitude of benefciaries, located in
every Congressional District, and number
ing hundreds each in some Districts, were
ravenous for having their Warrants made
merchantable commodity; and the general
rule seems to be that only those who have
a private, peculiar, personal interest in
public question ever pay much attention to
it. But beside these, legion of specula-
tors and self-c chosen Agents have been
and are perambulating the whole land,
hunting up persons entitled to these Bounty
Lands and buying out their chances for
a song or else bargaining to obtain their
Warrants on shares or for a consideration.
Both classes were largely represented in
person or by letterin the Federal MetroPo-
lis toward the close of the recent Session,
and naturally exerted a greatinhuence With
the Members, and had secured large ma
iority in favor of Joint Resolve making
all these Warrants assignable, which was
introduced by Mr.. CALDWELL of Ky. and
passed the House by an overwhelming
vote some days ago. 1t likewise passed to
a third reading in the Senate by large
vote, but was there loaded with a Proviso
creating new and large class Of recipients
of the Land Bounty, consisting of persons
who have served in Indian or other wars
under State authority without being mus
tered into the service of the Federal Gov
eminent.
This Joint Resolve, after several inet
fectual attempts to put it ahead of some OF
the General Appropriation bills, the last OF
which was barely defeated, was finally got
up between 10 and IL o'clock en- Tuesday,
after those bills had passed, and would
have gone through like shot but for the
circumstance that the poor, the triendless'
the unborn, have in ISAAC P. WALKER of
Wisconsin one faithful champion in that
BODY who cannot be cOaxed nor hattered
TO betray nor neglect their defence. he
had resisted the bill at every step and he
now rose TO resist its final passage. A
murmur of disgust and Impotence at his
temerity ran around the cbamber-thOse
who had not scrupled to battle ham by talk
ing to death the River and Hsrbor bill
taking the lead in it. But Mr.. Walker
would be heard, and he was.
"Gentlemen said he in substance we cannot
pretend to give bis words)-you need not fear
! hat | shall deprive you of chance 70 pass this
measure by talking out the last sands OF this SEES
sion as easily might do-that is not my way.
When | have stated my objections, will deiist,
| leaving YOU time TO pass 1t. But hear me
| "You know that measure is in direct violation
Of the understanding on which these Bounty
Warrants were authorized. Give the poor old
soldier home-let him have spot OF earth on
which to spend the evening OF his days such
was the cry which passed the act creating these
Warrants Welded 10 II and voted for them,