The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-24
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
TuuysuAv Ian "a 1891

sent for the reception Of such reports Of commit
tees, as would not give rise debate. Objected 10,
Mr.. +. p. STANTON then asked leave TO make
a report from the Committee on NsSd Affairs
Objected to. 81 ~ ~
The SPEAKER laid before the House COM
municaton from the executive COMMITTEES Of the
Industrial Exhibition to be held ia L0ndcns and
transmitting a statement Of their pypcee0iu&s-
Referred to the Committee Of Ways and Means,
and ordered to be printed.
REPORTS FRoM conMrrrkks.
Mr.: HARRIS, Of Illinois. from the COMMITTEES
on Private Land Claims, reported bill In favor
OF Jacob Banter, with All amendment apprOpriat-
ing public lands, upon which persons hOldipg
revolutionary bounty land warrants could locate
the same.
Mr.. vINTON raised point Of order, which
was, that il was not competent for the committee
10 amend private bill 80 TO make il general in
its character.
The SPEAKER sustained this view, and ruled
the amendment out OF order
Mr.. HARRIS then asked that the original bill
should be put on its passage.
Mr.. COBB, of Alabama, moved to amend tho
Gated in the military bounty land district in Ohio.
Negatived.
The bill was then third time and passed.
HOMESTEAD BILL.
Mr.. ANDREW JOHNSON, from the Com
mittee on Agriculture, reported bill giving
quarter section of the public lands to each man or
woman, head Of family, who shall settle upon
the same and cultivate il for specified period.
Mr.. ANDREW JOHNSON moved tina. the
bill be referred to the Committee Of the Whole,
and that it be printed. He then spoke for short
time, stating that this bill would have obviated
the necessity OF the bounty land act. It would
have given every destitute soldier land to live up
on, and have prevented vast accommodations Of
lands in a few hands. This measure had been de-
demagogueicaI. He believed that
when the people saw the way in which the public
lands were wasting, they would at once declare
for this measure. Sixtyfve bills have been intro
iuced to give those lands railroads, canals, and
different corporations. Illinois hsd spoken to her
representatives through her legislature. Promi-
nent public men in different parts of the country
had decided in its favor Mr.. ]. called upon those
who were friendly to agriculture, and to the poor
and laboring classes to sustain his motion for the
reference of this bill to the Committee Of the
Whole.
Mr.. CASEY asking IL this bill had been reported
by the authority Of the committee on Agriculture,
was considered by Mr.. JoHNsoN in the afiirma-
live. A3t4v
Mr.. HILLIARD said that he did not intend to ad-
dress the House at length at this time, but would
lake occasion to say, that he considered this
measure an the true system of disposing Of tho
public lands. He did not regard the measure as
addressed to the popular feeling Of the country,
nor would It operate only to reward those advo-
eating il. Government should not be greatand-
holder. A system whereby the lands should be
occupied by an Industrious, active and hardy no.
,ulation would tend to make the whole people
more prosperous and the government more power
Ill. The true source Of national wealth was not
n holding vast tracts Of land, but rather in adop-
ing a system which should settle and cultivate
hem causing the establishment ofcolleges, schools
md churchcs. We should have no settled revenue
'ystem, until the public lands were disposed of.
Mr.. AVERETT, interrupting, asked Of the
Gentleman from Ala. il his object was to dispose
If lands belonging to the whole people for the
benefit of all, or for portion Of the people.
Mr. billiard, resuming, said that his OBJ
ect to effect the settlement of the public lands
With a wealthy population we ashould have a
depend not upon the public lands for support OF
The government but upon the revenue arising from
duties upon foreign imporiations, which had the
effect of protecting domestic interests.
Mr.. CASEY said the subject Of the disposal of
the public lands was one ofgreat magnitude. He
the gentleman from Virginia for his
views UPON this point.
Mr.. MEADE, interrupting, stated, that his OBJ
ect had been to bring bnck the West to their alle-
lsposng Of the public lands for local objects was
10 he continued, he was for adopting plain which
should benefit all the States.
Mr.. DISNEY said that he should take an early
lay to state accounts between the West and East
M. MEADE, asked II it was the design of the
gentleman from Ohio to charge US with any public
ands
Mr.. CASEY, resunng, said that the fact of
liTering in politics with the gentleman from vir-
,inia did not prevent appreciation Of his views
relating 10 the public lands. He was always in
favor Of putting the proceeds Of the sales Of lands
into the Treasury 10 pay public debts, but under
he operation Of the bounty land act, not cent
would be derived from thai source for many years;
Mr.. C. would appropriate lands for great national
objects, such as the establishment of highway
across the continent. II was not right and Just,
that the new States should have the public lands,
while asking at the same time for heavy appro-
priations for rivers and harbors. The publiclands
had been acquired by appropriation from the gen.
neral Treasury. Being told that the West would
after the next apportonment have the power to
dispose Of the lands they saw 6t, he was for
he adoption of such system as would facilitate
Intercourse between the different portions OF the
.ountry, and thus confer benefits and blessings
through all time to come.
Mr.. A. G.. BROWN did not propose TO argue
he principles Of the bill SO much AZ TO correct the
entertained by gentlemen from
al parts Of the country. Il seemed To be the pre-
valent opinion that the old States had 40 great or
A greater claim To the public lands in the new
States than the new States themselves. Mr.. B.
that the emigrsnt who subdued wild
lands, acquired some rights beyond the mere pos
session OF the tract cultivated. What was the
object Of Government Who snatched Ohio from
the wilderness, and made her 20 great and pow
erfup Who turned Alabama and Mississippi into
fertile Slater Was il the sothfu Of the old States
or the enterpris ng emigrants from Virginia and
Pennsy lvaniai Were the men who had cut down
the forests, and made gardens in the wildernesst
be confined entirely to the spots which they had
cultivated? Mr. b. believed that there was no
land which was worth the labor that had been be-
slowed uron it He was not now prepared to
enter into that elaborate discussion that the sub
ject required.
Mr. GREENE, interrupting, was understood
to say, that Congress, in undertaking to dispose
Of the public land, have in view social considsra-
tons well a. the interests Of the public at large.
Upon this ground, grants Of public land had been
asse not AZ boons, or drafts upon the public
Western members never regarded them
as for their exclusive benefit, but a. bene6ttng the
people at large. When the lands are settled and
trade and commerce arise between the
different portions Of the country, and then We see
4 e. III