The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-01-29

In the SENATE, Mr. Seward presented a
petition Tor the repeal Of the Fugitive Slave
Law, which WAC laid on the table. A great
number OF petitions were then received
The bill granting a pension TO the heirs of
General Baton was taken up and after Il
triet consideration passed. The resolution
of inquiry about the cost of dry dock in
California was adopted.
The resolution OF erquiry a. TO the cxpc
diency If su>pending the auction sale, OF
public lands for limited period Of time was
passed.
Mr.. Douglass unSucccs>fully attempted -
reimburse moneys expended 10y Oregon in
war
The French Spolalion bill was taken mp
The question being in concurrence with the
vote in committee Of the whole, by which
the eleventh section was sui,ken out, it
was concdrred in--ycas %, nays %.
MIR. Borland moved 70 amend by striking
out he words not exceeding five millions OF
dollars, so AS to allow the payment of the full
amount Of the claim. lie said if claimants
to be paid in full. Alter long debate the
amendment was rejected, and the bill order
cd to be engrossed. 20 to 26.
On motion of Mr.. Gwinn, the Senate
went into Executive session.
In the House., after the call for the re-
ports OF Committees, Mr.. johnson, of Ten
ncssee, presented bill giving TO every head
of family 100 acres OF land provided such
land be cultivated for a certain period he
moved that the bill be referred to Commit
tee of the " hole, and SAID this bill ought to
have been passed Instead of the Bounty
Land Bill Of the last session. which gave
4S, 900 00G acres of land to soldiers not pre-
vlously provided for.
His bin, he said would have kept the land
out of the hands of the ShylocLs, and put it
in the hands of able-bodicd men who would
have cultivated the soil: he would give to
the old soldiers Treasury script. Sixtyfve
bills have been brought forward askin. lands
for corporate companies, for Lunaic Asylums
and almost every other purpose, and, Mr..
johnson said, surely the landess poor should
have 100, acres provided he cultivated it.
Mr.. billiard believed that this was truly
the lest way of disposing OF the public lands.
Government ought not to be landhoders, but
ought to give every man a homo who would
make it his interest TO cultivate the soil,
maintain his family. and educate his children.
This would do more to lay the foundation Of
national prosperity than any other system.
MIR. Casey from the Committee on Agri-
culture. aid he knew nothing about the OBJ
iect, Of the bill and thought the House was
in the sane cor dilioh with himself He spoke
against the unequal portions of land given
to the new States. and yet he was not pre-
pared to explain his opposition to the Bill.
MIR Brown, of Mississippi, opposed tho
Bill and said he intended 10 offer snb'Ii>
tute. He said, by encouraging agriculture,
the aggregate wealth OF the country was IN
creased, commerce was augmented, ana the
national prosperity promoted.
Mr.. Green replied to Mr. Casey, and Mr..
Brown occupied the remainder of the morn
ing hour when the House went into Com
mittee of the Whole on the Bill to supply
deficiency in the appropriations for the yea.
ending 3olh June next. The discussion OF
this Bin was continued ill the House adj
journed.