New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-19
WASHINGTON.
Bounty Lnnd Warrauts-Senators Seward
and Webster-EuGiish Land Policy In Gam
ada. &c.-Mr. Wilson.


adn, Sc.-DIr. Wilson.
Correspondence Of The Tribune
WAsHINGToN, Monday, March II.
Had the late deplorable act making the new
issue OF Land Warrants Assignable become a
law, it would not have flooded the market with
warrants to q very great extent with the present
force in the Pension Office. Congress pretended
20 reorganize and augment the force Of that Bu-
reau, but it was done la 80 nlggardly manner
that the additional force authorized was not more
than sufficient to bring up the long suffering back
business, which had been accommodating Tor years,
making little or no provision for the immense in
crease of labor required by that most comprehen-
sive enactment the Bounty Land law. NOtwlth-
standing that the Chairmen OF the Committees
were ssenerally LIBERAL it seemed impossible for
Loco. Foco Congress to appreciate the Executive
wants of q Wing Administration; and this has
been felt by nearly all OF the Departments though
most by the Home Department. 1t is curious the
number OF tedious processes through which an ap-
pication has 10 90 before a warrant eau be issued
Although the Bureau is admirably organized, and
abe clerks are kept worked hard through elgn
consecutive hours day, Ia farmer would think
that long time between breakfast and dlnner,l
but six out Of the whole number can be employed
in issuing warrants The whole number OF appli-
cations sent in thus far is nearly 100 900. OF these
not an application has been touched which was
sent In since the commencement OF November.
The mails Of the 9th and 18th of that month are the
last under examination.
The whole number of warrants issued thus tar,s
reaches only about 5000. At this rate the issue
Will require some years.
IL seems but too certain that the next Congress
will make these warrants assignable. There are
30 many members of both Houses from states
holding public lands who are likely to know
where the rich tracts are, and who, with
few OF these warrants could make small
fortune with great ease, that it is almost hope
less to expect otherwise. Thus the richest
part Of the national domain will be thrown
INTO the hands OF spectators, 10 the detriment OF
the states In which the lands lie and the deprlva
ton OF emigrants who stake their little all upon
the faith Of being able TO buy good Government
lands at 81, 25 per acre.
How much better would it have been TO have
given these lands away 70 the actual settler, in
stead OF to the soldier. The soldier who will
really benefit by this law to any extent worth
naming, would have come in with all other citizens
for benefits. If any distinction were made, the
Government might have furnished the means for
emigration 10 the soldier. No one can read the
clear, powerful and conclusive speech Of Senator
SEWARD, delivered upon this subject the other
Gay Without being convinced that the Government
wsuld gain more than it could lose by the adop-
ZION OF this system. That speech has bsen de.
.lanced throughout the country by thousands and
sens OF thousands, and il is to be hoped that the
people will base action upon it. The comprehen-
1--WE intellect Of Mr. WEBSTER almost prophet.
sisuy perceived the absolute necessity Of the adop.
Ion Of this policy, when, at the commencement Of
sne long Session Of the present Congress, he gave
s nOtce Of bill embracing this object He saw
snN Prohigate spirit prevailed in Congress with
;;so,ence to the Public Lands. That he saw truly,
= sneWn by the passage Of that most proaigate
-, 49,. tne Bounty Land Law. 1t was unfortunate
,Aa. the Protracted quarrel over the Compromise
;Isnores lasted until Mr.. WEBSTER was called
1so tne Cabinet, or he would have shown con-
ssSsWely to the country that the wisest disposi.
.On which could be made Of the national domain
YOU'D be It's division among the industrious but
ssnIless classes, who would thus be induced 10 Az
,e ns9nts OF cities and become substantial pillars
n nsn astonishing that that weak puerile, Senator
A"SoN should have been countenanced in open-
~ upon hr. SEWARD the insenss te howl OF agra.
csn' when we have bat to look across the
Ss ansoe border to the dominons Of II. Is. NJ, the
=. eoss intensely conservative and terribly
oppressive kDghsh Government, to lind that this
my ss,a,Iah.sm hai been in practice there for
,Ssse than twenty years We'll rememSer bsi me-
h Icsoushly astonished, when spending some time
Ssnsda few years SINCE OF he0y;90 tLo, onS
fsoH Of good character could obtoi, a o,ooS ,;-sJ
'"" at ne hands Of The Government 5rSrsir 6g