The republic., 1851-01-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MILITARY RESERVE In MINNESOTA


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
MILITARY RESERVE MINNESOTA.
| On motion Of Mr.. SIBLEY. the House took up the
Senate bill TO reduce and define the boundary of
the military reserve the st. Peters river, Min
nesota, and the right of actual settlers
thereon, and referred ii to the Committee ON the
| Public Lands.
EScouRAoEMENT TO AGRIcuLTuRB.
The SPEAKER announced the business before
the House TO be the bill reported by Mr. JOHNSON,
| OF Tennessee, from the Committee on Agriculture,
| for the encouragement of commerce, agriculture,
and manufactures, giving to every head of tami-
ly one hundred and sixty acres OF the public do
main, certain conditions therein named The
question pending on the motion to refer the
bill to the Committee of the Whole the state Of
the Union, and that it be printed.
MIR. BROWN, Of Mississippi, caused to be read
his substitute for the bill He said that the first sec
ton OF his proposition contempiates simply con
tinuation of the present pre- emption law He 81
drafted the section, because for a long series OF
years the law has existed i'll some form, until il
has come to be understood by those engaged in the
administration of the public lands; and because
II has and 10 understood by
the entire country. He did not wish to make any
violent change in this system. The second clause
proposed that the pre.cmption right shall be per-
petuated, instead Of being limited TO one or two
years. that the settler shall have much time his
necessities require to pay for the land. He repeat
ed, he had not proposed to give the lands abso
lutey, but simply toguarantee possession until the
occupants shall be able to pay for them. II land be
given to an individual absolutely, he may dispose of
il he may think proper. BY involving himself
in debt by improvidence, or misfortune, some
other way, he might be willing to give his land and
home to relieve himself from his embarrassments.
He did not conceive that it any part of the duty
of this Government to provide homes to those who
might sell them, to pay their debts, contracted by
! extravaganza misfortune. His object was to
the settler in the occupancy and settlement Of
| his home against improvdeuce and misfortune,
| come what may He desired to securc to every
| place he may call his home, that he may be en-
| ablcd to support in comfort himself wife, and chill.
dren Land is worth nothing in wild state of
nature; it is absolutely incumbrance to the
| State in which it Hes He proposed, then,
to place occupants upon it, who, by thor labor and
| improvements, will make 1t worth something to
| the Government and to individuals, and add to the
| aggregate commerce and industry of the country.
! He proposed to permit the occupier to remain ON
the soil until he s able to purchase III and If he is
never able, to leave him in possession. He asked
| that the Government retain the ownership, ami
that when the occupant is able to pay let him do
at the minimum of one dollarand twenty FIVE cents
| per acre. Finding himself too hoarse 10 proceed,
| he gave way to
| Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, who withdrew his
| motion to commit the bill to the Committee of the
| Whole on the state of the Union
| Mr.. YINTON moved to lay the bill on the tabl,
and the question being taken, it decided in the
negative-yeas IS, yeas 90.
The House refused to second the demand for the
previous question-ayes ID, noes 81.
MIR. CONGER moved to refer the bill to the
Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union
and demanded the previous question, which was
seconded, and the main question ordered to be put
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, asked for the yeas
and nays. IT. he said, the bill should be commit
ted, it would be equivalent to rejection
The question being taken, the bill was commit
ted to the Committee Of the Whole on the state Of
the Uniop-yeas l2l nays "a.
Mr. JULIAN moved TO reconsider the vote; and,
at this stage
The House resolved itselfinto Committee of the
N he sta of he in
the chair,) and resumed the consideration of the
bill 10 supply
DEFIcIENcIEs
in the appropriations for the service of the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1851.
The amendment pending the following, viz
:" For compensation to clerks employed by the
Secretary Of the Treasury, in the Third Auditors
office, in the examination of muster and pay. rolls
of the of 1912, and the Indian wars in addition
to undrawn balance of appropriation for the
month of July last, 900; for contingencies in
cident thereto. such as printing, binding rolls,
desks, office furniture and labor, . 500: Propidsd,
That clerk shall receive than at the rate Of
y 900 per annum under this act"
After debate, the amendment was amended, on
clerk. whose salary shall be 800 per annum."
And further amended, on motion OF Mr.. ROBIN
SON, by providing that four Of the clerks shall re-
ceive four dollars per diem each.
In this form the original amendment wac agreed
to-ayes 81, noes 30.
Mr.. ROBINSON moved to strike out one of the
clausea Of the bill, and to insert: For thirty y-seven
temporary clerks in the Office of the Commissioner
Of Pensions required in consequence Of the passage
of the Bounty Land act OF the 25th Of September
ast, from the first of October, 1880. to the 30b of
June, 1851, one clerk at annual salary of 3 1905,
another at s 400, and thirty five clerks each at
three dollars and thirty three cents per diem $34,
06S So.
After few words in explanation, the amend.
ment was agreed to.
Mr. PHELPS moved to strike out the clause of
the bill appropriating one hundred and eighty
thousand dollars for fulfilling treaty with the
Wyandots He asked whether the Committee of
Ways and Means had any other evidence of the
ratification of the treaty than that in the statute
books.
MIR. BAYLY did not know that any official in
formation had been received of the ratification of
the treaty; and said that, far the appropriation
concerned, he did not regard it as OF any consc
euencc, If the treaty 10 not ratified, the money
be paid; but il Il 10 ratified it would be incon
vepient to the Government If money should not he
furnished TO carry it out.
Mr. PHELPS said that, when the treaty was sub
mitted to the Senate, ,varions alterations were
made; and il provided that 1885, 900 should
be paid to the Wyandots, in exchange for their
lands. This treaty was published as having been ra
tilted by the Senate, but, long the treaty was
not ratified in the manner prescribed twas not n
law, and justified appropriation OF money. The
report of the Indian sub agent shows that in local
election which turned on this point, majority Of
chiefs opposed TO the treaty were elected. In
paper published at Indepepdcpce Missouri, il is
stated that an individual claimed, from the
Wyaudots, s 81 900, or twenty per cent. on the
Sls5,000, fee for procuring the ratification Of
the treaty. The editor speaks freely on the sub
ject of the frauds practsed the Indians and the
injustice towards Them. He Mr.. P.) was opposed
to appropriating money until he could obtain the
information whether the treaty has been ratified
and until required by the stpuations to do
Therefore he desired that the clause be stricken
ou.,
MIR. BAYLN did not conceive newspaper author
iy reliable that the House should act on 1t with
/ f,uv, thu
! tclc itself.
Mr.. PHELPS remarked that he had not spoken
of any thing of his oYn knowledge. He was ac
quainted with the editor, and he nafde this state
inept in his paper
Mr.. BAYLY. Supposing the authority to be
reliable, as the gentleman considers it, yethe Mr.
b. did not think that the House ought 10 withhold
the appropriation TO carry out the treaty, because
some agent attempts TO swindle the Indians. IL
we TO withhold appropriations for any such
| reason, VIC would be taking the place Of the agent