The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-09
CITY OF WASHINGTON. SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 9. 1861

rssposd 10 but am prepared 10 say that the amount
wil be very extensive. was told by one Of the mem
principle involved in this bill should be carried out there
wasa difficulty about which would lead TO Large ap
Mr.. HUNTER. Mr. President, il The senator will
yield the floor, would like 70 submit motion
Mr.. FELCH. will yield the floor ii il is the wish of
! The senator 10 make motion
Mr. HUNTER. merely wish to sugges, that ii is
obvious that this bill is one which will lead 10 proaced
debate We have the civil and diplomatic appropriation
bill ready 10 be reported from the committee and think
the Senate ought TO allow to be taken mp. will,
therefore, with the permission OF the from Mch
gan move TO lay this resolution The table am very
sorry be compelled 10 do SO. being friendly the OBJ
Mr. FoOTE II the senator will allow me to make
Mr. HUNTER. | cannot il would. The senator
from Michigan yielded only for 10 submit motion,
Mr., FOOTE, VIII my friend withdraw the motion
for a moment TO allow me 10 say one single sen
Mr: HUNTER, I will DO so if the senator from
Michigan consents 10 il.
Mr. FOOTE. Il is only to make this single appeal TO
the, honorable senator from Michigan Ny knowledge
of his character, and Of the disposition which he has al
ways evinced in debale assures that under the cir
cumsances OF the he will allow the vote TO be taken
Mir, UNDERWOOD. Mr.. Presiden,---
The PRESIDENT. The senator from Michigan has
the floor. ~
Mr.. FELCH. Mr.. President | will occupy but very
few moments Certainly, am The last person here
who wishes to delay business by talking. No senator
slider this question OF so much Importance that do not
feel al liberty 10 let pass without calling attention 10
OF the evil effects that will flow from its adoption
should be very glad TO pursue the argument. if the
business OF the session not pressing to show the
disastrous consequences that have flowed and will flow
from tins departure from The uniform practice OF the gov
! ernment. a .
But there is another matter 10 which wish to refer be-
fore lake my seat and that is the effect OF this measure
upon the western interests The from Tennessee
MIR BELL the other day alluded some remarks which
made, that the time ci speculation IN the public lands
had gone by, and that were not IN danger ol
yvlng The disastrous consequences OF the specnatos OF
1886 arguing upon the subject OF the sales Of the
public lands. right, believed, then, upon that
subject, and believe so now. There is no danger OF
renewal of those speculalions in the public lands But
this bill presents quite different question. This is not
subject OF speculation in the ordinary sales OF the public
lands Tor money, but ii introduces new element No
will buy large tracts OF land III 2J while
there warrants TO be bought for ten cents dollar
Thus new kind of speculation vii be encouraged, aud
men will become spectators to large amount. Sir, II
is the only resource by which speculation exist
You speculate 10 the injury of actual settlers and TO the
injury OF the new States and am not willing 10 open
The door again for these specuatons Ii you pass this
measure, and throw into market this quantity OF land,
whether it be forty EIGHT millions twenty millions, you
throw all into the hands OF these speculaors a. the rate
oil twenty hve or perhaps ten cents an acre. Well may
they afford to buy land now, when at dollar and a
quarter they could make no speculation before,
The price OF the land will be SO low that they
can rely upon purchasing with perfect safety and all the
choice land of the country will be absorbed by them.
Mr.. FOOTE. Win the honorable senator allow me to
proceed the consideration of executive business There
is national business that we must attend to- We have
treaties 10 ratliy.
will submit the matter the Senate. look upon this
matter, them Mr. President, liite more than food ior
specuators; Gentlemen tell US that they are receiving
letters day by day, urging them TO pass this act Sir,
have received letters. have received anonymous let
lers individuals who have made themselves known
by their signatures; and shall not be saying TOO much
when state that have received threatening letters upon
the subject have also received personal calls; but
can say that among those calls not single has been
from representative of the old soldier All the personal
applications that have received have come from class
OF who engaged 10 speculation, and not single
one has come from one oil those who claimed this small
pance under the law, and deserved to obtain IN the
manner which is proposed have heard OF those
who were exceedingly anxious Tor the passage OF ths
law and the was asceftaned to be that they hal
embark ed in this very speculation. gentleman who
has something TO do with the administration oi public
affairs told that after having long conversation
with an individual who was exceedingly anxious that
these warrants should be thrown into market, the fact
at last disclosed that he had himself purchased oec
sonay these warrants. Now, ii he purchased them, is
not plain inference that he gets them a, their market
value, and the less the market value is the better is for
his speculation These the applications have Tor
the passage OF this law But suppose il Were otherwise
suppose II the soldiers who making these ap
applications here-do and feel the operation OF
the mschineryl Will no, the who apply 10 here
apply also to the soldier who is to receive this bounty
and exercise all their influence TO make him think that
his warrant becomes utterly valaeless TO him unless
made assignabe; that he canno, go and locate his land
himself and unless he sells his warrant TO who
can, it will be worth nothing 10 him do not doubt al
all the correctness OF the statements which gentlemen
make when they say they have received letters from
these old soldiers should be surprised it such were
the fact But speak OF the general bearing OF the
question, of the influences that know TO be al work
and of the disastrous consequences that will flow iron
the adoption of this measure
Mr.. HUNTER. Ii is obvious that this is TO lead TO
long discussion therefore move to lay IT upon thu
table.
Mr. BORLAND | hope the senator from Virgins
ltxilI irpxy for a tpNy mon will
than ten words
| Mr. WALKER That will not end the discussion.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. will ask the yeas and nays, al
it is a test vote.
Mr. HUNTER | will say that it is not test vote
only do this to sanction IL. will vote for the bill
some other time when il comes up.
The question being taken upon ordering the yeas anc
nays, they were ordered
The question being then taken by yeas and nays upor
the motion to lay the bill the table, IL not agree
to-yeas 10, nays 25-as follows:
i YEASMessrs Cass, Chase Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodg
OF Iowa, Ewing Felch, Gwin, Hunter, jones' King
Wales, Walker, and Yulee--i3
land Ba,ler, Clarke Gay Clemens Goope Day. o. Mas
Douglas. Downs, Foote, Greene, Hale, Hamlin. Mason
Muller Norris, Pearoe, Phelps, Rantoul, Rheu, Rusk
Sebastian seward Soule, Sturgeon, Torney Underwood
Upham, and Whcomb-5.
/ Mr. FOOTE | rise simply for the purpose OF invoking
the friends OF the bill TO say word ia support OF IT
voted Just against the proposition to lay on tht
table feel that the Senate is prepared TO adopt the bill
But shall vote for that motion again, even IT hyt
minutes of discussion is consumed by the frend
of the bill say, therefore, that shall certainly, il nc
one else makes the notion If another speech is mad,
upon the subject make the motion lay the motion
the table myself, fixing the responsibility as do now