The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-20

were haf dozen other issued upon fraudulent
representa- ms for the identical service for which this
IS issued" And whenever patent for the land is ofe red
Tor sale the purchaser will say, 81 offer yoa only
much for IT, because have 10 the risk OF their being
ball dozen other patents issued for the services
And therefore, by this attempt 10 prescribe remedy.
you embarrass all the titles and contracts and produce
the sad state OF things TO which have referred
Now, there will be no difficulty about this thing al al
II the officers OF the government will do their duty, i
am sorry 10 have 10 say, from Investigate made the
Pension Once, that these land warrants granted with
out having that proper alphabetical list kept which is
necessary prevent these fraudulent attempts succeeding
against the government There ought be alphabet
zeal arrangement, kept IN such way that whenever an
application is made TO obtain warrant upon any deca
ration Il would mol be In power OF the officers OF the gov
eminent TO turn directly the record, and ascertain
whether warrant had been issued before for that
Identical service sorry 10 say that believe that
not the now. have had occasion inquire into
matters OF this Sort and find that you cannot get that d
rect and prompt information which would be the result II
these alphabetical lists kept in such way 10
AFFORD al once that full information which ought TO be
had. fE
am inclined 10 think, Mr. President, that we would
better let things go and make these land warrants
slgnabe, without making provision in this bill TO
The fraudulent which my friend supposes may exist
That there will be frauds upon the government 10
extent, we may well imagine from what has already
taken place II the officers Of the could have
lists and alphabets such have alluded TO- and would
look into them before multiplying warrants, them sir, you
never would have two warrants issued upon the
claim. You will have to issue the rghul one whenever
II comes, perhaps but you will do that with much delb
eraton aud in that way you will find out that
rant had been issued fraudu eniy and this will restrict il
down to two; but IN the case which my friend from Geor
ga Mr. DAwsoNl supposed there might be half Dozen
or perhaps dozen unless you get these precautions
adopted which have stated. had occasion before
to remark thai conceive il be the absolute duty of
Congress to- appoint commissioners before whom the
executive officers should be summoned and the books
OF those officers examined from beginning to end that
we may and know how the officers OF the executive
departments keep their books and manage their business
We could then see how these frauds can be prevented
from being imposed upon Congress. / do not know
xph hat ha huau hpan
have been member OF Congress But, sir, believe
there State legislature in the United States where
i is not done annually, 1t has never been done here
however
! have thrown out these remarks in answer to what
was said BY my friend from Georgia, MIR DAwsoN.]
do not see thai there can be any remedy, unless you
provide that in all where warrant is issued wrong
fully the illegal warrant should be void You might then
reach IT, The only question will be whether they shall
Mr.. DAWSON. proposed an amendment, The only
one could conceive Of TO prevent duplicate warrants be-
ng granted. thereby inJuring the soldier
| Mar. DAVIS. | am inclined TO think this difficulty
may be met in two ways might be done by declaring
that all warrants issued upon fraudulent evidence should
be void But that is not DONE because said there will
be innocent holder to every fraudulent warrant that
issued and you never can be certain but what or
more fraudulent warrants are issued in the of
individual You Will have TO ISSUE however many there
may be, true warrant once for all Now, sir, appre-
bend that we should go little behind this There must
n senator ram aaeT a
did tell what kind of evidence is 10 establish the
fact OF this helrship BY our laws, any person coming
forward and pretending to be the heir would be obliged
to establish that fact by evidence satisfactory TO the bu.
or the department Suppose, sir you should require
that whoever undertakes 10 establish helrsbp stall
establish II legally by evidence before Judge, and that
that Judge shall place the seal OF the court upon the
testimonial How is it then 10 be fabncateda There
10 ssu s b qqs that wh1 al all
forge the seal OF the court but that nteposes another
very serious difficulty. apprehend, Mr. President, il
must be by some such provision hat-wheher adopted
violin whether
made compulsory by law-that we are to put stop 10
fraudulent proceedings OF this sort Under such circum
stances, it would not be very easy thing for person,
falsely claiming to be heir. to establish that fact in the
vicinity, before Judge who would require satisfactory
evidence before his seal would be affixed 10 the iesimo
ny. do not great deal OF difficulty in IT, IL seems
TO that amendment may be drawn up which will
meet the case.
The question being then taken on the amendment as
amended, IL was agreed to-
The joint resolution then reported 10 the Senate
Mr. WALKER Mr. President, if this is the proper
time offer amendment to the amendment before IT is
adopted by the Senate, will state that have some
amendments which propose TO offer, look upon this
measure as being pretty eiectual abandonmsnl Of our
dent seeing il TO be likely TO prevail in this body wish
to offer amendment and ask the favor OF the Senate
first amendment which wish 10 offer IS to come in al
the end of section second, and form the third section OF
the bill
The amendment, then read as follows:
b. Il
being citizen OF the United States, having de-
carcd his her intention be such according
listing laws, and being OF the age OF years
upwards, the head OF family, shall settle upon
any Of the public lands Of the United States reserved
Tor forts arsena yards navyyards, Other needfu
buildings special purposes, appropriated for other
special except sach known contain
of the precious metals precious and shall
reside upon and cultivate the same, thereof for
the OF five years. such person shall be allowed
ter without CHARGE in legal subdivisions at the proper land
olhce the land settled and occupied not exceeding
IN quantity quarter section or 100 scres the said settle
ing to such regulations shall be adopted and promu.
gated by the Secretary Of the Interiors Provided That
when the settler shall not be citizen OF the United States
but shall have declared his intention only Aforesaid
al he she shall have perfected his her
according TO the laws OF the United States"
! Mr.. W. Mr.. President, that proposition does not
embrace my views entirely in regard TO the DISPOSE
ton which shall be made Of the public lands | have
heretofore submitted the proposition which believe to
be the one and have heretofore had the votes
of the Senate upon IL, and they have often as they
have voted upon il voted il down. offer this as gong
TO some extent in conformity with my individual views
simple proposition 10 grant TO all settlers 100 OF
the public lands without charge This is the prop
oston which has been presented TO the Senate before in
the form OF original bill The senator from Illinois,
mr. DoUoLLs,1 not in his seat al the last Congress
offered proposition of this kind. Mr. Webster. for.
merly senator this floor, offered resolution EN-.
bracing proposition OF this kind. There were then
no final votes. taken on the proposition. | now
bring il forward and offer II, not in competition with
additional section thereto. The proposition reported
by the committee is it is true not to grant land war
rants but which proposes TO make them assgnabe
However Ii does propose 10 authorize the OF land