The daily union., 1852-04-15
srEEcn OF ma. oaAsDLra.
or PENNSYLVANIA,

TeSeaatiUeS, dpTu IL, 1904.
Mr. CHANDLER said | have obtained the floor with
view TO address myself directly 10 the question before
the committeeman of the homestead bill. But am not
disposed. Mr. Chairman, TO occupy the attention oi the
committee yery long, | know how frequently nave
been indebted TO the courtesy OF gentlemen around me,
and have much gratitude Tor thaailow me to say
TO draw upon their patience long and that may not be
induced, have already been TO depart from The rec
ord before me, have written down aud amplhed my
notes that would rather read than speak to the com
mtee on the subject upon which am about 70 address
yolved in the bill II anything Is wrong IN The details OF
that paper anything wrong IN the parts winch are pre-
sen'ed nere they can De very easily corrected oy me cou
miitee when come 10 examine II more IN detail III
the principle right have nothing TO lear from the
details which will he carefully scanned not only by
the friends OF The BILL but carefully perhaps, and
satisfactorily scanned, by the opponents OF The bill
Mr. Chairman. by business is with the one grand lea
urso he proposed enactment II the principal De r'g
the details may easily be accommodated 10 toe Intentions
OF the trane and the views OF Congress II the pfnci
Pile is wrong, then all labor upon the bill will be only
making less acceptable that which ought not 10
be received.
Il was my impression, until the honorable gentleman
from Maine [Mr FULLER addressed the committee on
this bill, that there question of the constitutional
power Of the government to dispose OF these lands the
bill provides But that gentleman startled me with The
assertion that these attempts were unjust. and without
law equity And OF course, all that has been done
instead OF becoming precedent Tor action, must be re-
garded by the Q will not say the crimes)
OF predecessors. But could not discover that the
honorable gentleman sustained himself upon the legal
side OF his argument sufficiently TO require response
shall cast glance at what he advances with regard 10
the equity OF the measuIewheher II is just or equal to
bestow lands upon portion and not upon another
The favors OF the government" says the honorable
gentleman like the dews Of heaven, should fall on all
alike"
| The figure is beautiful, but not appose--not iustra.
tive .The dew OF heaven" falls all who place them
selves within its extent But that dew which would come
down with a blessing Of beauty and richness one
would chill and destroy another The evening plant will
open petals 10 The rich descent o dew that shall give
tbeauty and lusiIe, while the morning shrink
from the chilling freshness, and ask the warmth and The
| light oil the ascending sun.
Sir, the favors of government like the dews Of heaven
should, when falling, be for all that need their influence
But the grass paIched field, the heritage OF an
arid waste should not be denied the dews OF heaven, be-
certain plants not improved by that falling mos
ture, because the irrigated and luxurious meadow has
need oil such gentle waerlDgs In all places where
abounds, dews lights but in Chill and IN Egypt,
where rains rare, these dews supply the place oil
showers Thus, Heaven empers It's providence TO the
OF man, and teaches governments 10 make their Ia
vors useful by varying them IN kind TO suit The various
wants OF The people.
| The remarks which am making upon the argument
OF the gentleman from Maine apply, or are intended TO
apply, TO the speech OF the honorable gentleman IRON
Virginia, Mr.. AyERErr whose earnestness and sincerity
always commend his views to my respectful consideIa
lion. The whole history OF country is marked with
pecedens for the disposal OF public lands to instu
ons, TO corporations and TO individuals; and Foreigners
men and women-who have sought refuge from the
revolutionary whwinds OF Europe have received grants
OF rich public lands. And these precedents are so
Identified with our legislation that no declaration OF want
change the practice oil Congress The right is not denied
by the constitution or the law, and il is established and
tona right TO give away the public lands 10 Foreigners
and apparent that practice the absence OF all con-
acting legislation constitutional prohibition, esae
fishes that rghtheD, Jorttori, we have the night 10
divide them choose among our own citizens
The question OF rghtiu power being thus ndspuiable,
At becomes necessary 10 institute an examination OF me
question OF expedlency and equity, as connected WIN
public and private good.
Mr. Chairman. il is lawful, but is ii expeiient' "All
things, says high authority All things are lawful TO
me, but all things not expedienL"
First Why should The land which has been acquired by
conquest purchase be given particular citizens when
! IT is the property OF all
\ Second Why should the man living in The Far West
willing to go 10 the Far West be favored with guam
tiy OF land sufficient for farm, when he who lives in
the old States which achieved independence, must
be content with what he nherils, or what he can pur
chase or, what s still worse, must be content without
| either inheritance or purchases
Third Are there Tor such departure from the
customs OF the counryreasons connected with private
tight and public proht Or will they be promotve OF gen
eral morals and pure patriotism And il so, can we make
the gifts available TO the class OF citizens whose benefit
would promoted And that being can we make the
gifts available TO that class without injury TO others
Nay, will these donations be promove OF the good
OF the whole Unless these questions be Affirmative
Iy answered. we, the representatives oil the people,
have only TO withhold votes from the project II
they be afma,ivcly answered TO the satisfaction OF
the House, need say what should be the vote OF the
members need not say what tDouid be the vote. |
never allow myself TO doubt the purity and patriotism OF
the motives OF the meuinefs OF lUc ttoust
Spy question is proposed here, Mr. Chairman, in which
party attachment and public good may appear IN anago
nsm, always know how the vote will go. The coun-
try will have the majority 1t s true that party discipline
win have guard over party interests, but the nam
| body will march TO the side of the country.
With this view of the character OF this House, will
proceed TO examine the queries.
Ii must be evident that have reached point where
these public lands must TO be the means OF direct
revenue 10 the nation. Claims OF various kinds multiply;
liberaty towards those who have served the country
enlarged encouragements public enterprises and char
ty afflicted emgranls, placing these possessions OF
ury from them And that, Mr.. Chairman, is not all The
beraity Of the government that besows so much public
domain rewards herewith many entitled 10 public
considerations is not inducing settlement bat generally
placing millions oil in the hands OF specolators,
who have and will their vast and
cheaply y-acquired estates.
What need a compensation for our land flor, at
any rate the price when sold is nomnal is settlement,
and the plan proposed in this bill is that shall
come into possession OF single of the soil until he
enters upon its occupation and Improvement. This
out public clams without military service these lands
TO be given in undivided masses, benefit TO the
public could result because the right OF settlement
and the benefit OF pre- -empon already exist therefore
am led TO regard this disposition OF portion OF the lands
as presenting OF assisting public police, pro-
noting public good. and gratifying most natural and
laudable longing OF the human heart.
And the growing advocacy OF this bill here. and the
strong expressions in its favor abroad show that the
wish is national.
Mr. BEAIE, (interrupting) Especially in Europe.
Mr. CHANDLER. | thank the gentleman for the
hint Where the down.trodden millions are looking
tha tlau lpro hpraa