Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-03

provisions, and IL he before tribunal differently
he voad premise his remarks by a-otion to
DISMISS hs oii This right Of partition, for he
eei" ~ was introduced by the gentleman from Tennes-
see MT JoHsses and reported back from tas Commit
zee on Agriculture with sundry amendments. He denied
ne te OF these partitoners either in Law equity and
,ne rignt OF this Government to make partitions He
denied that thisGoyernment held the ublic domain Nv
such tenure aswas susceptible Of such partition as was
mere asked for He asked by what right by what title
ueed' CERTAIN specified class Of persons aliens foreign
ers =. Anerieaa citizens Of limited age Of particular
cohdoh IN domestic and pecuniary affays should come
mere ana grautousy ask this Governments to assign and
%. 9us y them IN seyeralty by metes and bounds any
portion OF the public domain the common property of the
people OF the United States to the exclusion of much
portion having equal rights and equal prylegess
Nay more class Of persons such as might casually hap
pen 70 come within the provisions Of this bill the first
Gay January 1861 and for the remaining three hum
red ana sxtour days of the year. there would
DC falling under each day class persons equally en-
ut, l. % the bsnehcence Of this Government.
.nere was any subject Of legisai on which the
American people tenacious than another il was
against any principle Of legislation which made an nyi
in the bestowment of governmental favors
pensions and patronage The axiom was true and appl
cable to American citizens that the blessings of Govern
ment, ike the dews Of heaven, should fall upon ALL
ne was opposed to the thousand and schemes,
before Congress by which to rid the General Gov
ernment IN the shortest possible time Of the pubc do
and held that the old land system which had been
~ force or thirty years past the best system which
tne ~. =, ana wisdom Of man had yea devised.
tons First that the public lands should be disposed of
ZOE tns common and benefit Of all the people Of the
participate in the benefits in ass atHss
to the expenses Of the Government which they
quirnd to bear and third, that the public lands shall
notbe disposed Of for any other and purpose what
even.
Mn. CHURCHWELL briefly replied to the arguments Of
Mr. FULLER and remarked that in period of the pro-
ess Of this Government had there been much anxiety
upon the subject Of the disposition of the public domain
NJ thu IN
seemed to be the desire of large number of the
the SOIL 1.-THE people, ndicatedby the desire Of their
Representatives from all quarters of the country. As
evidence of thsfact he referred to the various plans
sented Congress to dispose of the public domain Of
oil these propositions struck him with much force
and favor that of his colleague (Mr. JoHNsoN 1t
calculated to advance the interests of the Govern
ment of Individuals and society," and elevate the moral
nature of man. 1t would give to every man the meazs
of lettering his condition in every of the word Of
sustaining himself supporting his family, and educating
his children When he looked at country and its
vast resources he surprised that such
as this had not been adopted long ere this
Mr.. GROW denied the position that the Government
had any right to make the public lands of
venue and argued prove that every citizen had
tural right the soil he had air and sunlight
Each person had right much of the earths surface
necessary to his support He commended that as
question of revenue, it became important to the Gov
eminent to make this donation Of land and that it would
contribute to the increase Of national well domestic
wealth, to the defence of the country and to
merce He considered it the duty Of Congress to hold
out reasonable Involvement for the settlement Of the
public lands Every consideration of justice and human
ity demanded that these lands should be granted in
limited quantities to actual settlers and that they should
| restore to man his natural right to the soil.
Mr.. SHELTON proposed to give the reasons which
would influence him to vote for the BILL He believed that
the true principles Of this Government to give to
each the utmost liberty consistent with the safety Of
his fellow-cizens On this basis he attributed the pecu
liar prosperity Of country, and this principle
directly opposite to socialism and agraransm which he
utterly repudiated In his opinion, the time had
rived when disposition of the public domain would
have to be made They had before them projects to de-
vote the public lands for railroad purposes covering about
thirty millions of acres, and of the why HI
proposed to for the bill under consideration be
cause i. would preyent tho ~dsptio. ~ Prv3oUs
hurtful in themselves He surprised to find many
Democrats advocating the disposition Of the public domain
to build up chartered companies and corporations for th
was in opposition to the principles Of the Democrats
party. Mr.. g. then proceeded to show the advantage
which would be derived from the adoption Of PROPOSE
ton like the one now before the committee.
Mr.. WILLIAMS next obtained the floor, but yielded
motion that the committee rise which being agreed te
i the committee rose and reported progress.
Mr. CLARK then offered the usual resolution to clos
all debate the homestead bill in hours after tn
i committee shall again resume its consideration.
/ Pending which, the House adjourned.