The daily union., 1852-04-15

No further amendment being offered. the bill was re-
ported 10 the Senate, and the amendments were
red in
The question was then stated ordering the bill to be
Mr.. HUNTER asked for the yeas and nays on that
question
MI M, SHIELDS, Mr., presideat. ! viii jus, Say one
WI TpS M IN ness lands have been 20 9qs In the market that
the mere refuse lands, the senator from Ohio says
mslnng out OF all the lands that have been heretofore
soid IN ihat State recollect when was stihe head Of
he Land Oce that money had to be expended by govern
ment 10 Keep up It's machinery there, where these lands
had been IN market 80 long and had never been disposed
oil by the government; and felt that there time
when the State should have control OF the lands remain.
ing unsold within IT, These lands OF no use what
ever 10 The general governments there profit ad
vantage In Keeping them the contrary, the govern
nent has TO keep up its machinery there while they con
unue TO be the property OF the government, there is
hme when The government ought TO withdraw It's
chney, and let the Stale have the lands that are left
Under this view OF the case, 10 that this bill
should meet with opposition, for certainly the lands
cannot be OF any value.
Mr. DAVIS, | would ask the senator from ohio if il
is in his power TO state what has been the amount OF the
sales q lands in that State for The past year and the year
preceding.
Mr.. CHASE ! cannot state what the exact amour,
is know that the expenses OF the land office in the
State OF Ohio exceed five thousand dollars year and
The price OF the lands sold last year would afford very
slight ground oil inference as TO what il will be next year
The senator knows we have made land assign
able; and hereafter the superintendent OF lands Is to be
made IN that kind OF currency My opinion Is that the
sales will not pay the expenses Of The land Office The
senator from Illinois, however, familiar with the
subject 9! public lands than am.
Mr.. SHIELDS. | believe the sales have not paid the
expenses OF the land office for some years.
Mr.. DAWSON. Mr. President, merely wish TO state
one or two reasons why cannot vote for this BILL In
the first place, we are now about to establish precedent
which will inevitably be followed by the other States
Claiming the public lands within their limits 1t is at
once settling the question Of graduation if determine
not 70 reduce The lands below ~ 23 per acre. and that
ha l1ndA ha entI L.
given 10 the States within which they lie-whch judg-
ing IRON the past legislation of Congress, may take place
at some period.
My reason for the position which occupy is this II
the public lands belong TO the States, the proceeds ought
to go into the treasury Il they not worth III 25 per
acre. put them down 10 fifty cents per acre, and let that
amount go into the treasury; II is but fair and rght
and prefer the system OF graduation TO this course, de-
cidedy; for am now confident that il establish this
principle day, and set this precedent it will be followed
year after year, until all the remainder of The public
lands are given 10 the States. | submit now whether it
IS not better at once to have some general regu!a-
ton, by which these remnants of land shall be dis
posed OF. ! am willing TO have them go at fifty cents
per acre in the State OF Ohio, and the State TO
have the right, in the language OF the honorable
from Virginia, Mr.. HUNTER,l OF prescription feel
rather disposed 10 go into the Argument of this question
for this reasonbat consider that 10 day estab
fishing will establish precedent, il we pass this
bill, which will follow us and we cannot avoid IT, This
bill comes up under certain peculiar circumstances, like
all other innovations upon established principles The
senator from Ohio Mr. CHAsE is unfortunately required
10 SENATE very Sn0ry, which deeply
greet He begins by exciting sympahies in favor OF
his position, and calls upon to establish important
principle without discussion, and the circumstances
| rounding which to-day will not be known 10 the next
Congress. The States OF Indiana and Illinois, and other
States, will come in and say, do unto us as you have
done unto the State of Ohio-and how can you deny
them! Michigan will come in probably under very ia.
yoabe auspices perhaps the head OF the government
from that State will exert influence here Illinois will
occupy The same position, perchance under the
pces mentioned IN reference 10 Michigan.
/ MT CHASE. Ill the honorable senator will pe,mit
me, will make one statement The precedent has
been already set IL too late 10 complain Of the
want oil precedent The only question is whether the
same justice shall be extended TO the State of Ohio which
was done years ago TO Tennessee. In 1916 law
passed entitled "An act 10 surrender TO The State OF Tea
nessee the title the United States have TO lands in Ten
nessee south and west OF the line commonly called the
congressional reservation lne," &c. That law provides
merely for the release and surrender to the State OF
Tennessee OF all the lands within her limits, bat goes
further and provides, IN addition TO that that the State OF
Tennessee may retain the proceeds OF lands already sold
The precedent then, is already set.
Mr.. DAWSON | was going on with the States who
would present themselves here Tor similar benefits The
State OF Alabama will be presenting her claims this
particular favor from the government, and probably
der the same auspices
But am now called upon at TO the influence
OF precedent already made not under circumstances k
these. The honorable senator from Ohio (Nr. CHAsEl
well understands that the lands reduced 10
per in the State OF Tennessee before they thus
released and II was said upon this floor AT the lime that
they could not be sold Tor 12i cents per These
lands given also 10 the State OF Tennessee Tor pur-
poses OF education in that Sale and not given TO the
State for any purposes to which they might III to de-
them Have not already asked OF this body give
to the various Sates few thousands OF OF land for
purposes of education and internal Improvement And
yet IL denied to But Ohio have this land
and 10 show that IL is worth so per acre, they pro-
pose to let il remain year. Now, propose TO let II
remain for five years reduce The price, and then give 10
the State what may be left.
Now the object is 10 establish principle a, this time.
10 lay down position, upon which all these States
can combine-and they will combine-to take the whole
OF these lands Hence II is that cannot lend my aid 10
such proceeding, to such demand upon the old States
for is violation OF the nights OF the old States which
we ought not TO allow IL prevent II. But out OF
respect to the senator from Ohio, (ML CHAsr1 will
say nothing more upon this subject
The yeas and nays were ordered upon the engrossment
| OF the bill
Mr. DAVIS. do not feel quite prepared 10 vote upon
this bill without little information upon the point
which have suggested. My inquiry is As these lands
arc represented by the honorable from Illinois,
Mr. SHIELDS, and also by the honorable senator from
Ohio, Mr.. CHAsE1 10 be refuse lands and OF no
value, desire TO know what has been the practical OPP
Grafton oil the for few years past 10 the
sales OF lands in Ohio II seems to me that this matter
should be understood in this state Of the case. have
not time TO turn TO the documents which suppose would
show the facts down pretty nearly TO this time. But
have been able TO cast my eyes upon document that
lies before me, and find that upon the ls Of January,
iSf9, there were rising OF 500 900 OF unsold land in
the State OF Ohio | understand the honorable senator
from Ohio lM CBAsEl to say that there but 900
acres now remaining uDsold There has. then, been
very large sale within very few years past should
be very glad to know what has been the progress
during the last year in the sales in order that might be
able to Judge whether there refuse and worthless
lands and whether demand for