The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MOUNT VERNON.
Mr.. CULLOM asked leave to submit the follow
ing resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds be instructed 10 inquire into the
expediency Of purchasing for the public use Mount
Vernon, the last residence of George Washn gton,
md the resting place of his reInains; and also at
what price the SAME can be purchased for that pur
pose.
Objections made 30 the introduction of the
resolution.
Mr.. McMULLEN moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee Of the Whole The state
OF the Union; and the motion was agreed TO.
Mr.. HlBBARD was called to preside.
The committee then resumed the consideration
Of the bill to encourage agriculture, commerce,
man ufactures, and all other branches Of industry,
by granting 10 every man who is the head Of fam
lily, and citizen OF the United States, homestead
OF one hundred and sixty acres of land out Of the
public domain, upon condition Of occupancy and
cultivation of the for period Of five years.
The first section Of the bill under considers
ton. Mr.. CLARK, on a previous day, had moved
an amendment, striking out the words free OF
homesteads;) and Mr.. PARKER, Of Indiana, had
moved TO amend this amendment, by fixing the
price at twenty five cents per acre.
The question having been taken, these amend
ments were severaliy disagreed 10.
Mr. CLARK moved to strike the words "free
of cost" and TO insert, sand hold the same
emption for the term OF three years, according
10 the pre.empuon laws now in force, except to
remarked that he had heretofore stated he had
stituiiona doubts ON this subject. He did not say
however, that his mind was positively made up.
He should be happy TO rcceive'lght, and that gen
tlcmen should relieve him from the difficulty, il
they can. The gentleman from Ohio Mr.. CARrTKR)
had said that these constitutional objections all
CANNON There may be game in il, but he did
not see any light in it,
Mr.. AVERETf opposed the amendment, and
said the passage Of this bill would not only be in
violation 81 the Constitution, but would desecrate
the memory Of our fathers.
MIR. HALL moved an amendment TO the amend
ment Of Mr.. CLARK--to' strike out "thrce" years,
and insert "two;" and after remarks by the gen.
tleman first named and by Mr.. DssEY, both the
amendment 10 the amendment and the amend
ment were disagreed TO.
Mr. McNAIR moved 10 add at the end OF the
first section, clause, TO provide, in the benefits Of
the act, bounty land warrants OF one hundred and
sixty acres each for every officer, sailor and Ina-
rine who has served in the Mexican war; and, in
case Of DEATH the benefit shall go 10 the widow or
children, as under the Bounty Land act Of Sep
TENDER 2S, 1850.
lie did not conceive il to be just to exclude the
class Of men sought 10 be provided for in the
amendment men who pcrilled their lives for their
| CoubtTy-wbile those TO be benefited by the bill
remained in security at home.
Mr.. STEPHENS, OF Georgia, replied TO remarks
Of several gentlemen, who had contendcd that tho
public lands had been acquired for the object 81
settlement. flo denied that such was the design o.
the cessions.
Mr.. EVANS proposed 10 amend the amendment
TO include the sailors and marines who served
IN the Revolutionary war. the war Of 1912, and in
the Florida war. The honorable gentleman ex-
pressed bis surprise that the gentleman from Penn
sylvania (Mr. McNAIR) should overlook the fact
that before the year 1347 there were sailors and
marines in the military service Of the United States
They we're the most deserving men In the land or
other service.
Mr. WOODWARD opposed the amendment 10
the amendment, and denied that the design Of the
cessions Of the public lands for settlement and
the increase Of republican States but that the OBJ
ject was TO furnish common fund for the dis
charge Of the common debt growing out OF the Rev
dictionary war.
The amendments Of MIR. EvASs and Mr.. McNAia
we're stverally rejected.
Mr.. MOREHEAD. later further proceedings)
moved n anne ndment-thata all the labds remaining
unsoid Incorporated on the first OF September,
1884, be divided between the several States and the
citizens thereof in proportion to the federal popu.
latlon Of the States aud Territories.
The amendment ruled ou' Of order, as not
| gerrnain TO the subject under consideration.
Other amendments were offered, and disa.
greed TO.
The first section OF the bill, after the repeated
efforts Ia amend IL, remains as II was when oriQ.
nsIly introduced, namely:
BE u snactsd, &C., That every man or widow who
IL the head Of family and citizen Of the United
States, shall after the passage Of this act, be en-
tied TO enter free OF cost. one quarter section OF
vacant and unsppropriated public lands, or guam
tity equal thereto. 20 be located in body, in
iornity with the legal subdivisions Of the public
ands, and after the shall have been surveyed.
Some Of the remaining sections Of the bill were
amended; but, without Opposing ofthe subject, the
| Committee rose.
YAygTTkvnLk AND osSTaAL PLANK ROAD.
On. motion Of Mr. DoCKERY. the House took up