The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-20

bill as it is, but that | would be willing to dis
pose OF these lands In the manner have indi.
Gated.
The bill was then reported to the Senate, and
The several amendments made as in Committee
OF the Whole were concurred in.
The PRESIDENT. The question is on
ordering the bill to be engrosscd for third
reading
mr.. HUNTER. ! ask the yeas and nays
The yeas and nays were ordered.
MIR. DAVIS. | would like to know of the
Senator from Ohio, if he has it in his power TO
answer the question, what the sales of these
lands have been during the last year and the
preceding year, within the State of Ohio?
MIR. CHASE. cannot state precisely what
the amount is. | know that the expenses of
the two land Offices within the State of Ohio
were over $4,000 for the past year; the amount
OF land sold last year. suppose to be of slight
Importance. No inference can be made from il
as to the amount likely to be sold next wear. The
senator knows we have lands warrants assigna-
o'e' ana lhat they will be received in payment
for public lands hereafter. Nv opinion Is that
the sales for lands during the next year will
not pay the expenses.
Mr.. DAWSON. wish to state one or two
reasons why cannot vote for this bill, In the
hrst place, we are now about to establish a pre.
cedent, that will be followed by all the other
States that have public domain within their
limits and II Is at once settling the question of
tne graduation OF the price Of the public lands
we are determining not to reduce the price
below 81 20 per acre, and that all the Land,
which canuot be sold at that price, shall he
given to the several State in which thew lie,
now my position is this If the public lands
oeions 10 the State, the proceeds go into the
treasury; and, II not worth 81 25 per acre. put
them down 10 fifty cents an acre, and LET that 90
INTO The treasury. 1t is but fair and right. I
prefer a system Of graduation, TO this system.
ueGioeo'yi Tor ! am confident that, if we estab,
'loh TINS precedent to-day, it will be followed,
year after year, in all those States that bsya
public lands, unil the remnant of the lands 90 10
those States. Md submit now. WHEELER /, il
not better to have some general regulation INV
winch all these rennants of Land NAV ha AZ
posed oil: | am willing to vote that they should
DC placed at hity cents y the State of Ohio. and
tnat, IN .he language of he Senator from Vir.
ginia, the Stale should haze the right Of NO
emption. " R'e-
feel rather disposed to 90 Tito tho ,rgnmon,
at once, for this reason: that c,ns;dar a., 80
shall establish precedent TO-DAY. If we nress
this bill that it will be followed IN and wo
cannot avoid it, The question cot,es nm md
such very peculiar circumstances: the Sen.,o,
from Ohio u, unfortunately, Obliged TO leave Inc
Guy, winch regret very much; AID he begins
by stating his position, endeavors I, enl;., So,
sympathies, and calls on us TO establish m i'm
portant principle without any dscussio, These
circumstances, which surround US to.Isv ,viII
not be known TO the next Congress IA ,ho
States Of Indiana or Illinois may come %, al
ask us to act towards them on the prin,;nlos
which have guided us with respect 10 Ohio IND
how shall we be able to deny them? Aicbior
VIII, very possibly, come in under very favorable
auspices. Perhaps, the head Of the government
may recommend such n course. Illinois nav.
perchance, occupy the same position, under Tie
same auspices
Mr.. CHASE. If the Senator will allow me
to interrupt him for moment, will state that
the precedent has already been set Il is now
too late to require that. The only question il,
whether the same justice which has been ex.
tended TO Tennessee shall be accorded to Ohio
have in my hands the act by which the lands
were surrendered TO the State of Tennessee
some years ago. II has this title
"An act to surrender to the State of Tennes.
see all title the United States have TO lands in
Tennessee, south and west of the line commonly
called the Congressional Reservation line, &c"
The act not only provides for the surrender
OF the lands TO Tennessee which were within
her limit, but il goes further and provides that
the State Of Tennessee may retain the proceeds
Of the lands already sold The precedent is al.
ready set.
Mr.. DAWSON. was going on TO say, that
the State Of Alabama will be presenting her
claim TO This particular kind of favor, and prob.
ably under the same auspices But am called
upon at once to see the influence of A precedent
already made under circumstances quite differ.
ent The Senator from Ohio will understand.
that the lands in Tennessee were reduced 10
twenty-five cents per acre, before the release
was made to that State; and il was said they
could not be sold for twelve and half cents
per acre. Those lands were given to Tennessee
Tor purposes Of education within the State. and
not given to The State, except for the prescribed
purpose.
Have we not asked this BODY already TO
give to the various States of the Union a
very small portion, few thousand acres, Of the
public domain, for purposes OF education and
internal Improvement and yet il is denied,
while it is proposed that the State of Ohio shall
take this land; and they refuse to let il lie in
market another year, TO see IL il can be sold for
hfty cents per acre. iii is not disposed Of in
i've years, would be willing TO let II 90 to the
State. No,sir; the object IS to establish pre-.
cedent now, TO lay down position in which all
the new States will combine 10 take all these