The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-17

Mr. FELCH The bill now recognises the rights
OF settlers to pe-empton lands that not surveyed
OF course must do no rights could be rerog-
nsed as no lands have been surveyed as YET unl whn
a very short period OF time. The bill. as originally
reported the last session OF Congress, followed IN
lis provisions the bill in relation TO settlements in
ueeon granting u settlers donation rights not merely al
the present lime but prospectvely In egon me rgots
extend until The end oil two years from the next January
10 regard 10 California it provided that they should
have these prospective rights Tor two years. but consid-
erabe portion OF that time has now elapsed and pro.
pose in the amendment give settlers time 10 secure the
-empon rights on the unsuryeyed lands. hoping that
by HE time fixed commencement may be made IN the
surveys, so that they may obtain privileges upon sur,
yeyed lands, either by entry or by pre-empon CLAIMS
do mol think considering The great length OF time required
to obtain information in California III regard to The pro-
visions OF this act, that the time mcntioaedone year
would be too long certainly not loo long when com
pared with the lime allowed in the bill relative to Oregon,
in ihis bill originally introduced But that is mat.
Ter Of discretion, and for the consideration OF The Senate,
howfar they will extend the time.
Mr.. HUNTER. 1t may all be right, hut still want
Attenuation in regard TO the bill believe ii is a
depatsfe from the systeu which has been pursued on
this side OF the Rocky mountains, have given
pre- empon rights ahead of the surveys except in special
cases. Perhaps is also departure from the system in
another respect as At proposes TO permit whites to go and
Mr.. GWlN. There is no Indian territory in Cafor
MIA; tere are no Indians there who claim rights,
other han possessory rights, 10 any OF the agricultural
lands Their locations these lands mostly broken
up The Indians IN the mountains in and beyond
the geld regions There are few Indian tribes, so lar as
my Information extends, who would be disturbed IN con-
sequence OF the passage OF this act The agricultural
lands have been mostly operated by the mlssons; but
the missions have broken up, and the Indians have
gone back to the mountains There is obstacle there
fore this ground IN the way, and 1t rs important mat
the bill should pass, il will ente persons who have
settled lands belonging TO the United States, whether
surveyed or unsurveyed to their pre- cmpuon rights. and
made for senators should remember that only $25,
900 have been appropriated for the purpose OF extending
the land system OF the United States to the
tent Of territory in California; and although some town
ship lines have been run, OF the public lands have
ye been surveyed they be- 10 the extent that
the wants OF the country demand for many years to come
The only thing that remains Tor to do, therefore, s
to devise for The purpose of securing occupants IN
the p.aceablc possession OF their lands.
The amendment was agreed 10.
MI FEICH In the forty seventh line OF the eleventh
section there provision for the payment OF the actual
and necessary expenses OF the olcerwho may be depu
ted By The surveyor general TO inspect in his stead the
Surveying operations while III progress IN the held Ii
provides that, in addition 10 the allowance and payment
OF The actual and necessary expenses of such person. he
shall be paid eight dollars per day during the examina
tlon IN the held move to amend this part OF the sec
ton by striking out EIGHT, and inserting ive so that
this officer shall be renunerated at The rate oil i've dol
lars per day.
fhe amendment agreed to-
MI OWNS substitute, amended, was agreed 10, and
the bill reported to the Senate.
Mr.. GEYER Mr. President, in the sixth section,
lines and A. observe that il proposed to grant TO the
Stale OF California sections l6 and SO every township
for The purposes Of schools do not know, sir, what
there is for that difference in this ACT from the
course hitherto adopted with regard 10 other States and
Territories, with tue exception OF Oregon, and why it is
proposed 10 grant two sections in every township for the
support OF schools do not look upon that as grant to
The State bat suppose that these donations are made by
way OF encouragement 10 settlers upon the public lands,
ofns persons who go there the nducement that they
wA have this land appropriated for schools But in all
the other land States the 10Th section alone has been
ganed understand that the Seth section has also been
reserved in Oregon and dedicated TO schools but sup
pose hat arose from The peculiar condition OF that coun
try system was adopted which differs from that in all
the other States and Territories OF this Union and was
undoubtedly done by way OF presenting nducement 10
persons go 10 that remote region and occppy that terri
tJry-then belonging 10 the United Slaes-which had
remained unsettled by The citizens of the United States
for number OF years. | do not know that any such
bounty s necessary 70 induce persons to make settlements
on the public lands IN Caltpna, and would therefore
move 10 strike out the words " and thirty sixth"
Mr.. GWlN. II the senator from Missouri [Mr.
GEYCRl will take into consideration the time when this
Oregon bull was passed, he Will find that il within
the last two years, and il contains precisely the pro-
vision that is inserted in this bill sir, that the
privileges with regard 10 education are due 10 the
emgrants in California that due 10 those in Oregon
Ii TO me that IL would be lagant act Of favoT
ism 10 give 10 the Territory of Oregon, which is only d.
vded by an imaginary line from California, double the
quantity OF school lands that you give 10 California. As
10 emigration, the inducements the same; Tor the
emigration 10 California and Oregon took place within
The period OF time, It being only two years since
this bill passed. IL 10 that il then adopted
after fall deberaon the settled policy OF the govern
meut which hereafter to be pursued in remote Ter
ritores OF similar character hope that this distinc
lion will not be drawa against the people OF California,
but that the quantity OF land which has been grant
ed To Oregon for school purposes may be granted TO Cali
fornia There are great many privileges which have
been granted to the people OF Oregon which do not
ask for in this bhe donation principle is abandoned,
that may contend for il hereafter II the home
stead bill does not become law but all we ask now is
simply that we may have the land system extended to
California.
MIR GEYER n this amendment proposed TO make a
discrimination against California, | would withdraw
the motion al once but il is because there is dscrim
inaiion in favor OF California that have made the
ton. Provisions proposed be made for the ciii-
Zens OF that State which made Tor those OF
ans other State. | would have earthly objection 10
the dedication Of four sections Of land in every township
for the purposes OF education and for the schools
that the system that has been adopted with refer
ence 10 the public lands Indeed, believe that the in
tees OF the government would be promoted by appTo.
priang four sections the centre OF every township Tor
that purpose instead OF But my attention called
TO this matter from the fact that n every oter land State
the sixteenth section alone has been reserved for the
this discrimination should be made in favor of California
An exception was made in the OF Oregon, which !
suppose to have arisen from the fact that some additional
lnducemen was necessary TO be offered to prevail upon
persons to go into that region and settle II was
10 some extent necessary for The defence oil that portion
OF the territory of the United States that should be
cupied by the citizens OF our country, and it was
on mat account suppose. that two sections were dedi.
Gated to school purposes in every township do not
dersand that the exists now in relation TO
california. beg the honorable senator from that State
Mr GwlN to understand that II ~ because this s
exception and departure from general policy that
object 10 it. | have always believed il would be good