The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-12

ously attended State convention, with but ON
voice, and with hearty zeal that indicates suci
an up-heaying Of the ntasses--such political
! " ground swells, as have not been Witnessed III
\ Indiana or elsewhere, since twelve years ago we
took up our old Territorial Governor, aud bore
him away to this Capitol, with resstless power
that may remind you of the spring floods of the
Father of Rivers when, draining The great valley,
he bears deluge Of waters away to the ocean
Mr.. Chairman, am through with this matter 10
winch was so Unexpectedly invited, but which |
could not pass and MAINTAIN my own self-resp pect,
my notions of duty, and the expectations Of those
who sent me here. hope that | am now under
stood, and the position Of my constituents vindi-
Gated, and that may never have occasion TO ad-
vert TO this subject again. / am sure there is no
gentleman from the South whose heart beats more
warmly or more profoundly for the support Of the
Constitution, in letter and spirit and for the perpe
tuHy OF our blessed Union, than do mine ard that
OF nay constituents, the great heart of the entire
North. No conventions have been gotten up there
to inquire how much this Union is worth, nor to
inquire how tolcrable our condition would be were
II dssolved nor 10 devise the means 70 attain chat
end. No, sir; nor do | believe such feelings
| are entertained there. | am sure that none such
| have ever existed IN my bosom God forbid that
| they should ever be harbored by me or mine If
| we have grievances on either side that cannot lie
| remedcd in the Union, they never be out Of it.
With the blessing of Heaven, | will, as always
| have, look upon my Southern brethren as brothers
| indeed. would, in all the perls of the Union,
reachout my arms embrace them all and in the
attectionae language of Ruth, say them, s'Where
thou goest, will 60; where thou lodgest, will
| lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy
IGod my God.n
! Mr.. Chairman, perhaps had no occasion 10
| make these remarks. But they are made and |
now address myself to the bill before the commit.
/ tee
! The remarks of the gentleman from Georgia,
(hlr STEPHEss,) IN reference to this subject, like
wise meet with my cordial appreciation. / approve
OF the principle involved IN the original bill Of the
gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. Johnson and
of the substitute which has been offered by the
gentleman from Mississippi, Mr.. BRowN) But
| think them both very defective in detail for
final settlement of the land question. And, there
| fore, | concur with the gentleman from Georgia
| IN what he SAID yesterday upon this subject
| think the time has come, when this matter should
| be brought to a settement-a final settlement
| upon some new basis. ! hear the low mutterings
| OF rising storm from every part OF the country
IN relation TO these public lands and it is the part
| OF a wise man to heed the storm when il is rising
though II were yet in size no larger than 'man's
| hand' The careful sailor does that, however long
and unruffled may have been his voyage. He
| passes out upon the yard-arms takes IN his can
yass, and prepares 10 meet what may be a tempest
| And so should we. If we take tinle by the fore
lock- think we may effect an adjustment for the
derness, IN way that shall give satisfaction 10 the
| country and when done, relieve Congress from
great trouble annually recurring
| Now, MIR. Chairman, there has been no other
| question, which we have had so constantly before
| our eyes, and yet which has been so faI removed
from the right kind OF legisIauonas it strikes me,
| If We abandon the system of sales which has hith-
erto worked so well, as | am sure we villas has
| the disposition OF the pubic lands. VestiDg the
lands absolutely IN the States where they may lie
graduation OF their prlcc-dslrbuton of their pro-
| ceeds among the several States, IN turn, or alto
gether--haye agitated the whole country for many
years. Ii we adopt new policy, IL should be a
national policy one which shall not dspossess the
old States altogether, of what they may deem their
interest m the lands, nor one which shall build up
one interest, or one section Of the country al the
expense OF another. This Will not be wise--il
will not be meeting out equity alike 10 all-it will
surely leave these difficulties to reappear.
hold IN my hand the outlines of plan which
design presenting before this bill IS finally dis
posed Of, IT ! ever get the opportunity of dong so
| IN parliamentary form. | will read IL 10 the
| committee, and then offer few brief remarks up
| on It, winch wall consume the lIle time | have yet
| left. Should proper Time arrive, | shall move to
refer the whole subject TO a select committee, with
Instructions TO bring in bill upon the basis OF
| these propositions. have bestowed much rcncc-
ton upon the subject, and | can conceive Of
nothing which will work better, and better con-
| duco to the general welfare, than thus plan. IL
covers essentially, have said, tie leading prn-
ciple contained ~ the bill now before as; and while,
trust, 1t will give satisfaction to the old States It
| gives US, Of the new, ali we should ask as Western
/ men. ID is as follows:
| "l That hereafter the sales Of the public lands
Of the United States, when made for cash, shall
only be TO such persons wall make oath that
they purchase for GoIuai settlement; and sales so
made shall be al the rate Of irtnfy-fpe otnis per
acre, and no more. And patents shall issue on
| such sales soon there shall have btcn FIVE
years continuous occupation 10y the purchaser, his
heirs, or assigns.
"2. That all the public lands now in market, II
| not sold within five years. shall vest in the States
respectively where they are situate and all lands
hereafter brought into market, il not sold within
| five years thereafter, shall ~ like manner vest
and all ands ycsting shall bc sold by the proper
State, within reasonable time, for such rcasona-
ble sum per acre, as % tho State may seem eXpc-
dent And the nett proceeds VI all such last men
toned sales shall bc appropriated as follows. One
third thereof to the State making the sale, FOR
perpetual school fund; one-thrd to be rata
bly apportioned among the other States and the
District Of Columbia, "a proportion to the repre-
sentatiOn Of each State IN Congress, and regarding
the District entitled To one Representative for
like purpose; and tho remaining third 10 the Amcri-
COLONIZATION Society, for the colonization of the
free blacks Of the United States ,rih their olcn con-
sent, IN the Republic.of Liberia"
Thus, you see, Il provides that lands shall bC
sold by the General Government TO none except
those who shall make oath that they intend To be-
come actual settlers That is right Every gen
ilomon who comes from the West has seen aud de-
pIorod tho effect Of the manner Ia which the pubic
lands have been taken up by spectators. liell in
company with gentleman during the last year, in
my own State, who had made investments In these
lauds SIMPLY for speculation. flc was from the
State " Connecticut, and told me that be was then
a short VISIT 70 Indiana 70 see lands lie had en-
tered there some thirty years ago. OF Which he as
sured me be had one hundred and sixty acres near
the capital of our Siate-probably adjacent % the
plat oi, the city. let u lie" said he, for some
fifteen years, and then went out to make some ar
raugcments with regard TO the payment Of taxes
upon u, and am now upon a similar visit. Thirty
years have elapsed, yet an has never been upon
my land and though | paid but the Congress
price per acre, every acre is now worth $3.50"
Now, who has given such great value TO these
lands that lay, like a nobemans hunting grounds.
by the SIDE OF our cities, or are surrounded by the
iccming farms Of even the children Of our staiwart
pioneers My colleague, MIR. HExpRicKs,) on
yesterday, adverted 20 the reason, SIR When the
spectator entered those lands, they were probably
rot worth even IL QJ nor nc re I'M, H., ,,tcrcd