The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-19


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 ia on
ordering the bill to be engrossed for third
reading.
Mr.. HUNTER. ask the yeas and nays
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. 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 it
as to the amount likely to be sold next year. The
Senator knows We have lands warrants assgna.
BILE, and that they will be received in payment
for public lands hereafter. NY 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
flrst 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 it is at once settling the question OF
the graduation of the price of the public lands.
We are determining not to reduce the price
below Isl 26 per acre, and that all the landa
which canuot be sold at that price, shall BIZ
given to the several State in which they lie.
Now, my position is this: If the public lands
belong to the State, the proceeds go into the
treasury; and, if not worth 81 IS per acre, put
them down TO fifty cents an acre, and let that 90
into the treasury. 1t is but fair and right. l
prefer system of graduation, to this system,
lish this precedent to-day, it will be followed
year after year, in all those States that have
public lands, until the remnant of the lands 90 to
those States And submit now, whether it is
not better to have some general regulation by
winch all these remnants of land may be dis
posed OF! am willing to vote that they should
be placed at fifty cents in the State of Ohio, and
that, in The language of the Senator from Vir.
GINA, the State should have the right of pre-
emption.
feel rather disposed to go into the argument
at once, for this reason: that consider that we
shall establish precedent to-day, if we press
this bill; that it will be followed up, and we
cannot avoid it. The question comes up under
such very peculiar circumstances; the Senator
from Ohio is, unfortunately, obliged to leave The
city, which regret very much; and he begins
by stating his position, endeavors to enlist our
sympathies, and calls on US to establish an i'm
portant principle without any discussion. These
circumstances, which surround us to-day, will
not be known to the next Congress and the
States of Indiana or Illinois may come up, and
ASK US to act towards them on the principles
which have guided US with respect to Ohio and
how shall we be able to deny them? Michigan
Will, very possibly, come in under very favorable
auspices Perhaps, the head of the government
may recommend such course Illinois NAV,
perchance, occupy the same position, under the
same auspices
MIR. CHASE. If the Senator will allow me
to interrupt him for moment, will state that
the precedent has already been SET 1t is now
too late to require that. The only question is,
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. 1t has this title:
Gan 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 limits, but it 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 precedent
already made, under circumstances quite differ.
ent. The Senator from Ohio will understand.
that the lands in Tennessee were reduced to
twenty-five cents per acre. before the release
was made to that State; and it was said they
could not be sold for twelve and a half cents
per acre. Those lands were given to Tennessee
for 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 4
very small portion, few thousand acres, of the
public domain, for purposes of education and
internal Improvement and yet it is denied,
while it is proposed that the State of Ohio shall
take this land and they refuse to let it lie in
market another year, to see if it can be sold for
fifty cents per acre. If it is not disposed Of in
five years, would be willing to let 1t 90 to the
State. No,sir; the object is to establish pre-
cedent now, to lay down position in which all
the new Statea will combine 10 take All thasn