The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-23


information which may be in the OF his depart
nen,, ,onching any associations which may have been
adjusting their relative rights ccupancy, and pulling
down competition in the public sales oihe lands" &c
Now, sir, well remember the stories. or iruths-call
them which yon pleasewhich in circulation prior
TO the meeting OF that Congress- II was said 10 be
common practice Tor associations 10 be formed to attend
the sales Of the public lands when exposed at auction
except those who resided upon it, These asso
caiions threatened the lives Of bidders. in order sup
press competition well recoec an anecdoie circulated
al the time. gentleman, whose name could repeat
If deemed proper, wishing TO purchase public lands,
attended sale where OF those fraudulent associations
had been formed. Just before the sale commenced he
mounted block addressed the multitude, and told them
tina, he intended TO bid for what land he pleased and, il
be was 10 die for il if they intended to make war against
M ssst N va
in circulation at that tme upon which Mr.. SHADES
luton based 1t is not worth while 10 read when
that resolution was adopted.
On the 5th of April 1898, the Speaker laid before the
House letter from the Secretary OF the Treasury trans
nitiing report from the Commissioner OF the Land
Office, giving ell the information called for by the House
in Mr. SHADES resolution Here is the report So far
respects the latter portion OF the resolution, appears
that the Secretary, Mr. Woodbury. addressed letter to
Mr.. James Whitcomb, the Commissioner OF Public
Lands, and obtained the information from him which he
sent to the House Of Representatives II is as follows
directing the communication Of 'any information in
sion OF The department touching any association which
been formed by ntruders the public llnds,
for the purpose of adjusting their relative rights Of
pancy and putting down competition a the public sales Of
said lands, have the honor state that is known
any such Information exists upon the files OF this Office
other than what has been heretofore communicated
ever that since the date Of those reports Congress- ruos
have reached this Office and two or three newspaper ac
voluntary associations among settlers with view
their respective settlements when pnbc sales take place
diana and OF the instances it refers related
settlers In Michigan and the were not placed
on the letter files, and cannot now be found"
So you that the information contained in the papers
in regard to these combinations and associations not
preserved n the department; and of nothing
communicated IN answer to the CALL further than to state
filed
That the condition Of things ar The commencement
OF Congress in December, 1885, and during that session
the pre-empton bill up for consideration, and my
votes and my conduct in reference TO that bill sup
pose the basis upon which tins charge OF hostility is
facts. read from the journal:
The question recurred that the House do agree the
third amendment. reported from the Committee OF the
"'Nor shall the benefit OF this extend any person
who has before awaited himself OF pre-empon right 10
the entry Of any public lands and acquired de thereto by
Now. it would seem 10 be reasonable that when the
government had granted preempton the party ought
10 be satisfied and yet that smendment PROPOSING that
Whole House, voted down By vote OF rs yeas and
80 nays. voted for the amendment and so far as that
it, Now, what evidence OF hostility is there in CIV
ing man one pe-emP,on, and limiting him TO thats AT
that time II was sad that as soon as Mr. A. for example,
had obtained his preempuon upon hrs rate tract OF
land, recently purchased from Indian tribe he sold
ihaving, perhaps gone into the country even before
the Indian title had been acquired and selected the best
bottom lad he could ind the best site for town,
the best situation for ferry as soon as he got bis pre-
emphon he sold out at great profit. and then went into
the wilderness and made another selection obtained
another pTeempioD, and again sold out and thus pre-
empon alter pre-emphon was obtained and sold. Here
was amendment intended to conhne him TO one pre-.
empon, and say to him "Afier you have invaded the
Wilderness selected your home, built your log cabin,
made your Improvements you must remain there, become
good citizen, work your fam, and the government will
give you aid and assistance" But this did not satisfy
those gentlemen who represented the land States in that
day. They were in favor OF your specializing pre- emp
tioners-ihose who would go and obtain pe.empion
after eempiion and sell them as last as they could
and keep up this game without end was against that
state Of things wished to put stop 10 il, but could
do IT, am glad to say that the act OF ls4i did ar
rest this specializing pre-empion system, for opposing
which, in 1885, am now snagned as enemy 10 the
new States. My policy improved the lands, settled them,
and made farms upon them, instead OF allowing these
specualipg pre-empioners TO abandon their settlements
and roam over the wilderness, multiplying their claims,
and making sales OF them very often 10 other specua
tors, who purchased not TO improve, but to sell again al
higher prices.
have in the journal before me, series OF measures
respect TO the public lands which, in the session OF
1888, proposed am in the habit, upon most occa.
sions, of placing myself upon the record, and The world
IA at liberty 10 look see, read, and publish all thai
have said or done Alter various propositions TO amend
proposed dispose of the bill 10 the following
| read from the journal
:" motion was made by Mo UNDERWOOD that the said
bl be referred a select commiuee 10 be composed OF
member from each STATE, with insuuctonst report
bill repeating all laws which direct the saes OF the public
lands any part tereoi public aoction, and to grad
the OF the public lands In such manner as the
committee may deem reasonable"
AS am readng, beg leave TO comment as go along
Tue information which we then had-and that iniorma
ton will be verified by looking al the report OF the sales
was that the publlc-aucon system was nothing but a
farce. The finest lands in the best locations could not
be sold in general, for than the minimum price
owing 10 the associations and combinations to which
have aluded. lfyou will look al the reports made by
the Commissioner OF Public Lands, you will find that
facts upon record justify the statement make, and
upon which acted at the time proposed TO recommI
the bill with instructions therefore proposed 10 abolish
graduation. My design was. TO require higher prices
than the present minimum for the land sold during
years FIRST after they brought into market and to
reduce the price every succeeding period OF five
years. until prices reduced TO fifty cents per
II useless TO expect that lands would bnng their
value public auction when bidders were deferred by
associations threatening their lives | then 60 on TO
say:
"To graduate the price OF tho public lands In such
ent prices for the public lands having respect the period
time they may remain pnsold alter being broogb into
market"
believe told the Committee Public Lands, during
the present session. that in favor OF Just gradua
ton system Ihave read my proposition to that ef-
feet, submitted to the House some fourteen years since
then go on:
And providing for distribution Of the net proceeds o
the sales OF the public lands, the lands themselves