The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-27

4if' bh LII WltnoTc" MS iuouou
VIRGINIA MILITARY LAND WARRANTS.
Mr.. TAYLOR, under a suspension OF the rule,
introduced the following resolution, which was
agreed to, namely:
Resoiped, That the Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union be dschar ged from the for
Their consideration of House bill No. 6, to extend
the time for locating Virginia military land
rants Tin Ohio) and returning surveys thereon to
the General Land Oihce, and that the same be put
upon its passage.
This measure was accordingly taken up; when
MIR. STANTON, of Ohio. opposed the BILL and
Mr.. TAYLOR supported it.
Alter further proceedings, the bill was passed
OREGON
Mr.. LOCKHART. from the Committee on the
Territories, reported joint resolution, which was
passed, ratfying the act of the Legislative Assem-
bly, Of Oregon, liking the location Of the seat of
government OF that Territory at Salem, in Marion
county.
HOMESTEAD BILL
The House resolved itself into n Committee Of
the Whole on the state of the Union--Mr. HIBDARp
in the chair-and resumed the consideration of the
bill giving homestead Of one hundred and sixty
acres OF land to every man, the head OF a family,
on condition OF occupying and cultivating the
same for period of five years.
Mr.. BOWIE, of Maryland viewing the disposi-
ton oil the public lands as Of momentous import
ance, deeply deplored that any other subject ex-
listed, Of an exciting character, to divert public
attention from the special order before the com
mittee Whether gentlemen consider their mode
of acquisition, the sacrifices, trials, and self denals
OF the seven years war, by which the first portion
of those lands obtained, and those of subse
quent wars, which resulted in larger acquisitions,
(trom which States have sprung and may vet
| spring,) the public debt has already been dis
charged from the proceeds Of the sales of the lands
while now they pledged to redeem other obi
| cations, or whether we look to the internal inn
provements which they may be the means of exc
cutting, no subject can be submitted to Congress
more worthy Of their profound consideration. All
these great subjects arc intimately connected with
them; and he repeated, il was greatly to be
GREETED that any topic OF temporary character,
appealing to personal interests and personal am
biton, should intervene to exclude this. But such
the case
question which has been incidentally examined.
lie did not propose to ask whether Congress possess
the legal power dispose of the public lands in the
| manner proposed by the bill under consideration;
but he did propose TO inquire into the expediency
OF wasting the most sacred portion of the public
| treasure.
He expressed the hope that in the remar ks which
he designed 10 submit, in frank language, that no
one would suppose that he pretended to impugn
the generosity motives Of those who sustain the
proposition before them. He accorded to every man
purity OF intention, but at the same time he could
not close his eyes against what he apprehended to
be the destructive tendency of this kind of egisla
ton, which Is based on entirely principle,
q principle which 10 calculated to sap the founda
| lions OF this Government; and, if persevered in,
must result in the most deplorable consequences
These lands are the common property Of the
United States; there was no class of men W no pre-
tend to question that they the ri ghful md COM
| mon property OF the United States, and are held
Tor the general welfare. There were times when
shadows Of different doctrine hung over the coun
try-when small portion OF one section of the
country maintained that the States which held the
unappropriatcd lands were the rghtful owners
But, happily, this misapprchenson has passed
away.
! He then proceeded to speak Of the bill before the
committee of the five schemes submitted
for the disposal Of the public lands. He regarded
1t as proposition TO cede lands to the States in
which they lie. In 1892, when a measure for this
obJct was pending, distinguished Senator of the
West asked this question: "Will the States Of
Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, consent to relin-
qulsh their claims on the Incorporated lands Of
| the Territories! No; they will wade up to their
knees In blood fret" And the bill under conside-
| ration has been introduced in q more humble and
specious form, and is proposition to cede the
unoccupied lands TO the States in which they lie
1t Is based upon the principle of gratuity,
ton OF which is not to be found our laws
| The only precedent is in the decay Of the Roman
republic, which stares us in the face in its most
formidable and revolving features. 1t ia nothing
but agraranism; and the giving Of land TO every
occupant seemed to him TO be the CONNIE nccment
Of a surrender of the whole public domain.
-; u i Is a trte but true saying, I'VE should be
10 pay? Are we impregnable against our encmies?
Have we no rivals 20 compete with? The debt Of
the last war, for Mexican acquisition, ia $50 O0O
90; five millions are likewise duo TO the creditors
u
gress for fifty years-the sufferers by the French
spoliations not yet Satisfied. Are there not ten
or fifteen thousand private claimants asking for re-
dress, All these arc unsatisfed We have iucofn.
plote Qualifications, which will require sixteen or
twenty millions Of dollars to finish them, and which
essential 10 place this country in position Of
equality with her natural enemy If we have Let
gentlemen look AT England and France, and ask
themselves If we secure. One of the main
arguments in favor of the bill was, that WILL by
giving homesteeds, siren CITIZEN the means Of national
defence. But will strong arms and brave hearts be
protection against a steam Invasion by Europol
You must have fortihchtions, and a navy. armed
al all points, and equal 10 the forces of England
and France, or the history OF this Republic may be
written in two words IN less than two years. And
now our oldest and vencrated sta eEmen urge upon
us, Gin peace prepare Tor war"
He complained that the improvement Of the
great waters Of the West is suspended for the want
Of means; and said that one years income from
tho public lauds, expended for this purpose would
cave hundreds and thousands Of ives and millions
Of property on the rivers and the lake,.
The honorable gentleman having occupied the
hour allotted in debate in further oppostion TO the
bill
Mr.. STEPHENS, Of Georgia, obtained the floor,
and gave way for motion that the committee rice;
which prevailed.
DisBUasEMESTs nv MAssAcHUsyTrs
Mr.. FOWLER. by unanimous consent intro.
duced bill 10 refund the balance due 90 Massa
chusetts for disbursements during the late war
with Great Britain; which referred to the Com.
miiltc on hlHtnfy AUtirss
TIE LONG BRIDGE.
Mr.. sTROTHER asked leave to submit a rcsolu-
ton, iustructing tho Committee on Public Build.
iugs 20 inquire into the cSpedicncy Of re-esisbsb
ing the Communication, by bridges. between the
District OF Columbia and Virginia, which have
been broken by tho freshet; and that they report
by bill or otherwise.
Objection having been made, the resolution was
not received.
Ar FLORENCE presented a memorial hume
r0usly signed, from citizens Of PHILADELPHIA ask
ing donations % the public lande TO actual settIers
which referred 10 the Committee on Public
Lands
The House then adjourned.
rUTf1fOGf.
BY Mr.. MOORE, OF Louisiana. The petition Of
TuOmas Hicks, Of Louisiana, praying TO be con
& med in his title 70 a tract Of land.
By Mr.. FLORENCE. The memorial Of John
Pollock, jr and Others, citizens Of New York,
praying ar the extension Of the patent Of Un
Emmcns for planning machine.