The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-22
SATURDAY. JUNE 10. 1852.
LcoEcLuDED.l
SENATE.
LANDS IN ARKANSAS.

or Le purpose OF aking upihe bin IRON The House mo
23s 10 release from reservation and restore 10 The
oi ibe pubIc lalis certain aius IN me ota'e oi AT
Mr. UNDERWOOD II seems 10 me we hardly ought
gislae upon any matter Of Importance IN the present
Mr SEBASTIAN | hope the honorable senator from
Kentucky viii make any objection 10 taking up this
bin now II Is one which has been before under onsd-
Grafton, when Il postponed, owing 10 slight dier
eiice OF opinion between myself and the chairman o the
Committee Public Lands, [Mr fEcHl as 10 The effect
o certain amendments reported By that committee II is
small bill, having reference TO only small laanty
of land, and concerns only lew persons wihln ihe
limits Of the State OF Arkansas have ohianed me
official opinion OF lie Commissioner OF Public Lands,
and the question, considering lis perfect freedom from
being matter of general interest," he decided by a
few senators well az in full Senate. The bill was
only postponed lor the purpose Of obtaining that iorma
iion and have the authority Of the chairman o The
Committee Public Lands for SAYING that i would
obtain The opinion OF the Land Office that the amend.
,nents reported by him unnecessary, he would with
draw all objection TO the passage Of the bill as i came
from the House see that the honorable senator i mol
now in his seat, but have The opinion Of the Land
Office and this small matter OF no consequence al
all except small class oil my own constituents, hope
,he senator from Kentucky will not urge his objection
IN consequence oil the small number OF senator's now
Mr UNDERWOOD I will not sir; Withdraw IL
The motion heing agreed 10, the Senate proceeded 10
consider the bill as IN committee OF the whoe--the pend
ing question being upon agreeing to The amendments re
ported by The committee
Mr. SEBASTIAN The question upon the amend
ment brings up precisely the difference between myself
and The honorable chairman o the Committee on pbic
lands. who, regret TO see. Is mol 70 ms seat When
that subject up Tor consideration before, u was post
oned because apprehended believe both by that
senator and by The from Virginia, who ID mol
pfesent Mr. HUNTER that the bill defective in
sai Particulars insisted then that the amendment pro-
posed by lhe from Michigan Mr. FElcHl would
o alter al all The legal effect and force OF the bill In order
20 enable prove that poin, The bill was postponed
and taye since, under the Of the from
Virginia that he wonid in that case withdraw his ohlec
tion obtained from The Commissioners OF iie Land Oice
- .nta alcnt, In he
Gallon shows that all the out amendments are entirely
unnecessary; that they DO not alter the legal force
elect OF The bill was draughted or It's adaptation to the
existing state OF facts; but, The contrary, oil the
amendments creates enbarra ssment in the General
Land office relation the known rules oi construction
ask that that communication may be read 1t removes
all doubt as 10 the necessity OF adopting the amendments
The communication accordingly read
Now, Mr. President, 10 reference 10 the question which
comes up as whether the Ssnaie ought 10 the
amendments made by The Committee Oh Public Lands, J
hey leave to say simply that the letter which has ns been
read shows that the amendments are utterly unnecessary
iat they do alter the regal force the eject OF the
bii; and they unnecessarily and will only create
ahe ,sy oi sending the bill back to the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES. for ills when the House al
readv have 30 many bills before them to act upon that il
may not pass this session. have to ask The Senate that
they will refuse with the amendments OF the
Committee on Public Lands, and pass the bill without The
Mt UNDERWOOD I am compelled to differ from
my friend from Arkansas. [ Mr. SEgAsrAs Inc acting
Commissioned in that communication, has mol noticed
one OF the anp,dfnts made by the Committee on Pubc
Lands 10 this bill at all; and that Is the amendment
which proposes strike ont that portion OF certain sec
lion OF the bill which provides that the pre- emptor may
be compelled 10 pay for his land until year alter The
passage OF this act -
allow me- will say that when this bill was originally up
Tor that very subject considered be-
tween myself and the senator IRON Michigan, MI
FRLcH1 who was chairman OF the Committee on Public
Lands that time. and obtained prevons letter which
has not been read here but which has been advefed to-
ia which the Commissioner OF the Land Office says that
ha hal
by the chairman oil the Committee on Pubic Lands when
the subect up for discussion before Iha, letter
handed 10 the chairman OF The committee, and is now
upon the 6es OF that committee, in which they recon-.
mend the passage OF the bill as il originally came IRON
the Office which is precisely the same construction that
would be given il by rejecting the amendment 10 which
the senator from kenncky aludes That letter ~ not
now here, but il has been submitted TO the chairman OF
tue Committee Public Llnds, MIR. FEIcH,l who pro-
lessed TO he satisfied with ihe purpod oil II aud be told
that from the evidence given IN that letter, and N
the Just read IN regard TO The amendmeps, he would
withdraw oil opposion 10 the bill Thai accounts ior
the fact that allnsion made 10 that amendment, in
The letter which has been read TO the Senate.
Mr UNDERWOOD. Tha, accounts very well why
he letter not here but does not furnish reason why
the ent should not be adopted proposed by the
committee. Now, sir, had this matter distinctly
and thoroughly considered in the committee, and This
amendment, upon which the present letter entirely
silent, determined by that committee to be an i'm
portaDi amendmen unless yon Intended 10 enter again
upon The system OF selling The public lands upon credit
Yon viii perceive that the effect OF that section, without
the amendment, will be to give twelve months to pay
for the land. which is the Introduction OF an entirely
new feature The committee decided against his and
determined 10 strike out this provision OF the bill be-
cause, If you allow IL 10 stand, IL is introducing ea
tire without precedent, and which may prove dis
advantageous 10 The public interest
am surprised that the acting Commissioner OF Pub
lie lands should have written letter mIaendng
construction 10 be given 10 The bill directly in opposition
10 the recommendations of the Committee on Public
Lands. ! think such construction ought not TO be
sanctioned. If you make this amendment by striking
ont that provision which the committee has recommended
be stricken out, you will prevent the introduction OF a
new feature which is To allow land sales 10 be made
upon credit That sir. is the cfec, OF H. II the bill has
10 90 back you may well conform 10 the other amend
nenis OF the committee which the Commissioner OF
Public Lands Gays are unnecessary Now, that ia the
only recommendation which he gives, that the bill would
be construed without the amendments just il may be
construed with them.
The Committee Public Lands exercised abundance
OF caution in this matter, and they though, II proper
make the amendments so leave doubt in regard TO
H.. am member of that committee, and do not feel
Wiling in the absence oil the chairman, who concuired
with me al the time, 10 dispense with the amendments
upon the evidence OF such letter that particularly
when the writer is silent in regard this second amend
men ot the committee hope. therefore. that my friend
will allow the bill to lie over adopt the amendments
as they To with them think will be The
means of facilitating nnal action upon the bill have
no objections the bill at all, If the amendments are
concured allow IL 10 go TO the House This.
ST. think will be much better than il will be reject
be amendments made by the eomlniiffe
Mr.. SEBASTIAN. | wish 10 say few words in ref
'rence to remarks OF the honorable senator from Ken
lucky lind that the senator has ihr very letter