The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-12

ldfgeeses these this
poor boon Of land which belongs OF right 10 the children
that God has planted upon II :
Sir, for these reasons am for the land bill am for
IL as an original measure amendment here now
and forever and IT, sir leave the Senate of the United
States with one single regret II is that this measure,
called for By humanity, by Christianity, by civilization.
book and become law that may be permitted 10 record
my in favor of it, For these reasons and for hum
dreds of others which might gve-a few of which
would give was not already trespassing upon the pa
ience of the honorable senator from South Carolina. who
is anxious to address the Senate am for the measure
Mr.. BUTLER. am satisfied, from the aspects OF the
discussion in connexon with this question, that il is the
duty of Congress 10 itself from temptations TO give
the lands to the States themselves believe that the
temptations held out to politicians and statesmen, and as
prants for national honos have been such to perve
their Judgments; and now declare that would much
prefer 10 vote for bill to cede the lands 10 the States in
which they lie TO having these topics in connexion with
the land system discussed here.
The senator from New Hampshire has said that the
lands belonged to the people Am not of the peo
pie Is not my friend from Georgia. who discussed this
subject with such admirable eoquence of the peo
ple' turn around me, and see every side senators
has mingled the sweat of his brow with the soil upon
which he has raj sed children, forbidden participate
as partner in these lands ] can imagine the case OF
revolutionary soldier who has reared up his family,
ried his sons and daughters, and settled them in small
farms all around him in virtuous community, thus CIV
ing assurance that he is worth something His son is
upon the soil upon which he born 1t is, perhaps.
the wish OF some one OF the TO 30 aud settle upon
The public lands OF the country Who does he meet there
i
common treasure He meets foreigner-sometimes il
not always reeking with crime, who has escaped
rom prison IN England Ireland or Germany and he
foegner tells him. you dare not occupy this soil II be-
longs TO me because am andless. Yes, sir the public
lands will be occupied by foreigners driven from their
homes perhaps by crime, from corrupt city which
pours out ls population upon these lands and viruous
son OF vuous father dare not enter upon them he is
forbidden to do So on the ground that he Is not one OF
the people contemplated by the bill
They say 1t IS 10 the people. When they speak OF the
people, would like 10 know who are the people The
man who mares and has children, who, al the age OF
thirty years. has not had the industry OF
land is to be preferred TO who by the sweat of his
brow has bought himself homestead has earned his
ngh and has the highest tenure TO any land by the high
est OF all services, his industry do say that
an honorable tenantry may not contemplated by the
BILL to some extent be ound tor the lands but this dis
do not say that the bill is intended 10 pander TO the
treme democratic feeling which is pervading the
land but Mr. Webster uttered the truth, and heard
him say it, when he introduced his proposition some
thing OF the same KIND as this; Sir Is necessary 10
have such proposition that kind, TO absolutely
us from the overwhelming inundations of the emigration
coming into our cites-to enice them off and lei them
dlhuse themselves upon our public lands That is the
class of population tina, will take your lands You may
paint your peasantry your yeomanry! the gentleman's
rhetoric may plant colonies do not say that there may
not be very many viruous settlers upon these lands bul
why make the discrimination that every shall
that he owns no land before he shall take any The
very fact that he has any title TO lands by his industry
is TO exclude him from them.
i did not rise, however TO al length into this discus
son but when these topics poured in this way it.
is impossible TO sit quietly here and hear them And
will move, if nobody else does, TO cede the lands to the
different States, and believe that the State of California
would not take them She would much rather let the
United States have the management of them.
i Mr. WELLER. California certainly will take them
Mr. BUTLER. do not intend to trespass further upon
the Senate am willing TO take vote upon the ques-
ton give notice, however that intend to discuss this
subject when comes up, and intend to discuss it freely
Mr. RUSK. The senator from South Carolina has lost
his speech because there is no proposition OF that sort
/ Mr. BUTLER. Allow me TO say was not talking OF
The BILL but of some Of the abomnable doctrines advanced
I in xion with it,
Mr. RUSK. | understand that the senator was taking
crack AT the world IN general but not the be-
fore because this amendment is give land all the
world and the balance OF mankind-those that own land
and those that do not-it makes discrimination al all
But not for the purpose of referring the
OF the senator from South Carolina but for the purpose
OF suggesting TO the honorable senator from Wisconsin
asligh notification by inserting where he has named one
railroad, one or more railroads, and TO add
said route or routes road or roads herein provided for
among those surveyed having due regard expense cr
grades intercourse commerce military defence and the
| protection oil the whole county"
| believe cannot move that amendment but 1 hone
the senator from Wisconsin will accept it.
/ Mr.. WALKER will do il cheerfully
/ Mr CHASE desire TO say few words upon the
subject OF that amendment before the is taken The
amendment reported from the Committee on Roads and
Canals provides for survey in the mode known in the
operations OF the government and TO which there is no
constitutional or sectional objection of any kind. II is
ee them from all reasonable objection in itself II is
the very thing for which senators, friendly TO the road
on all sides OF The chamber have proessed their read-
ness TO vote II they could get their fayore project
of railroad bill itself Well, sir, to this amendme Mt
entirely unobectonsbe and reported under The sanction
OF committee OF the Senate amendment is now pro-
posed by the senator from Wisconsin, [Mr WALKER,l
which varies materially from the original amendment
There is not object secured by the amendment which
II is proposed TO adopt which is secured well,
and in my judgment much better, by the amendment
ported from The committee excep, be this plan OF grant
ing the public lands along the line OF the road.
Before coming TO that point, however, let point out
difference IN respect 10 the survey itself The amend
ment OF the committee provides that competent force
shall be detailed from the corps OF Typographical engi-
nees and that in addition, there shall be employed such
civil engineers as will make the performance oi the
tire work certain The amendment proposed by the SEN
ator from Wisconsin condes the whole work the corps
Of typographical engineers That is one objection to IL
In ether respects relating TO the surveys OF the route
think the amendment proposed by the senator from Wis.
consn Is by no good tha, reported from the
Committee on Roads and Canals. That being the case
what ~ there which should recommend that amendme mt
Nothing the world unless the provision that seventy
two miles width OF land shall be appropriated along the
whole line OF this road, onebalf be given to actual
settlers. and the other half to be retained by the govern
ment for the construction OF the road
My friend from Wisconsin has very well said that this
bill has very few OF the features OF the homestead bill
IN IT, There not single guard upon the grant OF these
lands Why, cir, the feature OF the homestead bill
which most recommends il 10 the acceptance OF the com
muny, is that grants lands to the landess-ha IT pro-
vIdes lands TO those who have lands But this bill
opens strip of land birtysix miles wide throughout
the whole eypanse OF your territory, from the valley OF
the Mississippi TO the Pacific ocean, and invites all who