The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-11

Every principle OF good policy and generosity as well
Justice 70 your cIzens, forbid Il acknowledge the
pausiDiiy OF lhe claim OF the old States portion OF
the proceeds OF sales OF the public lands But sir il
seems 10 me that If The people of those States will re-
nee upon me prvaons and tolls OF the early settlers in
the new States in making the lands valuableif thew
will recoect that these settlers are their children for
The ne Slaes composed OF emigrants from the old
they VIII come to The conclusion 10 which have arrived
that the lands should not be sold speculation. There
y sone'hing aohorrent tolyey generous mind in the
idea OF inns federal government speculang upon the
honesleads oil her ctzensand that class OF her citizens
too VINO nave he strongest claim upon her palernal
gard and fostering care
My opinion upon this subject is formed upon the re
1ectons ana observations OF my life, and am confirmed
IN the correctness oi them when find that they in
accordance with The views aud recommendations of Pres.
ldenl Jackson. That lusous patriot sagacous states
man, and Just man. in his message OF the 4h December
1882, says.
1T seems to me 10 be policy that the public
lands shall cease, praecablc be
and that they be sold settlers limited parcels
at price barely sufficient reimburse the United States
the expense OF The system and the arising
der our Indian compacts"
sThe adventurous and hardy population of the West
besides contributing their equal share of under
impost have In the progress OF government
portion Of $4,000 and Of The evenue there
from but small part has been expended among them.
When the disadvantage of their situation in this res
add the consideration that Is their labor alone which
gives value the lands and that the proceeds arising
from their sale are distributed chiefly among States which
had originally any claim hen and which have
oyed the undivided enloument asDg from the sale of their
own lands it cannot be expected thai the new States will
remain longer conened with the present policy after the
payment oi the public debt To the consequences
which may be from this cause to put an end
forever TO all partial and interested legislation this sub
ect and 10 a rd eve:y American citz enterprise
,be opportunity Of securing an independent freehold ii
a future revenue out OF the public lands"
This statement of facts made by President Jackson in
his annual message les 10 my mind. nnanswerable and
now propose to adopt his Recommendation Twenty years
aft q aa i'm md
in principle il the day read to the two
houses OF Congress shall, at the proper time,
strike out from the enacng clause Of The BILL and insert
the following as substitute:
That all Of the public lands of the United States shall be
subject sale and dollar acre. and any
porton which shall have been in market for five years
upwards, prior TO the time OF application to the
0der the provisions OF this and still remaining unsod
shall be subject 10 ae at the price OF eventyfve
and ali the lands OF the United States that shall
been market for upwards, aforesaid and
still remaining unsod, shall be subject sale fifty
per and all OF the lands OF the United States shall
have been in market for fifteen upwards, afoe
said, and still remaining unsold shall be subject sale
per and all of the lands of the Uni-
ted States shall have been in market for twenty years
and upwards aforesaid, and still aiming unsod shall
be subject sale per and all lands Of the
United States that shall have been in market for twenty
years. more shall be subj sale Ave per
outded This section shall be
tend lands reserved the United States granting
lands States Tor railroad other internal improve
SEC 9 And be further enacted That upon every reduc-
pant and settler UPON the lands shall right pre-
em pton such graduated price upon the terms,
public lands OF the United States subject the
right OF pre- emp,on, until the graduation reduc
shall take place and IL not purchased, shall again
be subject right OF preemption for twelve months be-
ore and from time time, reductions take place
Provided That nothing In this act shall be construed
interfere with any right which has may by
virtue OF any act granting preemption to actual settlers
SIC 10 And be it further enacted That any person p
plying to enter any OF the aforesaid lands under the pro-
visions of the eighth and ninth sections of this act shall be
required make affidavit before the register or receiver OF
proper land office that he the Tor his
cultivation, for the OF adjoining farm psna-
uon owned or occupied by hun or herself and together
ted States the provisions of this Than three
hundred and twenty according the established
sad any s.sy % 2, % eGn % os
be subject all the pains and penalties OF perjury Pro
Uded That any person entded 70 pre-empiion shall be
authorized forty Of the public land include
the dwelling -house, at ten cents per acre.
Mr.. President, in the amendment which ! shall pro-
pose, have preserved the principle set forth in Gen
era Jacksons message III possesses any merit II is due
to his memory, not TO me. The graduation proposed
will certainly reimburse the treasury think II will
rather exceed it, But il is impossible TO arrive any
certainty either TO the amount OF the expenditures
the receipts under a graduation system such as pro.
pose. We know, however that the receipts into the
treasury from the sales OF the public domain amounted
to upwards of one hundred and thuy-one millions OF dol
lars in ls47, and now amount TO near hundred and
forty millions We know, too that the sales of the
lands ceded by the Chckasaws, where alone the grad
nation principle has been tested and the price of the
land reduced twelve and half cents per acre, have
suited in bringing into the treasury alarger than the
sales in the extent OF territory anywhere else have
done Sir the practical operation OF the graduation sys
tenn in the Chckasaw cesson has often been the sublec
OF in both ends OF this Capitol, and until hs
system becomes general and its benehcent influence
made to spread your whole public domain, il vii
continue 10 be adduced triumphant proof that il is h
true principle for the disposition of the public lands
is owing TO this system that the Chick counties
Mississippi have become densely populated Thousand
of men, poor doubt, but happy contented and pros
perous are now scat cred over those counties, who's
bomesteads have them but tiosny dollars For lha
sum OF money they have been enabled to purchase on
hundred and sixty Of landDot rich land il true
having ten or twenty acres OF faI cultvable soil
on which they now supporting their families Searci
the habiiable globe, and defy you to 6nd country
where man is in the enjoyment OF civil and religion
liberty that opens such facilities TO your citizens for be
coming lpeebolders, the Chickasaw counties have TO
many years presented, IN consequence OF the system
graduation IN the price OF those lands.
Sir think my proposition has many advantages owe
the House bill In the frs, place. does no I'M justice Il
any State individual in the United States In the
il does full justice 10 merltorous claes of
and believe, if the of those who intended 4
be benefited by the act taken upon the subject,
large majority OF them would prefer my amendment IN
ginal bill The bill gives the who has no LAM
hundred and sixty acres while his neghbor who b.
his industry may have secured tract OF forty acres,
excluded from it's benefits because he is not landies
man IN the common parlance OF the day. and pa
$3.50 TO increase hs tract to the Of thai of his
fortunate neghbor. Ii is only necessary to state the OBJ
ecion or every one TO its force. Again: the bill
quires the party 10 reside the land for five
years before he become entitled to his patent This
ure OF the bill is very Objectionable to many persons
fully expects occupy continuously Tor years. yet
ia him 10 tax cIOgQed with