The true Democrat., 1854-05-02
Aprqz 10. 1854.

l. Henry Smith, for compensation for certain tract of land at Sitico Oldtown, Tennessee, sold by the Legislature of that State, under misre presentations made to them; which were refer red to the committee on Indian affairs.
 HOUSE OF REFRESHMENTS.
 January 31, 1854. | MT. GREENWOOD, from committee on h. dian affairs, reported back Senate bill {" for the relief of John Fagan," without amendment, and with a recommendation that 1t do pass
 MT. GREENWOOD. 1 believe that such bills necessarily go to the committee of the whole House.
 The Speaker If the bill contains an appro- priation 1t must go to that committee under the rules.
 The bill was then referred to the committee Of the whole House, made the order of the day for tomorrow, and ordered to be printed.
 January 30, 1914. MT. WARREN offered the following resolu- tion; which was read, considered and agreed to-: Reso}ued, That the committee on public lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the pay of the registers of the differ ent land offices.
 Mr. GREENWOOD offered the following resolution; which was read, considered and agreed to-:
 Resozved, That the committee on public lands be instructed to inquire into the justice and pro- prlety of compensating the registers and recei- vers of the general land districts in the United States, for locatio of the public lands, with scrip; and that the said committee report by bill or otherwise.
 February 21 1854. The House met at twelve o'clock, m Pray CT by Rev. Henry Slcer.
 The journal of yesterday was read and ap- proved.
 The Speaker. The question first in order is on the motion to lay on the table the bill ex- tending the provisions of the several laws grant ing bounty lands to the officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States, and to have printed the ac- companying report.
 PERONAL EXPLANATION.
 Mir. WARREN. desire, Mr. Speaker. to make a. personal explanation in reference to the bill now under consideration. The Speaker. Is it the unanimous consent of the House that the gentleman from Arkan- sas shall be heard on the matter to which he alludes?
 There is no objection.
 MT. WARREN. find, by reference to the morning paper that the provisions of this bill, as well as the opinion of the committee touch ing it, have been misunderstood. The con- mittee has been made by the reporters, to op- pose any modification of the bounty land law. That committee has now before it propositions to modify that law, and will report bill or bills to effect th,-t object to some extent
 The bill reported back on yesterday proposes to modify the bounty land law so as to give to each officer and soldier who served in any war of the United States, Withoutregard to the time of service, whether twelve days or twelve months, one hundred and sixty acres of land. The committee thought 1t unequal, and report ed adversely on 1t, after thorough investigation. They did not intend to indicate, however, that they were opposed to any modification of the bounty land law They found, on eXarnina- tlon, that if the provisions of the bill under consideration became law, that almost half of the public lands still remaining in the Union would be disposed of, and that 1t would require ten years for the department to carry them into execution. 1t was therefore that they author lzed me to report ad versely to the bill.
 We are not opposed to change of the bounty land law We disclaim anything of the kind We are in favor of certain modification of that law, and shall so report to the House. We have only decided on the proposition then before us, which was to give to every officer and soldier. without regard to the time or the war in which he may have served, one hundred and sixty acres ot land, thereby placing the officer or sol dler who only served ten days on the same foot ing with the one who served months and years
 February 20, 1854.
 CHANGE OF THE BOUNTY LAND LAW.
 
 MT. WARREN. I am minstructed by the con- mittee on poblc lands to report back House bill (No 56) proposing to change the bounty land laws, with recommendation that it do not pass l am also instructed to report adversely upon twenty-five petitions from the State of Pennsvl- vania, asking for like change in that law with the recommendation that they be laid upon the table.
 l also ask, in behalf of the committee, that a communication from the Secretary of the h. terior upon the same subject may be considered as a part of their report showing, as it does, the reasons which induced the committee to come to the conclusion they have, and that 1t be also laid upon the table and printed
 Mach ?, 1854.
 HOMESTEAD BILL.
 The Chairman. When the committee last lOoC, ht1Nt UlliCI OrUcf of the House, being House bill (No 37,) to encourage agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and all other branches of industry by granting to every man who is the head of family and citizen of the United States homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land out of the public domain, upon condition of occupancy and cultivation of the same for the period herein specified"
 The pending question is upon the motion made by the gentleman from Illinois, Mir. Yates, to strike out the words "quarter sec- tion," and insert in lieu thereof 1920 acres.'' The question was taken, and the amendment was not agreed to-.
 Mr. GREENWOOD. I offer the following amendment: to insert after the word land, l." in the sixth line of the first secton the following: And no location shall be made upon any quarter section of land upon which there is an improvement.
 Mir. Chairman, in moving the amendment which I send to the Clerks table do not de- sire to be understood as entertaining any un- friendly feelings to the bill. On the contrary, l am in favor of it. But while am disposed to favor its passage, am unwilling that the bill shall pass without securing the actual settler