Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
BOUNTY LAND TO OLD SOLDIERS.

In the SENATE, on Wednesday, the Goth of July
when the Substitute of Mr.. HUNTER to the Home
stead Bill was pending, the following proceeding
G4ssk place-seeming to indicate disposition OF
The part of the Senate to provide for the veterans
1t the next session
Mr. BRODHEAD said that, as he had not occupied any
al the of the Senate during the protracted de
bate and consideration of the Homestead BILL he begged
gov trespass upon it for two minutes and half
Hring to notice very important amendment am sure
fsad he) il is an amendment which will commend itself
the favorable consideration only of the friends
INT of the opponents of the substitute The sections
st considered and well matured They extend the pro-
visions Of the bounty land laws give to all who
nave rendered military service since 1890 hundred
d sixty acres of land in other words to give TO the
soldiers Of the of 1872 hundred and sixty acres
the same as those who served in the Mexican war.
could say much in favor Of this bill but know the i'm
patience of the Senate to get the substitute OF
tie Senator from Virginia, and therefore shall for
oesr We about to adopt important policy in
respect to the public lands; about TO make an
Important concession to the States and, in doing
60 wish to render justice to the old soldiers who
cannot go out and take advantage of the provisions of
this BILL therefore move to amend the substitute OF
the honorable Senator from Virginia by adding to it four
additional sections as follows:
Sec. And be further enacted That each of the survv-
ing commissioned and noncommssioned officers musicians,
and rivates either of regulars volunteers, or mill
- who were regularly mustered into the service OF the Unit
cd States and every officer commissioned and Ioncomns-
stoned seaman ordinary marine clerk and lands
IN tho Of the in which this country
ls been engaged since $780, survivors of the
militia or volunteers of tho Sae oop Of any State or Ter
ry called into the military service and regularly muster
ed therein and whose services have been paid United
ate subsequent to the 18th of June 1872 shall be entitled
20 and receive certificate warrant from the Department
81 the interior for hundred and sixty of and
e- any Of those who have served shall have received
certificate warrant, he shall be entitled certificate
1sarant for such quantity of land will make with what he
nay have heretofore received hundred and sixty
10 each such person having served as aforesaid.
See. Ind be farther esacted That Of the death
~ any persoa who If living would be entitled to certificate
aforesaid. under this leaving widow, or
I widow minor child or children such widow or, no
idow, such minor child children shall be entitled TO re-
ye certificate for the quantity Of land
chat such deceased would be entitled receive under the
provisions of this act if living Prorided That sub
,quent marriage Shall not impair the right of any such
Fidow 70 such if she be widow during the time Ct
making her application and at the date Of such warrant
Sec = And be hJarter enacted That in shall any
such certificate be su for any less than
ary days unless the party claiming such certificate
at shall establish his right thereto by record evidence Of
4Eeh service, or by two crrdib. witnesses.
Sec. = AHd be Il FURTHER enacted, That said certificates
may be assigned tran srred or located By the
arantee the heirs aaw according the pr visions of
existing laws regulating the assignment transfer and To-
ssaaon O. bounty land warrants.
Mr, BRODHEAD. | beg to add one more remark.
9seve this will add strength TO tue substitute Of the Sem
dtor from Virginia 1t will do justice to a meritorous
ass Of citizens in the old States who cannot be benefited
ny the provisions of the substitute couflent it
WIN OOSlruct passage al the Dill.
raodiy it, however BY striking out thirty and insert
fng twenty days believe there are twenty thousand
persons in the State Of Pennsylvania interested in this
amendment and the proportonin all the old States
&ud in a the States in which there was much Indian
fighting hope, therefore, the honorable Senator from
Virginia will agree to it, and shall ali then be salts
ast and take the substitute he has offered.
Dir, HuHihR nope that my friend from Pennsyl
wanna Wi! not insist upon putting his amendment III the
substitute which have offered. DO not rise to oppose
The policy Of that amendment as separate
Ii counexon with some other bill; but afraid the
eject Of putting il here would be to introduce another
bass Of subjects and should not have time enough to
4egsate upon them should be glad If he would with
gtg.w J. at this time AMI offer il again.
Mr. BR0DHGAD. have just this remark to make
introduced this BILL similar one at the opcnag Of
this Congress pressed it during the last Congress
rpt, SIR il seems that get action upon il as an
original proposition because it be considered by the
proper committee. referred it, matter of course
20 the Committee on Public Lands and they have
ported it back to this day consider this the proper
place FOR it. 1t is gerrnnrc amendment 1t VIII
obsruct the passage interfere with the provisions
the substitutes and therefore must decline to comply
with the request Of the honorable and distinguished SEN
ator from Virginia.
Mr. BAYARD The substitute Of the honorable sena-
froa Virginia understand is now before the Sc
@at ana motion is made by the Senator from Pennsyl-
%aala to amend it. have ye. heard nothing in expana-
Lon of the substitute. wish to hear something said
about 1t, and wish to hear it because have read il
Nth attention. and confess that in my opuion although
there portions Of it which cordially agree TO- il en-
bodies worse provisions than those of the original BILL
would rather vote for the original bill than for the sbst
&nte when have heard the explanation Of the honor.
able Senator who has offered it perhaps my views may
change. But the hour is now late and without q due
explanation OF II am not prepared to act beg to say
That the honorable Senator has introduced into il MOI
only tAe homestead BILL but the presumption principle
as regards the States and grants Of lands the beneh
OF railroads. and the graduation system. All these dis
Gnct principles for the disposition of the public lands
are introduced into the substitute offered by the Senator
rom Virginia To some of them agree; to the home
stead prime pie which he has recognised in the bill an
Utterly opposed and shall endeayor show with grea
respect to the honorable Senator that, think con
fstenty With his principles he ought to have
Introduced such clause into the bill that j. is nothing
1ore than an Illusion. do not mean to 20 into it now
out think can show clearly that it is nothing more
than On Illusion, and that any who holds as do
that the Government of the United States has no right
give away the public lands must hold that it is but
AA':ulpt to cover up gift under a nominal SALE Tha
us eAect Sir am opposed to all indirecton in these
Fh2efs II the principle of giving the land is to be es
N9bhshed ~ the United States give it; do not palte
ABOUT the matter by asking twelve and half cents nj
acre IL Is valuable land Give it absolutely, if yoi
choose TO give But we have time now to consider it
Inc honorable Senator from Virginia is gentleman
great ability, and have no doubt he has candidy nro
posed the substitute with view to the settlement Of THU
question should Ike TO hear his explanation for
confess think the substitute is confused and Obscure
and, taken altogether, much worse than the original
Mr.. HAMLIN l ask the snator from pennsvIvon;o =.
modify his amendment SO as to add. after the worI
days, in section third, the words or when tho nor
son shall actually have been in battle" The section nov
provides that the shall issue to those who
ed twenty days. If my modification be accented viii
include those who actually engaged in battle IA wei
as those who not in battle, but were in the seryc
twenty days One days fighting is equal to twenty days