Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-23

would have voted for it cheerfuy separate and indie
pendent proposition not embarrassing this bill.
i Mr.. PRATT Mr.. President, however willing gentle
men may express themselves be to vote for the amend
ment of the Senator from Pennsyvonia as an ndepen
dent proposition let say that the adoption Of this bill
deprves them of the power of doing Senator'S cannot
get rid Of the responsibility Of refusing to the old soldiers
land which they giving freely to foreign immigrants
to induce them to and settle amongst us, the
ground that the old soldiers get the land by an indie
pendent proposition or amendment.
\ Mr.. WALKER. They can get it under this bill
Mr. PRATT. say they cannot get it under this bill.
There is the difference Of opinion between say the
bill substitute Of the Senator from Virginia gives to the
States the whole power taking the land as
if may be permitted to word coined by the bill it.
self. speak of it the bill, because presume, from
present Indications that it will be adopted and become
the bill 1t gives the States the right to take the whole
of the public land within their limits pre- emptors 1t
gives the States Immediately the power to take them at
the price named in the BILL to sell them for whatever
they think proper to fix their priceone dollar or
quarter dollar acre, whatever price they please
They may take the whole of the public lands within their
limits and then they sell them for what they please
When do that how have you power to give one nun
dred aud sixty of land to the old soldiers
| Mr.. WALKER rise to question OF order. Has not
| that amendment been decided
The PRESIDING OFFICER, (AIr. BADGER in the chair
The question has been decided and the Senator from Ala
bama is entitled to the floor but these remarks have been
INDUCED in by general consent They cannot proceed
there be objection.
| Mr.. WALKER. l object. s.
MIR. DUUGLAS. LII be SatlSne1 that the SeHator
from Maryland and other Senators-
Mr. PRATT If is not in order for me to discuss the
question, is it in order for any else to do SO?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. IL is certainly not in or
der If objected to- ~.
Mr.. DOUGLAS Isupposed the Senator had got through
Mr.. PRATT. was called to order for discussing the
very question which the Senator is proceeding to discuss
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection being made,
this explanation cannot 60 The Senator from Alaba
ma is entitled TO the floor.
Mr. FITZPATRICK. have not participated in the
discussion of this but viii say that the sub
stute of the Senator from Virginia commends itself
my favorable consideration and shall for it with
great deal of pleasure 1t falls short however, in not
providing for class Of lands in several of the States
which think should be provided for My object in rising
is to offer an amendment to meet that difficulty. The
amendment, it stands, graduates the land down to
twenty years Now In many the States land has been
in market for thirty years or perhaps forty years Such
know to be the condition of large portion of the lands
in my State The fact that the land has been in market
for such length Of time is conclusive evidence that it
will not sell at the graduated price fixed in the
amendment for such land, which is twenty five cents
acre. wish TO ofer amendment graduating the price
Of land which has been in market thirty years to
twelve and half cents therefore move to
amend the first section of the amendment Of the Senator
from Virginia by inserting at the end Of his scheme Of
graduation the words ...
And all lands which shall have been offered at public sale
and shall remain unsol thirty years thereafter shall be
duced to price ef twelve and hall cents acre"
Mr.. DOUGLAS. shall vote for that amendment. l
perfectly as III Is UanlfeSty
perhaps it requires no explanation would cheer
fully and gladly have voted for the amendment which was
voted down short time since if those who were for
putting it would for the bill with on but when
saw all the enemies Of the bill combining to force it on
with the view Of defeating the BILL and the amendment
with it. did not choose to give vote which would ac
compsh that object If those who voted put that
amendment will up and sustain the bill when it is
put on, will cheerfuy to reconsider and put it
and then help pass the bill when it is on have
no doubt 1t will find its supporters then among those who
are advocating the bill and voted against the amendment
with one or two ezceptols but those who voted to put
ut on Il except the of the amendment dill So as
believe, to kin the whole bill. "., ~"
Mr.. BRODHEAD. beg to say to my honorable friend
from Illinois that prior TO ofering the amendment de-
cared myself in favor CT the substitute Of the honorable
Senator from Virginia. and offered the amendment in
geod faith, and not as q hostile proposition 49,
MI. DOUGLAS. For that reason excepted the Sena-
| Mr.. PRATT The honorable Senator from Illinois
does not take the ground which was taken by other scna
tors that they would have voted for the amendment
an independent proposition. lie see that the adou-
ton Of the substitute Of the Senator from Virginia and
the bill as thus amended, will take from the legislation
OF the country the power to adopt it independent
pFoPoson because will take away the subectmatter
upon which it is to operate. All the land will be dis
posed or and you will have land to give to the Old
soldiers
. Mr. DOUGLAS. Let me refer the Senator to the fact
that leaves Observation-Disclosures of all the public lands
those which are in tie Territories Of the United States
untouched upon which you locate the lands of the
old soldiers There are the lands in Kansas Nebraska
Hlnnesota, Washington, Oregon Utah, and New Mexico
| upon which you can locate them.
Mr.. PRATT. Then, any rate, it confines the priv-
ese of the old soldier the Territories while gives the
privilege TO that class of people Of whom have spoken
not only to the best lands in the Territories but
take the choice lands in the States where they pro-
ected by the State laws and surrounded by civilization
lhat is the distinction between them. 1t is discrmi-
nation made against the soldier by the passage of this
Dill, and yeu remedy it afterwards by bringing
Forward an independent proposition. That is the view
which desire to express The Senator from Illinois has
not taken that ground but his position is that if those
whs favor the amendment of the Senator from Pennsyl-
vana would be in favor Of the bill after should be thus
amended, he would go with them but nasmuch as he
that they would be opposed to the bill even it
be amended, he goes against it. ~.
Well, sir what that may have do with the question
in the opinion of the soldiers who have fought the bat
ties of the country do not know How Senators will
reconcile it to themselves | cannot see How can the
friends of the bill reconcile it themselves if they are
in favor Of the proposition of the Senator from Pennsy-
vana to vote against it when they have manfesty the
power to put on The Senator from Pennsylvania who
offered it says he will for the bill if it be put on
The friends Of the bill will therefore gain one vote by put
ting it They have power to give this land the old
soldiers and they do not endanger the bill by putting it
there, because they get at least friend by doing
and has indicated that the bill would be more OBJ
jectionable by putting the proposition On the con-
trsry, the friends of the bill that if this were
independent proposition they would go for it, Now
sir want to bring them to the test Of sincerity upon
this question The friends of the bill announced that
they would 20 for the amendment of the Senator from
Pennsylvania if it an independent proposition Here
there ia at least Of its enemies who has offered
proposition, who says he viii go for the bill if it be
adopted. ..a....
Mr. DOUGLAS. The honorable Senator from MARYLAND
says he wants to test sincerity He comprehend