The daily union., 1854-02-24

blood and by our ,reasure We have. by our
blood labor and treasure purchased all 'hs and ana ter
Iitory belonging 10 US ali and, IN me distributor OF
this land the citizens of the whole States and OF the
Territories ought TO be consulted
Mr. Chairman, return my thanks TO the committee
for ihe courtesy aud kindness with which thsy have ls
tened 10 my extended remarks l had no intention OF
lfespassing their time to-day, aud therefore had not
prepared myself with notes indeed, did not know that
should be able 10 the floor 10 speak the sub
lect and was not that coad obtain Il now,
Ill two minutes before rose 10 address you But. lest
might have another opportunity OF addressing the
committee on The subject, was disposed 10 give them
small sprnkling OF speech, and hope they have got
enough OF II TO make them pause and consider well be-
lore they act on the important questions concerning the
disposition OF the public lands.
Mr. GROW said the best disposition that can be made
OF the public lands is in the manner proposed in the bill
now pending The gentleman who had just taken his
seat objected TO the bill on the ground that an invitation
would be extended to the paupeFs OF the Old World TO
h,her and parlake OF It's generous provisions He
would ask the gentleman and every other who opposes
the bill whether il is not better, the population OF the
Old World will find home here. to fasen them TO an in
terest stronger than the oath OF allegiance
Blu, few desert the land OF their fathers and the
home of their childhood from choice Most OF them
driven hher BY dire necessity These men, he repeated
these good ciuzens, instead OF having them
themselves and the cities in which they may locate
He stated various why the bill should be pass
ed and contended that lis effect would not only be TO
increase The wealth Of the country but 10 expand The
blessings OF country and OF home and strengthen the de-
FENCES OF tne Union. lie argued thal Tue pubc !aDu
should longer be source of revenue TO the govern
ment
Mr.. SMITH. of Virginia. Mr. Chairman. had not
and d as the gentleman % from Georgia Mr. Dasrl SAID Il
makes much difference: But really desire 10 call he
objections TO this bill which obvious to my mind,
and which, trust. will be considered entitled TO some
| conside ration.
In the first place. wish i, to be understood that to-
tally deny the right power OF this government to give
away ,he common property OF The Union There ls no
proposition SO clear 70 my mind as that there is no right
power the part Of this government 10 make gra
tuious donation o any part OF The public property 10 a
portion OF the people of this Union do not intend TO
dwell upon this branch OF the subject, but ask gentle
men by what process OF reasoning they cona 70 The con
cuson that this government has right 10 give land to
the poor TO the rich man and al The same tune has
right to give money ou OF the public treasury There
now twenty odd millions OF dollars IN the treasury
Have we tight 10 give away Tia, money 70 those who
by this 10 give millions Of aess
the public domain those who choose 10 occupy It,
Bat that not all This bill proposes to give to for,
eigners just arrived iii the country the right TO 90 and
settle on these lands The foreigner who lands IN New
York to-day would have The right that American
citizen would have 10 60 and take possession OF portion
MIR. DAwsoN,l who introduced this BILL when that OBJ
jecon made by the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr.
DENT said that the dement's OF The bill were intended to
be confined 10 those in the country put it to his
candor, if the principle OF the bill does not equally in
clgSe al WhS nay hs;eaisr Ns afvs ,..
to me, and will answer him at II he desires it.
Mr.. SMITH. The gentleman will have an opportunity
of answering me- and beg him to do Il. The rishman
or German who arrived to-day would have the right; the
lrishman German who arrived Tomorrow would not
have the right Upon what principle OF discrimination
can the gentleman make the distinction which is involved
cannot. tor the life Of me- see H.
But the bill is most lnanesy unjust in other respects.
II actually gives TO the wealthy portion of the people Of
this country The same right thai il gives to the poor.
When | heard gentlemen speak OF The great benefits
which the bill to confer upon The poor and the des
ute supposed, OF course, that lis provisions were
fined 10 them. But not so; the wealttiest portion OF the
people OF country would have the right, under
this bill TO 20 and occapy one hundred and sixty
OF the public lands the humble, and poorest should
like TO know on what principle that is ialr. ! cannot
see it.
Again Look at the operation OF this bill | know
that it is great bill for the West, and do not blame
western gentlemen II they reconcile their
10 the constitutional objection, ior voting Tor It. man
in the West, with four hardy sons il this bill becomes
law, takes the benefit OF lis provisions, and perhaps To-
Gates the very land around the ecnoo house for which
he intended laying out his money. Under the bill the
whole public land will be occupied by western men
Every body sees the operation OF H. There Is mol gen
teman from The West who does not know that 10 be It's
immediate operation. Take my districts | represent the
adjoining town OF Alexandria What chance have my
constituents TO locate land around your schoohouses
the settlements of the West, when The sons the
hardy sons OF the actual settlers, ready 10 pounce
i Long before any that represent, any represented
by eastern men, reach tbere the valuable portion of
the land will have been located by those who there,
and who have none. But, whether they have land or
not, il makes difference; for a with thousand
has the right locate hundred and sixty
alongside OF the poorest Is that jus, and eqnal
ask this committee whether il can perpetrae such
outragel
That is no, all The operation OF this bill should be
just and equal We have millions OF mechanics through
the and extent, throughout The south
ern portion Of this Unon engaged IN the varcas branches
of industrial pursuits. What chance have they to get
homeseadsi put the question. | go TO Pennsylva-
na-men who are engaged in TIE iron business go 10
the workshops OF tbs Eashose for the construction of
machinery go to the town OF Alexandra, where there
number OF workshops, and ask what chance
have those mechanics 10 enjoy the benefits OF this bill
They are told that they may pull up their stakes and
10 the West But they cannot prosecute their trade out
there They cannot squat hundred and sixty
each, and act up machine shops. No, SIR their very
cupation shuts them out from the enjoyment of This
property, thought may be that every Saturday night
when they receive their pay, the actual family OBJ
legations demand The appropriation OF every cent OF IT,
ls there equality in ths No; ii is gross, outrageous
inequality and am only asonished TO many
here engaged in advocating this bill, disegarling the
constitutional objection when it's necessary oper alton is
90 evidently unjust
But this bill has most extraordinary features Ii
tualy provides that the property thus acquired sha
be responsible for debt man may incur obligations,
but you canno, get hold Of him. Not even that you
subject to the tax gaberer The tax that is
assessed on these very lands cannot be collected The
COMMITTEES will readily this objection
Another thing There as it IS well known, very
large portion OF those who reside in the Atlantic States
poor. and live from hand to mouth, and yet who live
we'll. How they to get TO the West, aud where the
public land is The wealthy will easily he able 10 send
number OF persons to occupy these sections under
arrangement. BY which they will accumulate in their