The daily union., 1854-02-15
Commissioner OF the General Land Office on the sub.

Commissioner OF the General Land Office on the sub.
Mr. JOHNSON. will state that there is material
distinction upon that point
Mr. HAhiLlN. ask the senator from Iowa frankly
anu Distinctly 70 giye ma ms own construction Al he IS
Mr. JOHNSON. He has given it,
Mr.. HAMiiN. No, sir; should be very glad If the
senator from iewa would state distinctly what IS his
Mr.. JOHNSON. As the gentleman from Iowa does
not seem disposed TO answer will state, not by asking
tue permission OF tho gentleman from Maine, but oil my
own fighi, wha! my own construction is. The gentle
man has asked for the construction of the provision and
VIII slate what my impression Is. | have a right 10
think lor myself upon this floor. and shall exercise
that right II NOT in the manner in which ne puts it
here al all thai will consider it, that have spoken
o. H. Will answer for myself with reference 10 the
question which he puts Tie question Are not the
whole Of the lands granted whether in part Of the
road or another, appropriated Ia the whole road say
yes, u is true | never said no.
bul, SIR. there another thing regard 10 that point
which is rendered clear by the bill itself There is a
provision IN this bill called the JAMES H. ORR provision,
which the House Of Representatives the last
inserted into all these bills Ii is just, and rghttul.
and wise restriction, and il has been adopted by tho
Committee on Public Lands of both houses OF this Con-
gress That provision which says that though you
may make grants Tor million OF miles ii you choose,
you shall sell land only to the extent OF twenty miles
al time. say the construction 10 be given that pro-
vision s that you shall be permitted to sell lands lying
along the twenty miles VI the road which have been put
under contract and any other strip OF twenty miles until
that portion OF the road is constructed Ii you
work upon any part OF The road where there pub
lie lands upon either side, you may sell all your right
upon either side OF the twenty miles; but you go
10 another twenty miles at distance, where there
public lands aud sell that part say that, after you
have commenced one section of tweny miles, you
sell The lands lying each side OF il but you 90
where else 10 sell lands until you have gone with
twenty miles more OF tbe road.
There Is however, wide difference between that and
tue question whether or not appropriation which IS
made for the construction OF The whole road shall be
gwen only TO that part OF It where the public lands lie,
has lnd N iha ppla
whole grant oil land made unquestlonaby goes Tor the
whole road in the end provided the whole road be
sracied II there is more and granted than will actually
secure the building OF the road-lnd that cannot be pre-
tended IN any caseit will be held by The State, appro
praed by the State she may choose But you express-
y say when you pass the bill, that the State shall not
appropriate the grants made by Congress, for specific
object other way than TO carry ou, the express de
sign oil the bill, which the building of the
road, There is the material distinction.
But will not stand misconstrued upon this matter. LII
the gentleman makes his construction OF The
bill and attempt to SET him right in il, will not al
low myself To be msconslfued by questions and an
between that gentleman and another upon this oor
Nor will lose my chance when have a right TO come
forward and set myself night, though my opinion may
MOI be OF equal value with that OF the chairman OF the
committee.
Mr. HAMLlN. | desire to assure the senator from
Arkansas that did MOI mean 10 mlsconstrue him.
K slr JOHNSON. Bat you refused to lei me answer
when the question asked
Mr. HAMLlN. | desire only TO state that | wanted
the opinion o the chairman OF the committee. We had
the OF The senator from Arkansas already
tie bad slated with his usual ankness, what his opin
ION was. l did not misunderstood him. understood
hun then as understand him ! wanted also the
opinion OF The chairman aud that the only
why asked Tor IT, IL had other in the world
Mr.. BAYARD Mr. President, have some doubts in
rrxasd TO Poson at the provisions OF this bull rnde-
pendent OF my general objections TO IT, and shall there
fore move lis poslponement. The bill was reported by
The Committee Public Lands the 3oh OF January,
bat some seven days ago. II is bill which contd ms
many mpo tsn provisions. IL seems TO me, If construe
the language correctly, TO contain provisions which
departure from the principle which such bills this
originally Introduced and passed by Congress and
upon that ground ia order that mey have opporu
nifty TO compare Il with those bills, ask Tor the post
ponement IL has been but seven days N the Senate II
involves matters OF considerable moment, and suppose
is mol to be rushed through by the force of numbers
without giving The possibility Of making the com
parison which desire 10 make unless it be indeed the
doctrine that where appropriations OF money of land
to purchase whele communities are proposed must
submit that the further consideration OF The bill
be postponed until the day after Tomorrow.
MIR. STUART hope the bill will not be postponed
I'LL that time The senator move adlournmen at,
aud this bill will then come up tomorrow the
finished business.
MI BAYARD. The Nebraska bill will come up TO-
morrow but The Ssnale do il pleases in regard
10 The matter.
Mr.. CASS I move that the Senate do now djourn.
The motion agreed TO, and
The Senate adjourned.