New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-28
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, Thursday, July

1a WASHINGTON, Thursday, July 20.
SENATE.-Mr. Stuart introduced joint re-
solution confirming certain locations Of military
land warrants in Michigan. Considered and
passed
Mr. Hunter moved to take up the Civil and
Diplomatic bill ~ (
Mr.. Gwin said that it was for the Senate to
decide whether the Homestead bill was to be
passed now or postponed till the next session.
Let q vote be taken on that issue.
Mr.. Walker said he was satisfied that the
Homestead bill, as it came from the House,
could not pass the Senate. He proposed that
the Senate take up that bill and vote on the
several proposed substitutes. This could be
done in a few minutes.
Mr.. Clay said he hoped that course would be
adopted. 5E F&
Mr.. Hunter then withdrew his motion.
The Texas Debt bill was then taken up.
Messrs Bell, Benjamin, Mason and Toucey
debated the bill, and it was then postponed.
The Homestead was then taken up The
question pending was on Mr. Mason's amend
ment that nothing contained in the act shall
apply to any public lands lying north west of
the Ohio River, ceded to the United States by
Virginia, as a common for general use.
Mr.. Mason supported the amendment, and
Mr.. Badger opposed it. s
Mr.. Toucey supported the amendment, and
opposed the whole bill. He did not think that
it ever could become law. He was opposed to
gifts Of the public lands, and was in favor Of q
graduation of the price of them.
Mr.. Bayard followed, showing how impossible
it was to properly consider the bill during this
session, and how much other important business
would be delayed by its further consideration
now. He said the friends of the bill, who pro-
fessed to be philanthropists, ought not to com
pei any Christian gentleman to debate this
measure in such weather as this He believed,
moreover, that if the bill passes the Senate as it
passed the House, it would never receive the ap.
proval of the President. By next winter, Con-
gress could mature a well regulated system for
| the public lands. He moved that the bill be
| postponed until the second Monday in Decem-
ber next, and that it be the special order fo1
| that day. &@
| A long debate then ensued on postponing the
bill.
Mr.. Hamlin, though opposed to the bill, wal
also opposed to the postponing. He wanted tx
get rid of the subject to-day.
! Mr.. Douglas urged the friends of the bill tx
stand firm and sit it out tonight. ts
Mr.. Clay was opposed to postponing, in tn,
hopes of getting some good land bill to- day.
The question was then taken, and the Senate
refused to postpone. Yeas "a, nays 80.
The question was then taken on Mr. Mason
amendment, and it was rejected. Yeas II
nays 33. .....=
Mr.. Brown moved as substitute for the bill
one granting to actual settlers pre-emptiol
right to purchase at any time within ten year
after actual occupation, half the section of land
| upon the payment therefor price varyin
| from twelve and half cents to one dollar pc
acre, according to the time the land has beel
| in the market.
Mr.. Pratt said the substitute was worse thai
the original bill. 1t gave credit for the pur
| oil tbaf fba o1o,,,
would be incessant for a release from it.
The substitute was then rejected Yeas 16
nays 32
Mr.. Bell moved, as an amendment, that ever,
free whiteman citizen, who is not a freeholde
or the owner of a leasehold, who may not desir
to settle upon said land, there shall be issue
land scrip for 160 acres of land, which shall b
assignable, the assignee receiving it under th
requirement to cultivate, etc.
Mr.. Geyer asked if the person purchasing tn
scrip was bound to occupy and cultivate th
land for five years, where would be its value
Any man wanting land could get it without th
scrip. m@s
Messrs. Dawson and Dixon supported th
amendment, and Messrs. Houston and Rusk OF
posed it. ..~
It was then rejected Yeas y, nays 35
Mr.. Clayton moved that the bill be laid o
the table. Yeas is, nays So.
| MIR. BELL OHereQ 0tner amendments, all
which were voted down
any one erecting habitable dwelling house Q
any vacant quarter section of the public LIANT
and occupying the same for five years, shall |
entitled to receive patent therefor.
After considerable debate, this was las
Yeas 10, nays 81,
Mr. Hunter moved a substitute for the bill
extending presumption rights to actual settler
the same to be paid for at prices graduated fro
o dollar and twenty five cents to twenty fly
cents per acre; also, allowing the States
which the lands lie to take it at the graduate
. prices for the purposes of internal improy
ments, when sanctioned by legislative enac
: ment of the said States.
] Mr.. Cass said there was no hope of hurryin
the original bill. He would therefore go fl
the next best proposition, this substitute.
Mr.. Bright took similar views, and supportt
the substitute.
: Mr.. Gwin moved to amend the substitut
that pre-emption settlers take lands in Galifo
' MIA at one dollar per acre. Agreed to.
Mr.. Brodhead moved to amend the substitu
by adding thereto his bill granting to all pc
sons who may have served in the military Sc
+ vice of the United States from the wars of Il
revolution down to the present time, one hui
dred and sixty acres of land, or so much in a
. dition to what they may have received as wi
: amount to one hundred and sixty acres.
y Mr.. Cass said he would have voted for Il
amendment just rejected, if offered as an ind
pendent proposition or to any other bill.
Messrs. Bright, johnson and others said th
were in favor of it, but could not vote to Alta
it to this bill.
Mr.. Pratt said the friends of the bill cou
not escape the fact, that they had voted down
: proposition to give land to the old soldiers.
x Mr. Douglas said he voted against it, becau
the enemies of the bill had endeavored to alta
= it to the BILL in order to defeat both propo
J, tions.
: At Al o'clock, Mr., Bayard moved an adjour
r ment. Lost-yeas %; nays 20.
Mr., Fitzpatrick moved to reduce the price
: the lands which have been in market thr
e years, to twelve and half cents. Agreed to
: yeas 27; nays 19.
8. Debate then continued until s o'clock.
Mr.. Badger said the day was most oppressi'
: ly hot, though, at any other season Of the ye'
D he would be willing to sit to any hour, but Sc
: ators should remember that in many parts
the country the cholera was prevailing to
: great extent; so, to continue this protrac
session, was, to say the least, most dangero
= He moved the Senate adjourn. Lost--yeas
nays 25.
: Mr.. Bayard addressed the Senate in oppC
IL tion to the substitute. &. ,z..5= ,z--
, Mr.. Pratt said he was authorized to say,
,e several opponents of the bill, that an adjou
ment took place now, all opposition to vote
: the bill would be withdrawn tomorrow q
t, o'clock He moved for an adjournment.
Mr.. Bayard said he would be party tc
a sueh arranoement He then moved to at,