The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-09


hon from The honorable senator, felt my duty TO rise
and call the attention OF the Senate TO H. hope will
mol only attract our consideration but me consideration
OF The country And IL there those that wish 10 as
sail tas know there are-le them do but hope
that the new States will put mark upon the thai
shall continue any longer TO uphold stem which tends
Cypress and destroy has been heretofore done by
this very policy OF ownership OF the public lands
in the States by the general government The people OF
the States have contributed more 10 proportion 10
The support OF this government than any other people in
the United States. When you come 10 your public
ords and examine the facts recorded in the Land Office
they will show that millions o dollars have come from
the State represent with so small population as no.
600 That money has been paid out by the people OF
Arkansas. and gone into the public treasury, aud been
expended Tor general purposes And now il small por
lion OF the public lands has been specifically appro
praled Tor works OF Improvement within that State,
an oulcry Is raised and II Arkansas has been
more ardent than some other States to get an APP
preparation OF land, the cry is raised that she is
robbing and plunderng; she is told that she wants
to get all the land and will probably do before she Is
satisfied. This Is the process by which we are borne
down, aud 10 be borne down. and II we happen to
incur State debt and credit becomes involved they
who impoverish us turn round and repoach us Tor IT
That is the way we are tainted Now, we unwilling
10 Iepudlae bat we tell you we are unable TO pay Go
and examine our resources and then The amount oil
taxation that have TO bear Look at our exhausted
condition. produced by your own policy. We now tax
ourselves all we are able 10 bear, and we will pay as
soon as we can. But men turn round TO US and say,
You have incurred debt which you have dlshonored
you bankrupt and your State legislature repudiaes
Sir your own policy has everything 10 do with this state
OF things. And now once more call attention to the
words uttered by the senator from Michigan; and hope
that every member from the new States will unite In
that declarations that the time is when this govern
nent shall no more look TO The public lands source
OF national revenue Then shall the States hope TO
be rid OF this load which brushes them beneath its
weight.
Mr.. GWlN | wish TO make inquiry Of the sena-
tor from Wisconsin lMr WALKERl before this bill is
ferred The Committee on Public Lands have had pre-
cisey similar bill for the last three months under
sideraon, and have not reported TO The Senate Now
If tn hnh urrIo ell hat
Ii prefer to let this bill lie the Presidents table, SO
that may be called up for consideration proper time
without delay have not the slightest objection &c it's
reference but ii it is going to remain where the other
bill has been for the last three months, opposed
MIR. WALKER That is most unjust charge against
the committee say it is most unjust charge upon the
committee who have some time since reported the bill
which the senator says they have had under
MI GWIN The homestead bill,
Mr.. WALKER. Yes, sir the homestead bill;
Mr.. GWlN | was no. aware Of the fact. beg the
Mi WALKER think ii is due, and the pardon is
MT: GWIN Why should this bill go 10 the commit
MIR. WALKER. have moved that this bill be taken
up read first and second time, and referred to the Com
mittee Public Lands The bill has passed the House
OF Representatives by large majority, and is sen, to the
Senate Tor It's concurrence propose that the Commit
tee on Public Lands shall take nis bill into considera-
on and agree upon it, shall report back
and recommend its passage instead OF the already
reported
of this kind i'll the Senate then got but for my
pains. And it is perhaps more gratifying to my
feelings than TO those of any other man in America TO
hear the distinguished senator from Michigan, well
as other senators OF this body, in their places ap
pareniy with aydily before the measure is reported
upon, and claim The privilege of casting their vote in
favor OF this policy OF granting lands TO the landless
say am gatltied, and hail II of the best omens
have seen for great while hope the bill will be
referred to the committee. and give my individual as.
surance to the senator from California GMr GwINl that
it 81 all come back very speedily.
Mr.. DODGE, OF Iowa. sappose that by the parlia-
mentary rule which requires banng TO be sent to lis
father TO those who reared it, this should be
referred TO the Committee Public Lands. And pre-
sumo that nobody who has looked at the catalogue
OF members constituting that committee need w3sie time
here IN debating the proposition as TO whether they will
report II back again. Nowhere could this
| safely be trusted than with that committee. Actions
speak louder than words and the fact tina, that committee
has reported homestead bill ia sufficient pledge OF
their action upon this. Nevertheless, pledge myself
to my friend IRON Michigan, at lhe same lime thanking
him Tor his speech that this bill will be reported back
speedily And will say TO him that the committee meets
tomorrow, and believe majority will then agree to
report back with or without amendments, as IN their
judgment II shall be most expedient For myself, pre-
fer TO report II without amendment
Mr.. MASON. The friends of this bill, Mr. President.
those who have arrested its progress 10 the commit
far debate has that effect and they must excuse
me, therefore, Tor mngling IN At want 10 say but a
very few words
when his government should cease 10 derive revenue
from toe public lands | should expect the honorable
TO with that the expression OF the opn
that The day has arrived when this government should
cease 10 become the purchaser OF public land for can
hardly suppose thai 1t would be part OF policy oil
the senator from Michigan 10 expend the public
IN the purchase oil public aads in order give them
TO ans body who Will come and take them have been
impressed with The remark ths, fell from the senator from
Arkansas, lMf JoHSsosl itmay be, and doubtless is,
that the new States in which large body OF public
land Is found, repressed both their population and
Their resources, by the government being land holder
and II may be that would be wIse The part OF the
government, TO modify It's former policy in relation TO
the public lands which treated them a subject oil
enue only. But trust the day has not yet come when
this government is to be the recipient oil property pur-
chased by the whole OF The naon in order distribute
it in classes amongst few lar less that the govern
meni should hold up The public domain understand
this bill proposes TO do 10 individual foreigners 70 come
here from every quarter utterly unacquanted with our
institutions, 10 become tAe owners OF H. cannot imag-
Inc upon what foundation any policy could rest which
would lead this government from year TO year TO put-
chase, Tor millions and tens of millions of dollars, large
domains OF public land in order that il may then give il
TO those who will come and take it. And yet such must
be the result if the senator's policy is carried ont, We
must cease to derive reveaue from The public domain
but continue purchasers in the market say again that
perfectly prepared TO admit that the lime has arrived
when the condition OF country such that may be
necessary 10 modify the policy regard TO the public
lands but would not modify II by purchasing II only 10
be given away
Ihave not malured any views upon this subject, but
is than probable, when this bill up for con-
sderalion, that shall il other gentleman Does offer
substitute for 1t which will take away. mitigate
least the evil complained OF by the States, and yet
not make the public lands the subject OF lagess by the