The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-09
~. public Lands-The Bill OF Hon Linn
BOYD.

( The disposition and management OF the pubnc lands
"a always been question Of primary importance, and
4. greatest minds OF our country have been directed 10
~ pbiec for many years past 10 view OF The new order
. ,bpgs and The necessity for improvements upon the
"A svstem many projects have been introduced, and
,ssd and advocated with much energy and talent One
bese plans has been repeatedly endorsed by the nation
pouse Of Representaveswe allude, OF course, TO the
baed homestead BILL ably advocated for years past
, Congress by Hon. Andrew Johnson. OF Tennessee. and
s present session by Hon John L. Dawsoa, oil Penn
l,ania Other considerations plead strongly in favor OF
adea change in our land system The growing DISPOSE
aoO TO bes,ow these lands upon local Objects and the
As Congress Of the United States, often leading the
advancement and defeat of essential legislation, are
.rooy arguments in favor OF some uniform and i'm
partial law on The SUBJECT
We Yesterday referred to the amendments offered TO the
uporan. bill Of Speaker Boyd by Mr.. Perkins. OF Louis
sapa The bill, it now stands, may be understood
from the following abstract;
provides for the cesson OF the public lands in the
States Of Alabama. Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas,
Florida, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan,
Iowa. Wisconsin, and California these States respect
iyely on certain conditions.
The said States to pay into the United States treas
uy -- per centum on the gross amount OF their sales
Of such Understanding the value Of the lands by the
ruling price at the time Of the donation.
"That the minimum price, as fixed by law, shall
remain unchanged until the - day of --- aforesaid ;
but after thai period, the price may be reduced by the
States respectively, according the following scale all
ands heretofore offered at public sale, and then remain
Ing unsold ten years upward, preceding the - day
of aforesaid. be reduced bV said States
price not less than dollar per and all lands that
may have been offered at public SALE aud remaining
sold fifteen years upward preceding the said
day Of, thousand eight hundred and fity-fve,
thereafter be reduced by said States price not less
than sevsnyf five cents per and all lands that may
have been offered public SALE and remaining unsod
twenty years upward preceding the said ---- day
Of, eighteen hundred and fifty five, may then be
reduced by said States price not less than fifty
per and all lands that may have been offered pub
lie SALE and remaining nnsod twenty upward
preceding the said -- day of ----- eighteen hundred
aud fiyfve may thereafter be reduced by said States
price not less than twenty five cents per and ali
ands that may have been offered public sale, and
naming unsod thirty years upward, preceding the
said - day Of -. eighteen hundred and fny. five,
shall be ceded Immediately the States in which said
snds situated Provided That all lands which shall
remain unsod alter having been offered public for
years, and which do under the above pro-
visions, shall be subject the provisions of presumption.
graduation, and disposition aforesaid, the respective
periods OF en fieen twenty, twenty-five, and thirty years
after said sale, commencing from the expiration Of ten
years after the same had been offered public sale"
The lands to be subjec, to the existing legal sub
divisions. reservng for each township and fractional
township the sixteenth section for the of schools.
Land sold at public auction 10 be subject entry for
cash only, according to fixed graduation.
Acts Of Congress in force at the time Of the passage
Of this act to remain unchanged, unless modified by this
act
Lands after private entry may be sola al the option of
the purchaser, in quarter quarter sections.
This disposition Of lands TO the States shall be in full
Of the fveper-cent fund not already accrued 10 any
Sstesaid Stale be liable for all the expense OF sales
and manag OF said lands and for ex,ngaishing In
dian titles
Ga failure 10 comply with the provisions Of thus act,
The eesson Of lands to any delinquent State 10 be void
and all grants titles thereafter made by any such State
10 be also void
Alter every reduction in the price Of the lands by the
States, provided for the State legislatures may grant
the settlers such lands rights OF pre-empon TO last for
ninety days. such reduced rates; lands not taken by
settlers at the end OF that time may be entered by any
O'herpeson, until the next reduction takes place when, if
not previously purchased. they shall be subject TO the right
Of presumption for ninety days. and on from lime TO
time, as said reductions take place.
The President 10 close the land Offices surveyors Of
hce &C. 10 any State included in this that SHALL
provided, accept the OF this act and the commits
sons OF said land officers and surveyors TO expire at
Psrod not beyond months after the time tor the law
10 take eject
That from the yasssge OF this the States accepting
The donation, under the terms offered, shall be relieved
IRON all restrictions 10 any land By the authority sub.
ec TO the sale hereo and all maps, papers, books ac
couuts, rea,vs said lands, in the General Land
Office at Washington, shall be subject 10 the order OF the
executives Of the accepting States
In order 10 let the public see how this measure stands
'sii has been amended by Mr. Perkins Of Louisiana we
'.prn the substance Of BIZ. propositions from yesterdays
Union
The hrst ameudmsnI Il proyiso the 6rst condo
Of The first section and Il designed authorize ne State.
to grant alternate sections Of land railroad purposes II
Is as foIowst
Propld,d, That tho State may payment oih- price
nked W this bill Tor the land along any line 10
demniiy Itself for the alternate sections OF land ID
such rsiifoad by dispos,ng OF this remaining sections along
lhe line a, double the price ired by this bin
The bearing OF this amendment will be seen a, once
embraces the question Of granting alternate section. Of
And for rnoads aud uansie the quesaon 70 he sars
wllhn which the lands are situated IL importance vIl
be apparent when u examined in o0nueron win The
blu as offered by Spe.kefBJjd
Tue other amendments OF Mr. Perkins extends Inc linn.
'o The continuance ofhe risbt pre- empton a. ,sted n
hs second stetion from ninety days twelve month,
with he exception 81 these amcnda.ut. Que f,,t
o. which was Incorrectly pointed IN the bills furnished 20
as House, the BIO offered by Nj Perkins as an amend.
neat 70 Mr.. Boyds bin N,