The daily union., 1854-02-22

MIR WILLIAMS, from the Committee of Claims. to
whom was referred the bill from ths House for the relief
Of the executors OF the late Lieut. John f. Bspham. re-
ported back the without amendment and recon. |
Mr. JONES, Of iowa. from The Committee on Terrific
res. to whom referred The bin Is eo) to authorize
the consisucon OF as OF telegraph from lAs Alissis-
spp river IL the Pacihc oeean reported back the same
with ~ amendment and recommended It's passage lie
also submitted report ON The subjects which was ordered
10 be printed.
PRE- EMPT.os PRIVILEGE IN CALIFORNIA.
On motion by Mr. GWlN the Senate proceeded TO the
consideration of the bill for the extension OF the pre-,
emption privilege in the State OF California, which had
been returned from the House oi Representatives with
sundTy amendments. The amendments were read, as
follows
Strike from the word "so. in the third line, TO the
word sand" the seventeenth line inclusive Strike out
word '.shall" in the twentieth line, the word
'modifed." in the ninth ne the words "by extending the
That ths provisions Of the nc, Of the 4h Of September
@ .ss ss, 20 ssss 70 on n, 'hs as
California by the act Of the ID Of March, 1885, shall be
pov.o il hs sixth section Of the Aforesaid act o The 81 Of
March, 1885, settlements made prior to and within two
yesrs a0er the passage OF this uct.
a S%S 2srsa 81 The he As Senate % in the
which agreed to.
THE INDECENT INsANE.
Mr. FOOT Mr. President. move tha, the Senate
now proceed 10 the consideration OF Senate bill No A,
Mr. SLlDELL. desire 10 ask the honorable senator
from Vermont whether that is OF the railroad bills.
Mr. GM!N. No; that q Miss Dixs bill. :.
Mr. FOOT. Ii is the bill making grant OF public
lands to the several States and Territories of the Union
for the benefit Of INDECENT insane persons.
The motion being agreed to, the Senate accordingly
Mr FOoT. Mr. President this bill was reported
from the Committee on Public Lands, with amend
ment the form OF substitute for the original bill
which was referred 10 that committee; and 10 that
amendment substitute there pending amend
ment offered BY the senator from Indiana Mr. PETIT
who is not present. This bill, with bu, slight mod
i6ca0n, bas been pandng before Congress for the last
ve six years, and has passed each house by decisive
maiorities Al different times, though, unfortunately moi
1t the same time in concurrence. The objects Of The bill
and ts provisions are doubtless well understood by most
il not al. the members ot this body.
!. has been very fully and very carefully-yes cir.
Pubc Lands OF this body, and think il we'll guarded
in a its provisions. II will be hardly necessary there
fore to enter upon any extended discussion at the
ent time. with ANEW OF enforcing its claims to the la
vorable consideration OF the Senate.
BY the last census appears that there than
thirty thousand persons in The United States labor
Ing under that inoat fearful and terrible OF infections
mental alienation or insanity; and very large portion oil
them are in circumstances OF Indulgence and want-destl-
ate alike OF The ordinary physical comforts OF life,
aad Of that remedial care and treatment which are Afford
ID only a weendowed hospitals, erected exclusively for
that purpose, and which all observation and all expert
show TO be Indispensable Tor the aneoraton of the
condition OF this large and increasing class OF
liens, suffering under the most dIreu calamity which
can bsfe human beings, and their restoration. so far
il may be done. 10 reason, usefulness, and happiness
Thu secondary consideration secondary objec,
of public interest OF OF national concern.
The subject is which appeals not only TO sym
pohes, but addresses itself empha,cay TO regard
le9slators for the public veal. And IL hardly
possible TO conceive any other practicable mode
thaa the measure proposed by this bill by which the
federal government, transcendiog its constitutional
powsSs. contribute eiectnally to the accom-
ishnen OF this most benehcent and most desirable OBJ
jet The bill proposes 70 grant ten millions OF acres out
0f your immense public domain for this object 10 be ap
Sesam4- presctbed and equitable rayId M sedut,ss
and parts Of sections after shall have been surveyed
Ths States in which there public lands the value
a dollar and quarter acre 10 have their dis
tribuve shares selected from said lands The Staes in
which these public lands OF that value TO
ceive the amount OF their dsbu,ye shares in land scrip
10 Be cold BY the said States at price not less than
dollar per And State 10 which scrip is is
seed 10 authorized 10 locate il in any other State Ter
hsosy but their assgnees will locate their scrip upon
any other unappropristed land in the United States
which shalI then be subject TO private entry dol
lar and twenty-five cents per This will prevent
any location Of public lands along the lines OF the pro-
posed railroads. whose minimum value shall be fixed al
double price or at any price above VI 25 per The
expenses OF these proceedings TO be borne by the
several States respectively. The moneys realized from
the sale OF the lands 10 be invested in United States
socks or other stocks yielding not less than five per
cent on their par value and this is 10 constitute per
making Of provision for The support and maintenance OF
the INDECENT insane 10 some public hospital nsu-
ton devoted exclusively TO their and treatment hav
ing their corps OF officers, physicians, and attendants at
tAchsd TO them.
The assent Of the States 10 th. grant with all its pro-
vsions and all its conditions, to be sgned by legsa
tive snactmens, and If any portion OF the funds should
BE- os should be diminished from any accident or any
cause Whatsoever the Stale must make up that loss or
diu,n elton, and keep the fund entire and nvloabe.
These the principal features OF The bill The oh
eci il good one Indeed, il is an object of growing
and national Importance The measure proposed By this
bill 10 not ccumscrlbed local, partial in ope-
ration but, The contrary IL 10 general and equitable
and universal in its operation and influence, the misc
which IL proposes TO relieve passes clear OF all
objections made local and partial grants II comes
within the limits Of your constitutional power upon gene
yal principles and has the authority OF precedenls almost
without number Indeed many OF The pfecedents 20 very
far beyond This proposition. and, from their local and
partial character, obnoxious TO objections of which
the cnse stands clear
Objects OF charity and OF humanity, Mr. President,
both home and abroad have unfrequeBiy attracted
the attention and consde of Congress- and have
shared the bounty OF the federal government in different
iorns Without stopping 10 comment upon them. beg
leave merely call the attention OF the Senate 10
oil these acts in which the power and principle which
ask TO be exercised and applied this have been fully
and often recognised by Congress
In 1919 Congress appropriated township OF land for
the benefit and support OF insane asylum in the town
of Hartford, in the State Of Connecticut
In 1895 Congress appropriated another township of
and for the benefit OF similar institution n Dan.ville
In 1919 Congress voted appropriation Of $50 900 in
money for the purchase OF provisions to be yene
xuea for the benefit OF The sufferers by the great earth
quake 1t iha time.
In 1913 Congress appropriated of land called the
New Madrid Hac in the Then Territory Of Missouri for