Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-04-21

VANCE.
ssNo advertisement rejecting upon private character
can, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, be admitted. .as..s
From the Washington Union Of the 9Th inst
The Public Lands-The Bill OF Hon. Limn Boyd.
The disposition and management of the public
lands has always been question of primary impor-
! tance, and the greatest minds OF our country have
been directed to the subject for many years past In
view of the new order of things and the necessity
for improvements upon the old system. many projects
have been introduced, and urged and advocated with
much energy and talent. One of these plans has
been repeatedly endorsed by the national House Of
Representatives-we alude of course. to the cele-
brated homestead bill, ably advocated for years
past in Congress by Hon. Andrew Johnson, of Ten,
nessee, and at the present session by Hon. John L.
Dawson, of Pennsylvania. Other considerations plead
strongly in favor of radical change in our land
system. The growing disposition to bestow these
lands upon local objects. and the alarming consump
uon OF the public time and money in the Congress OF
the United States, often leading the postponement
and defeat OF essential legislation, are strong argu-
ments in favor of some uniform and impartial law
on the subject. 3D.. -.-. , 81. - .-f.--..-
We yesterday referred TO the amendments offered
TO the important bill of Speaker Boyd by Mr.. Per-
kins, of Louisiana. The bill, as it now stands, may
be understood from the following abstract:
1t provides Tor the cession of the public lands in
the States of Alabama. Mississippi Louisiana, Arkan-
sas, Florida, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio. Mchi-
gan, Iowa. Wisconsin, and California TO these States
respectiyely y on certain conditions. 3.
The said States are to pay into the United States
treasury - 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 do
nation. .a.
That the minimum price, now fixed by law.
shall remain unchanged until the - day of
-- aforesaid hut, after that period, the price
may be reduced by the States respectively, according
10 the following scale all lands therefore offered at
public sa!e and then remaining unsold ten years
upward preceding the -- day of --. afore.
said, may be reduced by said States to price not
less than dollar per acre; and all lands that may
have been offered at public sale, and remaining nn-
sod fifteen years or upward preceding the said
day OF --, one thousand eight hundred and fifty
five, may thereafter be reduced by said States 10
pnce not less than seventy five cents per acre; and
all lands that may have been offered at public sale,
and remaining unsold twenty years or upward pre-
ceding the said --d day of -, eighteen hun
dred and fifty five, may then be reduced by said
States TO price not less than fifty per acre
and all lands that may have been offered ut public
sale, and remaining unsold twenty five years or up
ward, preceding the said - day of -- eigh-
teen hundred and ffty-fv may thereafter be
duced by said States TO price not less than twenty
tive cents per acre; and all lands that may have
been offered at public sale, and remaining unsold
thirty years or upward, preceding the said -
day OF --, eighteen hundred and ffty-fve, shall
be ceded Immediately to the States in which said
lands situated PROVIDED, That all lands which
shall remain unsold after having been offered at pub
the above provisions shall be subject to the provis
ions of preempton graduation and disposition afore
said, at the respective periods often, ffteen twenty
twenty-five and thirty years after said sale, COM
mencing from the expiration of ten years after the
same had been offered at public sale.'
he lands are to be subject to the existing legal
subdivisions, reservng for each township and frac
tonal township the sixteenth section for the use of
schools.
Land sold al public auction to be subj ject to entry
for cash only, according TO fixed graduation.
Acts of Congress in force at the time of the pas
sage of this act to remain unchanged unless mod
fed by this act
Lands after private entry may be sold, at the op-
ton OF the purchaser in quarter quarter r-sectons.
This disposition of lands to the States shall be in
full OF the five per cent fund already accrued 10
any State-said Stale to be liable for all the expense
OF sales and management of said lands, and for ex-
tinguishing Indian titles.
On failure TO comply with the provisions of this
act the cesson of lands TO any delinquent State to
be void and all grants titles thereafter made by
any such State to be also void.
Alter every reduction in the price of the lands by
the States, provided for, the State Legislatures
may grant to the settlers such lands rights of pre-
emp'Ion, to last for ninety days, at such reduced
rates lands not taken by settlers at the end of that
time may be entered by any other person, until the
next reduction takes place, when, if not previously
purchased they shall be subject TO the right OF pre-
empton for ninety days and SO on, from time to
tlme as said reductions take place.
The President to close the land offices, surveyors
office, &c, in any State included in this act that shall,
as provided, accept the provisions of this act, and the
commissions of said land officers and surveyors to
expire at period not beyond six months after the
time for the law to take effect.
That from the passage of this act the States ac-
ceptng the Donation under the terms offered shall
o. relieved from all restrictions to tax any land by
the authority subject to the sale thereof and all
maps papers, books, accounts, relative to said lands,
now in the General Land Office al Washington, shall
be subject to the order of the executives of the
ceptlng States.
| in order to let the public see how this
stands as it has been amended. oy Mr.. Perkins, of
Louisiana. we reprint the substance of his PROPOSE
tions from yesterdays Union:
| The first amendment is proviso to the first
dition OF the first section, and is designed to author
Ze the States to grant alternate sections of land for
railroad purposes. 1t is follows:
! " "Provtded, That the State may, on payment of
the price fixed by this bill for the land along any
railroad line indemnify itself for the grant Of alter
nate sections of land such railroad by dsposng of
the remaining sections along the line at double The
i price fixed by The bill.
The bearing Of this amendment will be seen at
once. IL embraces the question of granting alter
nate sections of land for railroads and transfers the
question to the States within which the lands sit
uated It's Importance will be apparent when it is
examined in connexioa with the bill as offered by
Speaker Boyd.
The other amendment of Mr. Perkins exceeds
the time for the continuance Of the right of pre-emp-
tlon as stated in the second section, from ninety
days to twelve months.
with the exception of these two amendments,
(he first Of which was incorrectly printed in the
bills furnished TO the House,) the bill offered by Mr..
Perkins an amendment to Mr.. Boyd's bill is the
same with Mr.. Boyd's bill" .
TIalo oF a.. A. Ii