The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-18
CON G r ESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON A. C. DODGE,


grant homestead of hundred and sixty of
the public lands to actual settlers
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa, said
Mr. President AS the debate seems now to turn upon
the sixth section of this blhat section which has refer
the privileges granted to foreigners and the danger
which is apprehended as likely to result to the institutions
of our country from such privilege being awarded TO
hem-i beg TO call attention the existing laws on this
subject Are senators of the fact that this bill is
beal in respect to foreigners than any other
of the Kind touching the public lands which has
been proposed in either house of Congress The sixth
ton is in these words
"sEo 6. And be further eacted That if any individual
of any of the States Territories and
not citizen Of the United States, but the time making
such application for the benefit of this shall filed
aws of the United States and shall citizen of the
before the Of the patent as made and provided
native born citizen of the United States.'
In reply to my esteemed friend from Alabama Mr..
CLAY say that according to my understanding of this
secon the Commissioner of the General Land Office and
the Secretary Of the Interior would it referring
the date Of the passage Of the bhc word now" be-
ing employed in lieu of the ones from and
after the passage of this actcertanIy its introduce
ton into the House That is my impression.
Mr.. CLAY. will ask my friend from Iowa, with his
permission how is it to be ascertaned that foreigner
resident Of the country the time of the passage of the
bil2 Is there any provision requiring him TO make oath
to that fact?
Mr. DODGE of Iowa The bill is Think well guarded
against abuse 1t is filled with conditions and restrictions
and the Commissioner of the General Land Office is
qured to issue such rules and regulations consistent with
the bill as shall be necessary and proper to its
visions into effect All the laws relating to the public
lands to be construed together have the land laws
before me- and having read the sixth section of this BILL
propose to read the law it stands show the
trast against foreigners made in this bill The general
presumption law, passed in lS4l, reads thus:
SEc 10. And be further enacted That from and after
family or widow or single man over the age of
years. and being citizen of the United States, having
filed h ID , G Intention to become I citizen as
June, A. D. ls40 has made shall hereafter make
tlement person the public lands to which the Indian
title had BEEN at the time Of such settlement extingushed
thereto who shall inhabit and improve the same and
who has shall erect dwelling thereon, shall be, and is
hereby authorized with the register the land office
for the district in which such land may by legal subdvis
IONS any number of not exceeding hundred
sixty quartersecon of land, to include the residence
of such claimant"
That of s4l the first in the history of these Uni
ted States in which undertook conne the BEN
ehts of any presumption, donation other law citizens
of the United States. Under all the pre-empon laws
from the earliest foundation of the down to
that day any foreigner fresh from Europe who had just
landed might by complying with their provisions in rela
ton to settlement and cultivation go to the land office
and his quarter-secon just though he were cit
That act the first which introduced such a re-
stricon Listen to the language of the of $780, the
first general law which granted precmption rights all
who should settle upon the public domain Its words
That every settler occupant of the public lands prior
to the passage Of this act, who is possession
cultivated any part thereof shall be entitled enter" &C.
This is the language of the of $780, under whose
provisions pre-empons taken all Alabama Mis-
ssspp and Missouri Every foreigner fresh from Europe who
settled upon any portion of the public domain of Alabama
Mississippi in any of the States went to the land ecean
entered the land without any question being asked him in
regard to citizenship
to the acts of the 10th of June 1884 and of
the 22d of June 1888 under which remember to have
granted preemption rights several hundred foreigners
in the State of Iowa when acting "a register of
the land office Like their predecessor, these laws read
that every settler and occupant shall enter &C.
cisely the language that used in all the previous
laws.
Settlers occupants and persons are the terms
made of and there any other terms en-
poyed in any of the pre-empon prior the net pass
ed by the whig party in lS4 with their triumphant ma
ority each house of Congress To that party belongs
the honor If it be sueh of having introduced the first pro-
vision in any law of this character conc benefits to
citizens and to such foreigners filed their declaration to
become citizens My venerable and distinguished friend
from Delaware not here then but, if he had been
Judging from the penehan which he has shown for amend
ments Of this character have doubt he would have
presented it, and that it would have been baptized "the
Clayton amendment But there worthy and re-
spectacle senator of his party Ar Mcrric Of Mary
land who ably and zeously pressed those hostile amend
ments against foreigners which being urged by the
senator from Delaware.
Mr. AEaRtcK Iwhig senator from Maryland then offered
the following amendment:
Insert, after the word years, in the en, line
act or the act hereby revived shall not to other
ss citizens Of e and such aan
shall, in all cases. be established by legal and competent
tmon to the satisfaction Of the register and receiver of the
thereof, by virtue of the provisions of this act.
The amendment have offered proposes modify the
bill to limit the grant of this bounty citizens
to exclude from the immense advantages of this law and this
policy or remember it Is avowed the other side that this
to be the settled policy of the government and all other
similar laws to be passed continually hereater) all aliens
all who neither native natualized citizens of the
Union. Between the native and natased propose
to make distinction in this respect but desire while
you about to deal out the property Of the American c
zen in bounes and gratue that you should conne
beralty IN dsposng of their your people.
Whist has been the chief argument urged in favor of
the passage of this bill. Was is not that Won
thereby give to the Industrious and honest and cnterprng
poor man who land and has the means of pur
chasing in the old settled portions the country opporu
ity Of acquiring home and comfort and independence
himself and family? And will you can YOU while Won use
this argument, exclude citizens advantages
hus spec'ous held out by letting loose competitors with
them, the hordes of European other foreign yagrant
knsyes, and paupes and will the poor man. the honest
anu Vtuous and industrious poor of this country e
excluded from all the benefits and advantage
offered les sir they will be by the preoccupapcy
OF the knaves and pauper OF the Old World Already this
aesSrpton OF persons Hockng in perncous herds
10 TINS country Let it be known that they arc admit
ted to the free and full enjoyment of the adyantoes oT
peemption laws that they authorized by Congress 10
come IN any NUMBERS and seize upon the inheritance of the
will be sadly changed. No longer shall we find our ironr
rs IL extends farther and farther west poped nv brav
and hardy, and patriotic yeomanry That which has btb
erto been the buwark become scoupc of Tho
try You will have there vicious corr,pt and debasad
swarm OF outcasts from Europe and the poor but honest
ana Proud hearted American freeman viii rather die in nov
erty and want than dwell among such people no. sir he win
never among them; and you exclude him as eo,av he
refusing to shut the door against such alien
we're proscroe him by name in your statute Make the
professions have heard good bill as in ,,t
enable the mertorious poor our own country who
hem not to acquire homes, and comfort and independence
or themselves and families and heart will be with YOU
onion in bounties upon aliens who you no allegiance
VINO have no sympathes for ties to bind them you but