Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-03
REMARKS
OF M r. SMITH OF VIRGINIA,
On the III Ioncstc r r >, R}u

IL THE HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEB 2l
M, SMITH OF vglna-ar Chairman had lueudtt
gentleman from Georgia (Mr DENT said, ~ am wilhnu
notes., Ihuuch do know that that makes much d:r
ence but really desire to call the attention Of The
nee, very briefly, TO few Of the objections 10 ths bill
"hlch are obvious TO my mind, aud which, trust will b
considered as entitled TO some consideration
In the first place wish II 10 be understood that totally
deny the right power of this government to give ava,
the common property of the Union. There "a no propos
lion 80 clear 10 my mind that there Is right
on 'he part OF this government TO MAKO gratuous donH
ton CT any part OF the public property portion Of ih
people of this Union. do intend 10 dwell upon !h
branch OF the subject but ask gentlemen By
OF reasoning they come TO the conclusion that this govern
men has right TO give land TO tho poor man. the rict
man, and at the same time has right give OF
of the public treasury There twenty odd mllon
OF dollars In the Treasury. Have right give ava;
that money 10 h0ec who want it2 No will pretend ha
we have and yet you undertake. by this bill give milr
Of Of the public domain those who choose
| py ii.
just arrived n this country the right 20 settle on
ands The foreigner who lands In New York day wou
have the came right that an American citizen wuod have Ic
20 and take possession OF portion Of The public ands
The gentleman from Pennsylvania. (Mr. DAws9E) who In
ro3uced this bill when that 5econ made BY the gen
eman from Georgia. (ilr DENrl said that ths benefits Of
the bill Intended to be confined those In the
county. iut to his cando If The principle u TIE bill
does not equally include all who may hereafter arrive
Mr.. DAWSON. Not at all The gentleman appeals me-
and will answer him al once, If he desires II.
MIR. SMITH The gentleman will have an opportunity oil
answering me- and beg him 10 do H. The rlehIlan or
German who arrived 10 day would have the right; t sh
German who may arrive 10 would lot have
the right. Upon what principle OF discrimination can The
gentleman make tho distinction which is nvoyed2
not for the life Cf me- see II.
But the bill manfcsy unjust In other respects.-
II actually gives 10 the wealthy portion of the people Of THIS
country the same right that II gives the poor. When
heard gentlemen speak OF the benefits which The bill was 70
that its provisions confined them. But not sc; The
weahies portion Of the people OF country would have
,k-s -, htzkt INN hnn.
dred and sixty Of the public lands The humbes and
poorest should like TO Know what principle that is
fart cannot sec IL.
Again: Look the opera,o Of this BILL know that IL
great bill for the West: and do not blame Western gen.
emen they reconcile their conscences 10 The cons
tutiona objection for voting for H. man in the Wcst'
with four hardy sons If this bill becomes law, takes the
bcaef Of lis provisions and perhaps locates on the very
land around the school house Tor which he Intended laying
bis money Under The bill The whole public land will
occupied by Western Everybody the operation
OF H. There Is not gentleman from the West who does
know that 10 be is immediate operation. Take dis
tric represent The adjoining town uf Alexandria What
chance have my constituents locate nd around your
school houses In the eeemenie of the Wcs when the sons
the hardy sons OF tho actual settlers ready TO p0unce
IN Long before any that represent represented b.
the eastern men, can reach there tra valuable portion OF the
land will have been located by those who there and who
have none But whether they have land makes
dference for with thousand sc.es has the right
10 locate one hundred and sixty ngse Of the pour
GET man. nsk the committee whether II perpctEac c
such an outraged
and equal We have millions OF mechanics ttrounhou, the
Eastern and extent, throughout Southern por
lion OF This Unon engaged In the various branches Of n
dusiral pursuits What chance have they 10 got home
steads2 put the question 70 10 Penusylvania-lo men
who engaged in the iron business go the workshops
Of The East-hose for the construction Of machinery 60
TO The town Of Alexandria, where there number o.
workshopa md AJAX what chance have those mech mics 10
enjoy the benefits Of this bin They told h, ihey may
pull up their stakes and the West But they pro-
sccu,e trnde They tqnat
dred and sixty acres each. md se up acnc-shops 30"
sir their very occupation shuts them from tho enjoy men OF
this property though II may be that cy.ry Saturday night
when they their pay the actual umy oh
legations demand the appropriation OF every cert vi H. j:
there equality th.7 No. Il is gross outrageous inequa
gagged In advocating this BILL dsyegrding the constitutional
objection when its necessary operation 60 evidently un'
just.
Blu, this bill has most extraordinary features. Itactua!y
provides the property thus acquired shall not be re.
eponsibe 70! debt. may incur obligations, bat you
get no OF him Not even that you Cannot sub
ject the gaherer The very ta% that ia assessed on
these very lands cannot be collected Inc committee Will
readily this objection.
Another thing There arc well known. very large
portion Of those who reside in the Atlantic States poor and
who live from hand mouth, aud yet live well How are
,hoy 10 ge, TO the West where the public land is The
wealthy will easily be abic send out number OF
TO occupy hese sections under arrangements by which they
will accumulate in their hands large portions OF them.
wealthy make with certain ella 90
poor people, and have signed sealed and delivered
that he will accumulate In ha hand large amount OF the
public land Yes sir this bill provides in no respect against
that We know The fact that these arrangements nave been
made and will bo made again; and, under this bl they
will operate to very great and mIschierous extent
But here take occasion 10 sayand shall thus concGde
my remaks-hat ii is the most extraordinary thing have
ever known that the provisions Of this bill drawn They
are and embracing The principles they should be forced
on 10 na before this House, while there hun
dets and thousands Of soldiers who served In tho war OF
1872 and In Indian wars who denied the provisions
which they SEEK and which to ough; 10 be
corded 10 them.