Washington sentinel., 1855-01-10

understood 10 be test OF the views OF the Senate
on vital principle of the bill
Debate ensued, in which Messrs BELL Mason,
BUTLER, ToUcEY, FEssENDEN, RUsK, GEYER, BADG-
Err, and CHASE participated
Without taking the question, the Senate ad-
journed.
House of Representatives.
On motion Of Mr.. HOUSTON, the House took
| up the Military Academy and The Invalid Pension
bills, as returned from the Senate with amend
ments, and referred them 10 the Committee Of
| Ways and Means.
| Mr.. AIKEN asked leave TO present memorial
| from the Charleston (South Carona) Chamber of
Commerce, asking the Government 10 tender me.
| diation in the pending war in Europe.
Mr. WALSH objected.
| Mr. McDOUGALL offered resolution pro.
posing that the debate on the Pacific railroad bill
shall cease on Tuesday, the 10th instant.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, moved an amend.
+ ment, substituting Friday, the 18th inst.
This was disagreed td--yeas 6S, nays &C.
Mr. BOCOCk moved that the resolution be laid
| on the tabe.-Ayes 81, noes not counted.
The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr. DAWSON called for the regular order Of
| business, being the bill amendatory of the act Of
| 1854, TO reduce and graduate the prices OF the
public lands, 10 actual settlers and cultivators.
Mr.. DAWSON said that the BILL commonly
| known as the homestead bill, was sent 10 the
Senate, and that body avoiding a direct vote on
its provisions, adopted in lieu of H. the substitute
! OF Mr.. HUNTER. To this substitute there are
| many grave objections; and it was his purpose in
offering his amendment 10 seek to re-esablish
with few alterations the principles Of the home
| stead bill which passed this House by so large
majority He proposed, by il, TO charge fourteen
and half cents an acre for the land, which would
obyiate any constitutional objection, and cover
the original cost OF purchase, and extinguish the
Indian title. Ill
| The Senate's amendment would 'inure to the
/ kan ofS Stata de ,lot
talists, TO the detrment Of the actual settlers.
| The greatest political evil now was the effort to
ge: possession OF the surplus in the Treasury. In
his opinion, the true policy is, nch people and
poor Treasury. Al no time has this uhe home.
stead) measure occupied stronger position before
the country than at this time.
He answered several objections which have
been urged against the proposition, showing that
III would not be adverse to The interests Of the old
States, and that there no constitutional diff
culties in the way of its passage. He denied the
| assertion, so repeatedly made, that none but va
| grants and loafers would take advantage of a
homestead bill and, in the of his remarks,
earnestly urged the passage Of the measure, say
| ing that IL would more than any other, add
strength 10 the State, increase the prosperity of
the people, and secure the equality of the social
condition.
| The SPEAKER, in response to a question
asked by Mr.. SMITH, Of Virginia, said that the
| bill pending was amendatory 10 the act passed
last session, to graduate the price OF the public
lands. IL was referred to the Committee on Pub.
lie Lands, which had reported substitute for il.
/ The amendment of Mr.. DAWSON was the home
| stead bill, with a few notifications among them,
charging fourteen and half cents an acre for the
! land.
Mr.. ETHERIDGE caused an amendment,
which he desired 10 offer, TO be read, 10 the effect
that the provisions Of the bill shall only apply 10
naiivc-born persons or such as have been natural
fized, and 10 no other person or persons whomso-
| ever.
Mr. CAMPBELL moved that the bill and the
pending amendments be laid on the table.
The question having been taken, the motion was
disagreed io-yeas 65, nays 9s.
| The previous question, moved by Mr. DAW-
| SON, was not sustained--ayes A, noes not
| counted.
Mr. ORR moved that the bill and the pending
| amendments be committed to the Committee OF
the Whole on the state of the Union and that they
| be printed.
Mr. SMITH, of Virginia, expressed the hope
that an opportunity would be afforded TO the OPP
| ponents OF the bull 10 discuss il.
The morning hour expired
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, offered resolution,
which was adopted, instructing the Committee on
Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency OF
making provision, Ly law, for the extension ofthe
armed occupation act TO New Mexico and Utah.
with view TO the suppression Of Indian hostiii-
ties in those Territories
Mr.. DUNBAR introduced bill making an ap-
preparation for continuing the improvement Of the
channels at the mouths OF the Mississippi river
which was referred 10 the Committee on Com.
merce.
The House resolved itself into the Committee
ofthe Whole on the state of the Union, fMr Oar
in the char,) and proceeded 10 the consideration
OF the Pacific railroad bill.
Mr.. LATHAM addressed the committee on the
subject of establishing line Of mail steamships
between San Francisco and Shanghai. touching nj
The Sandwich Islands The colonization and set.
tlement Of California, by our own race, he said
would have the same influence on Asia as the
discovery and settlement OF this country had on
Europe.
California and Oregon are 10 play large and
conspicuous part, similar 10 the part which an.
cient Egypt played in the civilization OF the Old
World, and San Francisco would become q mod
ern Alexandria, by which the wealth and magnif-
cence OF Asia will be poured into our lap. We
will ultimately have an extensive trade with ia
pan, China, and the Indian archipelago. Com
merce is greater agent for the Improvement Of
the human intellect than war.
The establishment of such line Of steamers
as that which he proposed will yield rich return
TO the country at large. and would go further 10
effect the commercial destiny Of the United States
than any other measure involving no greater ap.
preparation Of money. In connection with this
subJec, he referred in terms Of appreciation TO the
establishment Of Q railroad 10 the Pacific.
Mr.. CHANDLER obtained the floor.
He gave way for motion that the committee
rise, which prevailed.
Mr.. McDOUGALL. from the Committee on the
Post Office and Post Roads, reported the Senate
bill to establish line Of mail steamers between
San Francisco and Shanghai, touching AT the
Sandwich Islands and Japan.
The bill was ordered 10 be printed, and recon-
mitted 10 that committee.