Washington sentinel., 1855-01-11

the present.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
bill 10 reform the judiciary system Of the United
States The pending question was on the amend
ment offered by Mr.. CHASE TO reduce the number
of Judges on the bench Of the Supreme Court
Mr.. TOUCEY opposed ii, not being disposed to
embarrass the bill, at present, with minor consd-
erations.
Mr.. BAYARD opposed the amendment for a
Without coming to a conclusion on the subject,
the Senate, after executive session, adjourned.
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. PHILLIPS introduced bill regulating the
carrying Of spirits of turpentne; which was re-
ferred 10 the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. ELIOT, of Massachusetts, introduced four
bills, each making appropriations for harbor i'm
provements in Massachusetts. They were sew
orally referred TO the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Mr.RlCHARDSONint introduced bill to improve
the Mississippi river and its tributaries Referred
TO the Committee on Commerce.
The SPEAKER announced the first business in
order, to be the motion of Mr.. ORR to commit 10
the Committee ofthe Whole on the state OF the
Union, the bill amendatory of the aci TO reduce
and graduate the public lands 10 settlers and cu-
tlvators, TO which several amendments were
pending, including that of Mr.. DAWSON in the ma.
ture OF homestead principle-the lands 10 be
sold 10 actual settlers at fourteen and half cents
an acre)
Mr. .CAMfbELL SAID ne was opposed TO en-
grating the homestead bill on the proposition now
pending. He did not like this way of tacking on
TO the graduation bill this measure and then drv-
ing il through the House under the operation Of
the previous question. Let gentlemen wait until
The homestead bill which passed this House, and
was amended in the Senate at the instance of Mr.
HUNTER, shall be taken up.
Mr. ORR withdrew his motion, as the friends Of
the bill desired direct vote on il. The sooner il
was disposed OF, the better. He was prepared 10
vote now, though he was opposed to the passage
of the bill II the bill shall be passed. it would
take fund belonging to all the States, for the
purpose OF holding out inducements TO the popu-
aton OF the old States TO settle in the new States
and Territories thus depriving the former of pop.
uaton and wealth.
In reply TO question asked by Mr.. JONES, Of
Tennessee, he said he supposed the natural in
crease OF population and emigration would settle
up the new States. There was a delusion held
out 10 citizens Of the old States emigrate. In
stead of betering, they would inure their present
comfortable condition
Mr. OLDS asked whether il had not been the
policy of the government TO grant lands for the
purpose OF encouraging the settlements Of the
new States and Territories
Mr.. ORR replied, the policy was Of recent ORR
gin, commencing with the passage of the bill TO
establish the territorial government of Oregon
oregon was remote country and the grants
were made with view Of encouraging emigra-
tion, SO as 10 afford protection in the event Of
war.
Mr.. DAWSON replied, contendng that the
policy OF granting lands had been pursued almost
from the foundation THE Government 10 the pres
ent Time. II was not a new idea. The whole
Atlantic was settled by such grants.
Mr.. ORR repeated his assertion, that the policy
was OF comparatively recent origin. The tend
ency of the times was TO make the people lean on
the government, while our policy should be TO
make the Government lean on the people Il was
in haso ol;,n.
ency. In his opinion, the price of the lands, in.
stead OF being fourteen and half cents as pro-
posed by Mr.. DAwsoN's amendment, should be
twenty-five cents an acre, as twenty-three and
half cents would cover the cost of the original
purchase, and the extngushment of the Indian
title.
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Maine, indicated an
amendment; 10 repeal the graduation bill of last
year, as frauds were perpetrated underit.
Mr.. CAMPBELL renewed the motion 10 refer
the blil and pending amendments, TO the Commit
tee OF the Whole on the state ofthe Union.
The question was taken, and the motion dsa-
greed to-yeas So, nays So
The House then refused 10 recommit the bill
and pending amendments TO the Committee on
Public Lands-yeas IS, nays 50.
The House then proceeded TO act on the pend
ing amendments. First, that of Mr.. Dawson,
accepted by Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, as a mod.
fcation of one offered by the last named gentle
man, granting homestead OF one hundred and
sixty acres TO every head Of a family, at the rate
Of fourteen and half cents an acre. on the condi-
ton OF five years settlement and occupation.
Mr.. COBB opposed this amer endment TO the bill,
suggesting to Mr.. DAWSON that the homestead
measure should stand on its own merits, and not
offered to the bill now pending, which il might be
the means of defeating. The bill, thus amended,
could not, in his opinion, pass the Senate.
He referred 10 the 9th section of the bill, which
provides that any individual now a resident OF any
one Of the States or Territories and not a citizen
OF the United States, but who, at the time Of the
passage Of this act, shall have filed declaration
of intention, as required by the naturalization
laws OF the United States, and shall become a
citizen of the before the issuing Of the pat
ent, as made and provided for in the bill, shall be
placed upon an equal footing with the native-born
citizen Of the United States. He desired this to
be stricken out. an the section was Of questiona-
BILE propriety. IL il did not exclude foreigners
hereafter coming into the country, he would vote
against the amendment.
Mr.. DAWSON replied saying if there was
doubt on the subject, he would agree to strike out
the fifth section.
Mr.. COBB. Then strike il out
Mr.. DAWSON replied, he had not control of
the amendment, as il was offered by the gentle.
man from Tennessee, mr. JoNEs.l
Mr.. ETHERIDGE wanted TO exclude the i'm
mense emigration into the country. The bill
would give the benefits proposed, to foreigners
who may hereafter arrive in the United States, TO
which he was adverse.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, said TINT naturalized
foreigners should have all The rights guaranteed TO
citizens under the Constitution. Ifthe object was
10 exclude foreigners, repeal your natural cation
laws, TO prevent them from becoming citizens.
The question was taken agreeing to the
homestead amendment, and decided in the mega
tive--Yeas ~, nays 93
The substitute reported by the Committee on
Public Lands, TO the bill amendatory Of the act Of
August IL, 1854, TO graduate and reduce the price
of public lands TO actual settlers and cultvators,
was agreed to--ayes 81, noes 80.
The bill was rejected--yeas 6S, nays 95.
Mr.. DAWSON moved that the House proceed
to the business on the Speakers table, with view
of reaching the homestead bill, as returned from
the Senate with amendments.
Mr.. HAMILTON moved that the House resolve
itself into the Committee Of the Whole on the
state Of the Union.
Mr.. SMITH of Tennessee, moved to reconsider
the vote last taken, and TO lay that motion on the
table.
Pending which motion, at three o'clock,
The House adjourned
ID EADY MADE CkOTHING.-Membcr
IN OF Congress wishing to provide themselves