The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-10-01


To THE REDUCTION or THE PRICE or
THE PUBLIC LANDS And THE PRE-. EMP.
TON SYSTEM.
The Black Republican candidate for Gov
erDor OF Minnesota, was member Of the
House Of Representatives Of the XXlXth
Congress and in that capacity bitterly OPP
posed a bill, having for its object the gradu-
alton and reduction d the price Of public
lands to the actual settler and cultivator.
The bill in question was introduced into
the House Of Representatives, in January,
lsIG, by Mr.. MCLgRsASD from the Com
mittee on Public Lands. On the 9th Of
july, the bill coming up, eloquent speeches
were made in favor Of IT, by Messrs.
BOWLS, RoggRr SMITH, and others. The
bill was pressed upon the House as IA
measure calculated 10 benefit the hardy
pioneers Of the west, and enable them ~
secure farms at a reduced price, aud, through
the workings Of the presumption law, to the
exclusion Of spectators. This was espe-
cially referred TO- in the report Of General
JANIS SurE.ps, at that time Commissioner
Of the General Land Office
Mr.. Mcconnell, Of Illinois, in the co ursc
Of his speech, said "the unoccupied lands in
our confederated States and Territories
belonged substantially to the laboring
industrious poor. lie urged the measure
as one OF jus ice ard sound policy" II is
worthy OF remark that the bin was recon-
mcnded by Democratic administration and
earnestly supported by Democratic members
OF Congress, and opposed by the opposition.
On the 9th and 10th Of July, the bill was
considered, and on preliminary votes. on the
10th, 18th and l4th Of July, we find the
name Of ALEXANDER RAMSEY RE-
CORDED IN EVERY INSTANCE
AGAINST IT'S PASSAGE. On the
vote on the third reading and final pas.
sage on the l4th, Mr.. Representative
RAssKv lodged The bill Immediately
went to the Senate. and passed that body
with amendments. II was returned to the
House on the 9Th Of August, and coming
up for consideration, the following proceed
ings TRANSFERRED: (See Con. Globe, LIST Sess
| 2gth Con, 45-a6.)
THE GRADUATION BILL.
! The bill to reduce and graduate the
price of the public lands Was taken up IA
follows:
! n, Il snaef,d by the Senate and House Of Rem
y,s,ntaf,rts of the United Aiafss Of dmsr ,ca IN
Congress assembled, That oil public lands which
! .hall have been offered for sale fifteen years or
more ON the lst day Of December, one thousand
/ eight hundred and forty six, shall there's fthsr
be subject To entry At one dollar per acre for
the term Of tive years; all the before described
! lands then remaining unsold shall be subject 10
entry at seventy five cents per acre for another
term Of i've years; and all such unsold At the
| end Of the last mentioned term may be entered
/ At ffty cents per acre.
! SIC. J. ind BE- Il farther enacted, That llpub
! lie lands which, after the first day Of Deem
/ Der one thousand eight hundred and forty ak,
! shall have been offered for sale fifteen years or
/ more on the first Of December, one thousand
| eight hundred and fifty one, shall then be sub
! iect To graduation and entry, in like manner
and at like periods Of Ave years; anl that all
| public lands which shall have been offered for
sale hfteen years OF more ~ the next succeed
ing period or any subsequent one, shall be
subject IN ike manner 10 graduation and entry
at like periods OF hve years, "a they conscou-
7 lively occur: p,orided That no one person 'un.
der the provisions OF 'his act, shall be Author-
lied TO purchase more thsh one section OF the
/ lowest rate OF my ceats per acre.
SEc. J. dad ~ fWfhsr endefsd, That upon
| every reduction 10 the prices OF said lands
| which shall take place ny the graduating pro
cess Of this act. the occupants or settlers upon
| any Of the said lands shall have the right Of
pre- emption ut such graduated or reduced
prices, which right shall extend 10 period OF
ak months from and aftet the dates at which
the RESP ectise graduatioDs shall take place; and
any land not entered by the respective oocu-
pants OF settlers within that period, shall be
; liable 10 be entered or purchased by any other
person until tho next graduation or reduction
4 In price shall take place, when II shall. " not
! ha 49, in al a-t IA h..