The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-06-01
CONGRESSIONAL.


contested election from Ohio, that Mr. Valland
ingham, democrat, entitled to the seat held by
Lewis d. Campbell black republican Mr. VAL
landingham sworn in, also the two new mem
bers from Minnesota took their seats The House
refused to appropriate any more money for the
Capitol extension. Mr. Gilmer of n. c., made a
speech in defence of his course on the Kansas
question, and denounced the speech of his col
league, Mr. Shaw. He also made speech in favor
of Campbers holding seat to which he was
elected by the vote of free negroes 1--WE feel sorry
for MIR e.; he must be crazy.
In the Senate, Mr. Douglas introduced bill to
protect American vessels from aggressions by Brit
ish war-ships 1t authorizes the President, under
circumstances requiring prompt redress, and when
delay would be incompatible with the honor and
dignity of the Republic, to employ such force as
he may deem necessary to prevent the preparation
of such outrages and to obtain just redress and
satisfaction for the same when perpetrated This
bill was very properly introduced in consequence
of British cruisers having recently stopped and
searched several American merchantmen.
On the 26th, the Senate passed bill authoriz-
ing the Government to borrow S15,00OOOO.
Mr. johnson of Tennessee has been pressing his
Homestead Bill before the Senate giving to each
settler on the public lands 100 acres He made
long speech in favor of the bill, the substance of
which is as follows:
Mr. Johnson, in enforcing the advantages of the bill
commenced by defending it from the mputaton of be-
ing prejudicial to Southern interests 1t not
adjunct of the Emgrant Aid Society, but a great
of benefcen legislation for the good of the Amer
people, without regard to sections. Nor did it pro-
pose squander the public lands had been charged
but to give them actual settlers in consideration of
services rendered to the community in retaining the
wilderness and subduing the earth. The policy not
new o. unsupported Moses had enunciated its princi
pies in his Hebrew economy; Vatte had sanctioned it
in his Commentaries public law, and President
Jackson had advocated it in his messages Congress
1t charged with being demagogical proposition
If So then the Congress f179l in giving lands to
tain settlers, and Washington in signing the bill passed
at that date, had early begun to practice the dema
gogue's arts.
Running through the legislation of the country Mr.
johnson found than forty precedents justify the
fundamental principles of the pending bill Such dis
position of the public domain would in reality enhance
the value of the unoccupied portions and hasten its
pact for sustaining and nurturng great and power
full people Nor would it diminish the of the
country On the contrary, by lettering the condition of
the aborer. and thus enabling him to great
amount Of foreign mportaons it would add largely
to an annual revenue from impOsts.
But the financial results of the measure did not
afford the most favorable light in which it could be
viewed 1t also tended to raise socially and pO-
enthusiastically by meliorating his material condition,
and politically by giving him stake in the welfare and
stability of the country. He desired to build up the
great middle class of the people, and to do away at
once with arstOcracy the one hand a rabble
on the other. The public lands had been lavished on
States and Corporations lie thought it was high
time to place them within the reach of all the people
At the present rate of dispensing them it would require
than six hundred years to fill up and occupy
public domain. If it be said that this measure by Of
terng boon to emigration, would tend to depopuate
the Southern States it only the suppOsition that
the laborer could better his condition by change
location and who would object to policy which pro-
| oSpHf hon al he man
Wherever found the aborer would still be loyal cti-
| zen CT the same Republic.
Mr. J. closed his remarks by invoking for the pending
measure the favorable consideration of the Senate
Messrs Reid, Houston, Hayne and Crittenden
opposed the bill Mr. Clingman offered an amend
ment to give homestead to every head of family
whether he settles upon it not, and spoke the
subject follows:
q" lie said he for retaining the public lands
of to the Treasury but if they to go,
say let have equal distribution. The Senator
from Tennessee alluded to the agrarian Laws of Rome,
the distributions made there and their demoralizng
effects. Sir, his auson brought to my mind the fact
that treading exactly the He will
remember that in Rome the first donations ofland were
made to the soldiers just like our bounty land system
Afterwards they passed agraran laws to give land to
the poor. That is what he proposes. The third step
to give money, and to give provisions to feed the
populace If you go with SYSTEM first giving land to
soldiers giving land to anybody who will take it:
finally, when you have exhausted the land funds the
loaers and bcggars will get up camor, and you must
give them something in some other way.
| Now put this question to the gentleman; suppose
you let have the public lands for nothing; will not
those who have already paid for their lands to Con-
gross have the money they have paid refunded? The
force of that argument every Senator will feel Only
last week, believe, proposition carried through
the Senate, merely upon the idea that the officers here
be put upon footing of equality with the officers
! of the House of Representatives.
1t strikes then, :hat in every point of view the
bill is ineXpedient. not, however to be drawn
to any general discussion of the bill. have offered
my amendment in good faith have two objections to
the BILL first that it takes the proceeds of the lands
from the Treasury; and second, that it makes un-
equal distribution My amendment meets the latter
objection. 1t cannot meet the former, admit.
Mr. Hale suggested that this donation should DC still
further extended to all who within twelve eighteen
months should become heads of families Laughter.
We will publish Gov. Reds remarks next week
The bill was postponed, on motion of Mr. Cling
man, until January next-ayes 80, nays % This
is considered defeat of the bill. All right.
THE CHERAw Coal FIELDS RA1IRoAD.-A
delegation of the friends of the Coal Field and
| C,l. II 81