The Evansville daily journal., 1858-05-21
wAsHISoroS, May 2o-rx


wAsHISoroN, May 2o-rM
SxSATE.--Pensions and other private
memorials were presented.
4 Senator Haync of South Carolina, took his
scat.
A number of private bills were pass
cd, including bills for the relief of Com
modors McAnley, j. Horford Smith: Jere-
miah Pcndergrast. Geo. Phelps, Joshua
Shaw, wm D. Mosely, Joseph Hardy, Altor
Long, and Benjamin Edwards, the latter
confirms land title in New Mexico.
Also n bill for the relief of Anthony Cas-
loe, a soldier Of the war of 1912. Also q bill
allowing the officers and seamsn of the Kan.
expedition, the same pay, rs that given to
those in the expedition of Lieut.. DIR. Haven;
also federal bill, in view of numerous in
dividual bills, for the continuance of half
pay to widows and orphans, under the act,
approved Feb'y 3 1858.
Some discussion ensued, upon Mr.. Pugh's
amendment, limiting pensions to the term of
widowhood.
Crttenden and Doolittle opposed such re-
strictions of marriage, but the bill was final
ly passed with the amendment.
Mr.. Clay, Of Ala. from the Committee on
River and Harbors reported against large
number of public Improvement petitions.
Mr.. Gwinn's Pacific Railroad bill was not
taken up as the special orde-.
Mr.. Johnson's Homestead bill was then
taken up.
johnson had the floor and spoke three
hours, till adjournment. He discouraged the
idea entertained by many, that the bill dis
tributes public lands a donation. On the
contrary, it is framed on the principle OF
compensation, inasinuch as the settler: full
filling the requirement of five years resi-
dence and improvement, pays in labor more
IL IL. - 81 a,nl ha a.,1
measure is not trick of demagngucisrn. 1t
received the approval of Washington, and
the fathers of the country. II ia national in
its character. The only use of the territory
is to have it settled by industrious. poor set
tiers. on their own homestead. They would
speedily change their condition. Producing
more. they would buy more, and. conse-
qutntly, contribute more towards the sup
port of Government. If there were but one
million Of families enabled to expend s56
each additional, it would produce 81 ,o0o, 900
equally of revenue and patriotism. Our pol
icy should be to prevent the accum ulation Of
a pauper population around the large cities.
Populate your rural districts, and il will pro-
duce self dependent men. Have no pam
pered aristocracy, nor vicious paupcrhood.
but raise a middle class who own homes in
the country, and who will defend their coun-
try reliably. He had heard it urged by his
Southern friends. that the bill would act pre-
iu liciously to the South. To deny this as
scrtion, the scope of which was, that the OK
tension of homcsteads even in the North
would extend the demand for the products of
labor, and thus benefit both sections Of the
country. In this connection he incidentally Y
expressed the belief that if q few of the ultras,
both in the North and the South, were out OF
the way, the bulk Of the people would fra
tcrnize. aud the Northern States would be-
come advocates for the pcrmaneacy Of slavery
in the South.
The Senate then went into executive scs-
sion and subsequently adjourned.
HoUsE.-Harris of Illinois, from the Com
mittee on elections made report. conclud-
ing with resolution ordering that Phelps
and Kavanaugh be sworn in as members
from Minnesota. provided such qualification
and admission be not construed as preelud-
ing any contest of their rights as shall here
after be instituted by any person having
right to do so.
Mr.. Gilmer made a report from a minority
Of committee.
Mr.. Wasburn of Maiuc presented his
views on the question.
Mr.. Harris said he should like to dispose
Of the subject now; but if a majority pre-
ferred IL, he would consent to its postpone
ment till the reports be printed.
Stevenson said he hoped the subject would
be settled now. He moved the previous
question.
The motion was disagreed to by five
majority.
Stevenson called for the reading Of the
| reports.
The Democrats desiring to take vote on
the question, to-day, was resisted by the
| opposition. who made dclia.ory motions and
required the yeas and nays frequently TO be
| taken.
Davis, of Nd, said il was not likely that
| the House would get ut q vote to-day, and
| suggested that the vote be postponed till
Saturday-in the meantime the reports can
| be printed and gentlemen ascertain the pre-
else merits Of the question.
Objections were intcrposed. Motions made
to adjourn-appeals from the decision OF
the chair, &C., decided by yeas and nays
The sitting continued thus, two hours. when
the House adjourned. .-.