The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1859-02-10

This was one reason. | also doubted the
policy of making the period SO long. am
anxious to support the bill ii my objection
can be removed.
Mr.. CAvASAuGH do not 20 too far
when say that nobody here doubts the
honesty OF motive influencing the action of
the gentleman from New York. His con
duet AS chairman. or member Of the Com
mittee on Printing. | DO not now recollect
which, whereby he has exposed such stupen-
dous--l will call them s,upendous
robberies, and eorruptions IN the public
printing, has been often commended am
proud 10 endorse him, and ! am glad TO
know that he has voted with US.
Mr., Chairman, am opposed, entirely, to
the bill introduced by the gentleman from
Alabama, Mr. Cobb, think that any
law repeating the prescription laws OF the
country, ough, to provide a grant 10 erery
actual settler, free Of cost, q onehmdred and
s,rty acres OF isnd. may be considered an
sgraran. II that be agrarianism, then !
admit the charge. | say, aud utter it here
distinctly, that, in my opinion, no man upon
this broad earth should be entitled TO al
acre ol the public lands, unless he is willing
to cultivate and improve and enhanc, their
value.
MIR. PHELrs, of Minnesota. win not my
colleague 90 for this bill if he cannot get
homestead blly
Mr.. CAvANAuou. | will reply to my col
leagues question, that as u dsfEier resort, as
q choice of evils, would Of course selectth
\ ,at AL hitl I 4
will take this bill with all it's imperlec.
,ions upon its head. Neither gentlemen
from New York, Louisiana, Alabama, nor
from your own State OF Kentucky, Mr..
Chairman, nor from any State Of the Union,
ought ever to have been allowed 10 enter an
acre OF land in Minnesota, unless il was their
intention TO occupy and cultivate IT. Men
have been fascinated by land speculations
during this universal mania for the acquisi-
tion OF public lands. They have sent out
their land warrants to my State, and have
located them over the counties Of Dodge, OF
Mower, of Houston, Of Fillmore, and OF 9th,
er counties land warrants which they pur.
chased for eighty and ninety cents per acre.
What amount has been added TO the reyc-
nue. OF the Government from the entry Of
public lands Why, sir, the Government
only TO enter on public lands with land war
rants, but also to deprive our land officers Of
their honest fees.
Mr.. MILIsoS. II the gentlemen will al
low me will ask him question. How
much revenue does Minnesota derive from
the United States lands within her limits
Mr. CAvASAuGH. | think five per cent
on all the lands sold since her admission.
Mr. MILLsoS. That is not Nh answer TO
my question. How much revenue does the
State Of Minnesota derive from the United
States lands unsold
Mr.. CAvAsAUGH. Not dollar, that
know Of.
Mr.. MILLsoS. do not suppose il de-
rives dollar. Does Minnesota derive any
revenue from lands purchased by non.resi-
dentsl
Mr.. CAvASAuoH II does not
Mr.. MILLsoS. DO you not tax the lands
OF non-residen,s? ?
Mr.. CAvAsAuGn. We have generally to
sell the lands for taxes.
Mr.. MuLsoy And then you get the
lands yourselves
Mr.. CAvAsAudn. Tax titles do not
amount TO much.
NJ MILI.sos. Well, really do not
zee what injury il done To the people Of
Minnesota by the sale Of lands 10 non.resi.
dents. They derive revenue from them.
Mr.. CAyAsAUoH. will state the injury
that is done. Suppose that own hun
dred and sixty acres Of land on which am
settled | fence, improve and cultivate tha,
land. Ny honorable and distinguished
friend from Virginia is, let us suppose, a
specuator, and locates bis land adjoining
mine BY the improvement Of my land
enhance the value Of my friends land and
i'll wish TO extend the area Of my farm and
to buy the adjoining land, will have to
pay FIVE ten, fifteen or twenty dollars an
acre for it--a value given il, not by it,
owners industry, but by mine.
Mr.. MursoS. But the State fevies the
tax in proportion TO the enhanced value.
Mr. CAyASAuGH. No, sir these lands
are taxed as wild lands at the rate, be-
lieye, Of two dollars for every forty acres.
The gentleman, is reposiDg in his qnict,
plShsaDt upiu' w HgiH 1WlVuiiutJ ny
those appliances Of wealth and civilization
Of which know the gentleman has just ~
keen an appreciation as any one in this
Hall yet be will allow his lands 10 Dc Idle,
while my energy aod my industry and my
money enhance the value Of his land
Neither am ! willing, SIR, to cODfne the
giving Of the public lands only TO the native
born Of these States. Every man, DO mat
ter what his nationality. who comes to our
common country and swears allegiance to
our glo-ious Constitution, hail asi vel
come az an accession u the wealth and in
dusiry Of the nation; 20 matter what cI-
mate has bleached or Drowned bis cheek
DO not stop 10 inquire II he speaks the
Morse, Celtic. or Teutonic tongue. Enough
for me 70 know that be u man, and though
foreign born. is attached TO oar Institutions
from choice and affection.
| speak, Mr.. Chairman, warmly 10 favor
Of this measure Of giving the public domain
10 the actual occupant, speak warmly
for my own State and people. In all my