Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-02-04

mcn 81 the city were invited 10 oWVl"N "a
ternatcly The consequence, this year, has
hecn a novelty--praycrs by Romish priests.
We had Catholic priest on Friday morning
last--another on Saturday morning-aud an
other on Monday morning three in success
sion, Curiosity is on tptoo to learn the
reason of this remarkable tenacty for the
apostolic succession | have heard sug-
geston which mag solve tho difficulty ::
The lady Of one Democratic candidate for the
Presidency, It is said has been frequent at
tendant upon Catholic services during the past
year and now, it has become necessary to
prevent any undue advantage TO the aforesaid
candidate by securing the favor Of the Cath
Ollie Church for the whole party. So we have
Catholic prayers in the Senate and the House
--tor party purposes give the story as
l had it. Now, in justice to the officiating
priests must say that the prayers read each
morning seem to have been we'll adapted 20
the occasion-a iormu,e prepared-and that
there was nothing at which Protestant need
take offence.
The Patl'c Londs.
think left the prc-cmption bill Gas a-
mendcd by Mr.. Grow hanging on motion
to reconsider the vote refusing an engross-
ment which had been carried by small MAJ
iority Nh Marshall Of Ky had made the
motion to reconsider. and moved to lay that
motion on the table If he had insisted. lu-
other vote would have been had and thi.
was what the friends of the bin desired Mr.
Marshall, however, ON subsequent day,
,rihdre,c his motion. 1t was too late for any
body to renew it, and thus the only chance Of
saving the bill was cut off, cannot bet,cr
state the objects and effect of Nh Grows
proposition than by giving the following arti-
Gle from the R'Yulhc, Of this city
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN Fon ACTUAL sErrLERS-
MR.. GROW AMENDMENT.
Thursday January 20. was day OF the most
absorbing excitement in the House. the occasion
Of it being Mr.. Grows proposition to amend
presumption bill. so as 90 prohibit the sale
Of public lands at auction until the expiration
of ten years after the surveys; being. in fact.
proposition to coninc the sales Of public
lands TO actual settlers. The proposition was
carried, the Republicans voting solid tor H.
Then followed contest % kill the bill as a.
mended, the Democratic opposition biting able
10 rally some votes against the bl as whole
from men who did not dare to oppose the
amendment as a proposition by itself mo-
ton to lay the bill ON the table was negativcd.
but it was killed at last upon it, passage to
be engrossed The yeas and nays upon these
several questions should be studied and pre-
served
The present Democratic party opposed.
as they always have done, this great measure
of reform, long demanded by Justice and
public sentiment. 1t is not merely that they
wish to retain "a system which makes our pub
lie domain favorite subject Of snecuation
and corruption, bnt they saw that the med-
tated reform would cause the occupation of
all our Territories. present and to be acquired.
by small cultiyators and free laborcrs 1t
was this aspect OF the case which concontrat-
ed upon it all the passions connected with the
political and social problems Of the day II
the public domain is kept from the auction
block for ten years, the pro-emptors will take
all that Is fit for cultivation. and occupants
and cultiyators Of quarter sections will be
farmers. and not planters. 1t was this Wow
of the matter which aroused the South to
that pertinacious opposition which, for the
time being, has been successful
Mr., Grows amendment presents ono of
those issues which test the real composition
of parties and mark their character SO that
nobody can mistake it, Mr.. Grows amend
ment is, beyond all poradyenturc, a genuine
democratic measure. 1t preserves the public
domain for the actual settler It looks for
the basis Of the Government to a ycomanrv.
and not landed aristocracy. 1t prefers the
farmer TO the planter. the many to the few.
those who labor with their own hands to OF o.
garchs who subsist upon the labor Of others.
Being thus democratic measure, it was sun
ported by every member Of the Republican
party, which is the only party Of the present
day which has anything democratic about IT,
As the laws now stand, the auction of the
public domain following close upon the com
pletion Of the surveys, with occasional briet
resptes at the capricious discretion of the
President, there is only small proportion OF
public lands which is taken by pre-emptors.
and as to that which is so taken. the pre-
emplors, who are generally poor, are obliged
TO borrow money, at enormous usury. To make
their entries whereas, under Mr.. Grow IS
measure, they will be allowed sufficiently
long term to accumulate the means of pav-
ment from their crops. 1t is a great hard
ship upon the new settler, at the very time
when the erection Of his house and the clear
ing and establishment Of his farm call for
great OUTLAWS, to oblge him to pay for his
land He rarely does il without borrowing.
and such loans, in new countries are at rates
incredibly high, 1t is said that Nh Grows
measure would reduce the land revenue. for
the present. So it would. but it is better
that the Government should borrow money at
five per cent. per annum, than that the pio-
neers of the West should be obliged to Dor
row money at five per cent. per month.
This measure Of Mr.. Grow will be carried
finally and before long. The South will on
pose il TO the end, as a measure unpropitiops
to the spread Of Slavery, but the South is not
able to defeat it without Northern allies. and
these allies in Congress are becoming small
by degrees, and beautifully less. Their
stronghold is the Senate, but their mower
there is being surely, although slowly under
mined
In their prompt and unanimous support of
the policy Of preserving the public domain
for the hardy settler, the Republicans have
vindicated themselves from the false and obi
Gus imputation of being mere party of op-
position. With a distinct creed and objects
~ 49,