The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-14
LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS.

Ii is proposed, in the following pages, to ex-
hibit the record of the votes and proceedings in
both branches of Congress, during the session
which terminated On the Sd of March, 1859,
upon the disposition of the public domain of the
United States.
The official report of these votes and proceed
ings in the Congressional Globe will be referred
10 by the pages Of that work, so that the reader
who chooses to do so may verify the accuracy of
the quotations made.
No subject can be more important than that of
the disposition OF our public lands. In extent
they embrace one thousand millions of acres, and
the of their disposition affects the social
condition of the people of the old States well
as Of the new States.
A great question long existing in respect to
these lands has at last assumed definite form,
aud has become a tombstone of parties. That
question is, whether the public domain shall be
open to monopoly by spectators, leading inevi-
tably TO landed aristOcracy, or whether ii shall
be reserved for actual occupants, in small guam
titles, at a nominal price, or without price.
This question hasslwsys existed, but it is only
recently that il has assumed practical form, by
being taken up by great national party.
Until recently, the country was divided into
Two national parties, both Of which were either
controlled or modified in their action by the
slaveholdng interest of the South. From the
nature of the case, that interest is opposed to
pre-empiion laws and homestead laws, because
Slavery cannot exist at the same time with sys
TEN of small freeholds flour new States are oc-
cupied IN quarter sections, they will be occupied
by farmers, and not held by spectators or great
planters.
Thus, then, until the recent reorganization Of
the Jefersonian Republican party there was no
national party which WAS in condition to take
up this question, because, until the reorganiza-
ton of this party, there was none which was not
infi lenced or controlled by an interest adverse
10 prescriptions and homesteads
On the goth of January, page 1927 bill re-
lating to prescriptions, reported from the Com
mittee on Public Lands, was pending before the
House. The bill proposed to make some changes
ia the details OF existing presumption laws, but
without affecting the substance of the present
system of disposing of the public lands. Ii was,
however, in Parliamentary order to propose to
amend the bill, so TO change the present sys-
ten, and to bring the House to a direct vote upon
such propositions. The friends of such changes
were prompt to avail themselves ofthis advantage.
Mr. Grow, of Pennsylvania, moved to amend
the bill by adding the following as an additional
section:
&" Be Il further enacted That from and after the
passage OF this act no public land shall be ex-
posed to sale by proclamation of the President,
unless the same shall have been surveyed and
tue return OF such survey duly filed in the Land
Office, Tor ten years or more before such sale"
II was impossible to assail this amendment OF
Mr.. Grow AS being out of order. Ii was strictly
germane to the pending BILL and, unless the bill
itself could be got rid Of by some side blow, a
direct vote upon the amendment was inevitable.
The slaveholding aristocracy, who are bold
enough when II Is necessary to be bold, but who
arc crafty as well AS bold, forthwith resorted to
Parliamentary tactics TO avoid a direct issue
upon Blr. Grows proposition.
Their first movement WAS a motion to refer the
bill and amendment to the Committee of the
Whole, Familiarity and aptly styled " the tomb o.
the Capuiets." If that reference had been carried
the bill would never have been reached, and
would never nave been heard of afterwards
The vote upon the motion to refer the bill to
the Committee Of the Whole was as follows-the
Democrats in roman, the Republicans in italics,
and the South Americans in small capitals
YEAS, 30.