The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-08-30

SONA "'o HiO"PSiOup1 "hSHNNSl
money was plenty; and you had a
surplus revenue in the treasury that
you did not know what to do with,
your land sales ran up ten, twelve,
fifteen twenty, or twenty-four
million dollars year; but the mo-
ment arevulsion came, and money
became scarce and your imports be-
gan to fall off, the land sales stop
ped; you could scarcely get dol
lar into the treasury during the
very year you needed it most This
source of revenue failed you when
you wanted it. 1t creates a surplus
when the surplus becomes a curse
to you, and fails you when you
need it to supply the deficiency in
the treasury. This very system of
public land sales is one of the caus-
es of pecuniary revulsions in this
country; and it will benefit the
country, benefit the treasury, bene-
fit commercial community, and the
moneyed affairs of the entire Union,
to have this system cut off. 1t will
remain partially under the bill
where lands are entered for specula-
ton, but it will be cut off in regard
to the actual settler. lie pays on
Iy twenty-five cents an acre, which
is about the cost of the administra-
ton of the land system.
+ Mr. Mason-I wish to ask the
Senator from Illinois, whether the
effect of this amendment will not
be to enable the pre-emptioners
who are such, to take their pre-emp-
lands at quarter of dollar an
an acre. ...
Mr.. Douglas-Unquestionably.
The amendment proposed by Mr..
Douglas was lost by vote Of 26 to
81.
A vote was then taken on sup
stituting the House bill for the
Senate bill, but the amendment
was rejected-ayes 25; nays 3O-as
follows:
AyesNEssers. Anthony, Bing1t
ham, Cameron, Chandler, Clark,
Collamer, Dixen, Doolittle, Doug
las, Durkee, Foster, Grimes, Hale,
Hamlin Harlin, King, Rice, Sew
ard, Summons, Sumner, Ten Eyck,
Trumbul, Wade, Wilkinson and
Wilson-25.
Nays-Messrs. Bayard, Biglor,
Bragg, Bright, Brown, Chestnut,
Clay, Clingham, Davis, Fitzpatrick,
Green, Gwin, Hammond, Hemp
hill, Hunter, johnson, of Ark,
johnson, of Tenn, Lane, Latham,
Mason, Nicholson, Pearce, Polk,
Powell, Pugh, Sebastian, Slidell,
Toombs, Wigfall and Yulee-30.
Mr.. Douglas having endeavored
to improve the Senate bill-having
voted in favor of substituting the
House for the Senate bill-but fail
ing in both-urged the passage of
the Senate bill as the best which
could be obtained, as follows:
Idesire to say a word in this
stage of the proceedings. If the
object of the friends of the Home
stead bill be truly and sincerely to
promote the interest of the settlers
on the public lands, 1 do not think
there can be moments hesitation
in voting for the, bill as it now
stands before the Senate. No man
can deny but what there are pro
visions in this bill which are of
vast Importance to the settlers. It
may not accomplish all the objects
that we have in view. 1t does not
accomplish near all the objects |
had in view. 1t is not what [ de-
sire. I had entertained the fond
hope that we could have done bet
ter. But, sir, we have done SO
much now that we cannot stand
justified if we refuse to take what
is now so generously extended to
us, merely because we cannot get
all we want. Sir, there is one feat
ure in this bill ofitself of vast i'm
portance. 1t gives to these settlers
two years at least, to, save their
homes. If they do not get any bet
ter provisions at the end of that
time, they have, at least, that two
years respite, and then it gives
them the lands at twenty-five cents
an acre instead of$1 rs. Is it Of
no service to the settler that he
gets his, farm at twenty-five cents,
instead of$1 25 an acre? 81
Mr.. TrumbullA lAHe has to pay
$125, just, the same under this bill.
). "Mr. Douglas-Then it is not as
satisfactory as | had hoped; it is
still more Objectionable. But still
1t gives the two years; and how can
we refuse the grant of two years,
accomplishing all that we ask fol
that length oftime, and giving them
a chance to save themselves after
wards, instead oftaking them away
4 from them now and afterwards
4 Evenlthat two years provision is Of
I sufficient, importance to control my
vote"
The bill then passed by a vote of
4lto's 's-Mr Douglas for and Mr..