New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-21
XLIsT CONGRESS-2D SESSION.
SENATE. WASHINGTON. Feb. 10. 1870.

The NlCE-PRESlDENI lald before 'ho o.
ate the resolutions of the Virginia Legislature ior 'no
removal Of political disabilities incurred by tio peop
Virginia by reason OF the late war, when Wero 'a
UNExPESDED APPROPRIATIONS.
Mr. MORRILL, Hlep.. Mel introduced Dill reia'No "
unexpended appropriations, which was referreu' :.
Ipre, uusIpend-d aproP,,oas 'da e the
original appropriations we're made aud that at The eesnaaE into into
,. ear a'n PORTIONS o. Of the departments shall certify are
not required for during said year ,,.h
Mr. THURMAN Dem. Ohio offered resoiuton' VIM" '
was agreed TO- calling upon the President for
"a 20 wbo,her any officer Of the Government had con
trary to the treaty Of July 10, 1866 WIN 'io ~ ~
Nation enforced taxes upon products manufacturers !"
the Cherokee Nation and sold within Indian terloiy'
| Mr. RAMSEY Rep Mimi called up the annual IoSt
Route BILL which was variously amended anu p''''
THE EIGHTHOUR LAW
Afr SPENCER 0lep Ala), by unanimous consent
addressed the Senate upon the bill TO regulate the hours
~ labor OF Government laborers and mechanlcs ils
speech was mainly In reply To the senator ~"
mont Nr MORRILL, who had assumed that the eight hour
svstem necessitated u corresponding reduction IN inc
l. wages Of abOrers. He advocated tue chiin ur ,
Government of the aborng classes III % on
ploy and urged the passage of the pending o upon
this subject without amendment, so that the Demeo
| those for whose benefit it was designed.
THE NEBRh sKA RATIFICATION.
Mr. Upton CRcp.. Neb). rising TO privileged qles
ton sand IL appeared by The Gobe that on the previous
day the Senator from MASSACHUSETTS, sumner na t th
warded to the Clerk and had reau s tho
Governor of Nebraska announcing the rathcallo VI ,o
Fifteenth Amendment by the Legislature Oh ,,at ~;
believing that parliamentary courtesy required tht
such Intelligence should be communicated by one Oh to
senators representing that state he womb now nv
of his colleague Thaye) whether he had feceFeu al!
| official Information on the SUBJECT. ---,, ,,,,
Mr.. THAlER REP Neb) sad ne nau rervi'o nurport
the Governor of Nebraska dispatch similar IN pun w AZ
to the which had been read at the SUGGESTION o
Sumner II the Governor OF Nebraska had desired the
reading az the Clerks desk or any teleHIim rom %
he nhayerl thought that Senator from Nebraska "ouu
have been preferred by the Governor
! LAND GRANTS To RAILROADS. ,,,, ,..,,
Mr.. WILLIAMS rep, oregon called up inc pa ~ ~,
ing lands To aid in the construction OF railroad ana ie
egraph line from Portland to Astoria and McSiIhhVie
| in the State Of Oregon 49,. ,,, A.. e.,,o,o In
opposition TO the land grant contained IN the b' lie
said the Government had given twelve millions Oh acres
or more of land to the Union Pacific Railroad seven or
eight millions more To the Central Pacific. twenty millions
nj the very least to the Northern Pacific Railroad, and
| there were a dozen bills pending, by when IL was
nroposed 10 grant subsidies to railroads running in every
direction which would withdraw from the p1PG u0llih
that the countrys great of prosperity was III hcr
cheap lands That it was that cheapneSs OF land when
become of real estate that enabled man 10 say
| "this cabin is my Own this land Will leave to my
| land owners I'm the land OF their birth"
This consideration has done more perhaps, than any
now every wear made more diicut for the poor
get IA and for the poor mechanic To get lehs
Besides it should not be forgotten that III all countries
tracts Of land were 10 be found which could not oe
Ut ~ tr a9 SfD NEBRASKA and California which
would lessen the aggregate eXpanse OF available lads
lie proceeded to show that in proportion lands were
given away to corporations, and their price thereby
enhanced, 1t made difficult for the people 10
acquire homes for themselves and their children, IN
doubling the price OF lands through the medium Of land
grants TO railroads the Government, like land shark
sought take advantage OF the necessities OF the
people recent estimate, leaving Chinese immigration
out OF the question: placed the population Of the United
States 100000 In less than 60 years perhaps with
we would have a population Of 2OOOOOOJO Where then
would be homes for that independent agricultural
population, which was the very best reliance OF the
country for Its virtue. STABILITY ana prosperity
Mr. STEWART Ucp., New said he had supposed that
progress with which the Western country had been de-
veoped He did not propose TO leave our public domain
heritage for future generations, but would have the
present age realize the greatness aud grandeur OF the
country lie believed that the policy OF distributing the
public lands in aid of railroads the best that could
be devised These companies must ilye ana therefore
must pOse these lands which under the bill 10
be sold To actual settlers He said the country demanded
opportunity for expansion westward that railroads were
fore he wanted more railroads.
Mr.. HAMLIN CRep., Me- said OF the greatest i'm
prOyemens Of the was cheap and rapid trdnsporta
ton, and that these valuable facilities where tho effect
largely 10 enhance the value OF the land should not
be denied to oregon when all other states mad been sm
Mr.. CASsERLY Dem CALI disclairned any motive of
would develop the wealth OF the Pacific coast
serted his determined opposition to continuance Of the
pareeIs by land grants to railroads these great land
monOpoles argued. the cause Of alarm To the
people Of the country especially to the working masses
who, with natural intuition, scented the danger to
them the establishment OF AN oyerhadowng by
lands to the four Pacific Railroad Companies,
the aggregate 1850 exceeding 12O,0OOOO
OF acres ue desired 60 ask the Senate
pause and consider the consequences OF such policy.
That railroads had contributed TO develop the material
wealth Of the country not sufficient argument
entte them to rule the country In reply TO the Senator
from Nevada (Mr. Stewarp. whose idea Of giving away
everything for the present hour he claimed that the
Government OF the United States held these lands in
trust not for the present generation but for the millions
to after He appealed 10 the Senate To deal with
the question with some reference To the Wishes feelings
and apprehensOns OF the great body OF the people. Re
ferrng the sentiment OF his State he said he
personally in entire accord with the position recently
sumed by the Legislature OF California upon the subject
and read length from series Of resolutions adopted
by that body with unprecedented unanimity.
motion TO indefinitely postpone was not agreed to,
and vote being taken on motion 10 strike out OF the
the bill all provisions apprOpratlDg lands to the pro-
posed road the motion defeated by Yeas Nays 81,
the Yeas being McSsrs. Cassery, Davis aud Sauis-
bury. Mr. Thurman absent and paired of. Tho
bill was then varously amended. A provision
adopted prohibiting the Company from taking up any
land containing iron and gold and the bill then passed
message received from the President in response
10 resolution OF the Senate relating to recent conflict
between Col. Baker and the Indians. Adjourned.