The New York herald., 1870-02-20
F0RTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
Second bcssi0n.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, lsl0.

SENATE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1870
RESOLUTIONS OF TIE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate reso-
lut,ons OF the Virginia Legislature for the removal
or political disabilities incurred by the people or
Virginia ny reason OF the late war; which was
tabled.
THE JEFFERSON PAPERS
Mr.. HOWE, trepj Of Wis. rom the Library Com
mttce, reported joint resolution for the return of
certain private papers Of Thomas Jefferson to his
executor, which was taken up and passed.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Mr.. WILSON, trep.) Of has5., introduced bin to
provide for the disposal OF useless military
tOns which was referred to The Military COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Wilson'S bill authorizes the secretary OF War
to transfer to the Secretary OF the INTERIOR lor dis
position according 10 the existing laws OF the United
States, the military reservations at Forts Lane and
Wallace, oregon; Fort Searai, Kansas; Camp Nc
Garry, Nevada; Fort SUMNER New MEXICO, and por-
tions OF tue Fort Brldger Reservation, wyoming
territory
Mr.. MORRILL,. (repl OF Me-. introduced oil rela
tive to unexpended appropriations, which was re-
| fcrred to the COMMITTEE on Appropriations.
Mr.. MOrrlis bill provides that all balances OF un
expended appropriations shall be covered INTO the
Treasury at the end OF two years from the time the
or.lnal APPROPRIATIONS were made; and tnaL AZ the
beginning OF eacn fiscal year sucn PORTIONS or un-
expended ba ances shall De covered into the treasury
AZ the respective neaos VI the departments shall
certify are NOT required Tor use during SAID year.
COLLECTION or TAXES OF INDIANS.
Mr.. THURMAN, ,den.) Of onlo offered resolution,
or Mas as to o. auy ocer Of the roy
ernment nad contrary to the treaty OF July TO- 1866
with the Cherokee nation, enforced taxes upon pro.
ducts manufactured IN the Cherokee natlon and sold
within Indian territory.
THE EIGHT HOUR LAW.
Mr.. SPENCER, (rcp.l OF Ala., ny unanimous consent
addressed the Senate upon tie OIL to regulate the
hours Of labor Of government laDOrerS and inechaa
les Hls speech was mainly IN reply TO the senator
elgnt hour system necessltaied corresponding re-
ducllon In the wages OF aDorers. He advocated the
nm thA 1aNnr
In government employ and urged the passage o the
pending bill upon this subject without amendment,
system might pc secured to those Tor whose benefit
they were designed
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
Mr.. TIPTON (rep.) OF Neb., rising TO privileged
question, said 1t appeared by the G06e that ON the
previous day the Senator from Massachusetts tMr.
Sumner) had forwarded to the Clerk ana nad read
telegram IRON the Governor OF Nebraska announcing
the ratification OF the fifteenth amendment by the
Leglslatme Of snat state Beilevina taat paramen.
be communicated by one or the Senators represent
ing that State ne would now inquire OF his col
league tMr. Tnayer) whether he nad received any
official Information on the subject.
Mr. THAYER, rep.) OF Ncb., said he had received
in purport to one which had been read at the sug-
| gesLi0n or Mr.. Sumner II the Governor OF Ne
brasKa had desired the reading ut the Clerks desk
Of any telegram from hun ne mr.. Thayer) thought
that senator from Nebraska would have Oeen pre-
ierrcd by the Governor to make the request.
OREGON RAILROAD LAND GRANT.
Mr. WILLIAMS, trep.) OF Oregon, called up the bill
granting lands TO aid in the construction OF rall-
road and teegrapn line A irom Portland TO Astoria
Mr.. THURMAN addressed the Senate In opposition
to the land grant contained III the bill. He SAID the
government had given twelve !nillons or acres or
more land to the Union Pacific Railroad seven or
eight millions more 10 the Central Pacific, twenty
millions at lne very least) to the Northern Pacific
Railroad; ana there were now dozen bils pending
by which 1t was proposed to grant subsidies to rail-
roads running IN every direction which would with,
millions OF acres. lie belle, CD THAI the country Is
source Of prosperity was IN her cheap lands;
tnat It was tnat cheapness Oi land which had
| enabled 30 large portion OI the American people
| to become owners OF real esnte; that enabled q
| man to say .'This cabin Is my own thls land will
| leave to my children after me, and they, too,
| VIII be landowners in the land OF thei. blrth.'
| THIS consideration had done more, perhaps, than
any other to make us high-spirited vlrtuous
people. But now every year made 1t more dlficult
Ior the poor man to get arn. and for tue poor me-
land was more enhanced. Besides 1t should not be
forgotten that IN ali countries there were to be found
vast tracts 81 lands wnlch could not DC occupied BY
the agrlcutuiist but ony by rowing population in
the raising OF cattle. Ol this character was the vast
tract betwee9 Nebraska apd Calllornla which would
lessen tue vast eXphnse Of available lands, ue pre-
ceeded to show Lnat in proportion as landB were
given away to CORPORATIONS, and their price thereby
enhanced 1t was mace more difficult for the people
TO acquire homes Tor themselves and their children.
In doubling the price OF lands through the medium OF
land grants TO railroads the government like iaud
shark, sought to take advantage OF the necessities
OF the people. recent estimate. leaving Chncse
immigration out OF the question, placed tho popula-
ton VI the United states ut one hundred ana six
| mllliOns Ia less than sixty years, perhaps within
| the lifetime OF the youngest memDer OF the Senate
| we would have population OF two hundred mil
| lions. Where, then, would be our homes for that
| independent agricultural population which was the
very best reliance OF the country Ior It's virtue, sta
blty and prosperity
that the boast OF the American people degree
| OF progress with which the Western country had
| been developed. He did not propose to have our
public DOMAIN as heritage FOR future generations
but would have the present age realize the greatness
and grandeur Of me country. M lie believed thar the
railroads. was the best that could be devised These
companies must 1--we and therefore must dispose OF
these lands, which, under the Dill, were 70 ne sold
to actual settlers. lie said the country demanded
opportunity for expansion westward; that railroads
| were the most efficient mediums Of development
| and therefore ne wanted more railroads.
Mr. HAMLlS, trepl OF Me-, said one OF the greatest
improvements OF the age was cheap ana rapid trans
portatl0n, anu that these valuable facilities where
the effect was largely 10 enhance the vaue OF the
land, should not he denied 10 oregon when all other
| States mad been similarly favored.
| Mr.. CASsRRLY, (dem.) of Cal, disclamed any mo-
tive OF hostility to that form OF American enterprise
| which would develop the wealth OF the Pacific
coast, but asserted his determined opposition TO
continuance OF the present system OF distributing Lne
public domain in parcels Dy land grants TO railroads.
| These great land monopoles he urged, were the
| cause or alarm to the people OF the country es.
peclay TO the working MASSES who with natural
intuition, scented the danger TO them in the estab
llshnent OF an 0vershadowlnR power by the posses
sion OF land In view OF the immense grants or land
the four Pacific railroad companies the aggregate
lions OF acres he desired to ask HE Senate to pause
| and consider the consequences OF such Q policy
That railroads had contributed TO develop material
wealth OF the country was not sufficient argu-
ment to entlte them rule the country. In reply to
| the senator from nevada (Mr StewarD. whose idea
was to give away everything for the present hour he
claimed that the government OF the United States
held these an1s In trust not 10 the present genera
ton, but for the millions TO come after He ap.
peaed to the Senate TO deal with the question with
some reference to the wishes feelings ana apprehen
slons OF the great bodv OF the people. Referring to
the sentiment OF his own State ne said he per-
sonally In entire accord with the position recently
assumed by the Legislature of California upon the
subject, and read vt length from series OF resou
tons adopted by that body with Unprecedented
unanImity.
Tne motion to indefinitely postpone was not
agreed 10, and vote being taken on . motion 10
strike out OF the bill oil provisions appropriatng
lands to the proposed road the motion was defeated
by yeas g. nays, 37-the yeas being Messrs. Cas-
serly Davis and salisbury. Mr.. Thurman was ap-
sent and paired on.
The bill was then varousy amended. provi-
sion was adopted prohibiting the company from
taking up any land containing iron or gold. The
bill then passed.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
message was received from the President in
response to resolution Of the Senate relating TO
recent connict between Colonel Baker and the In