From that sum, if we deduct the amount re- For payment of public debt, Military establishment, including Revolutionary pensions, $4,995,082 2,597,285 7,997,630 [H. OF R. 3,551,073 3,000,000 22,141,070 $6,842,720 Mr. HARDIN opposed the appropriation, and went into a constitutional argument to prove that the General Government had no right to construct any road within the territory of the States, save for military purposes or the conveyance of the mail. He repelled the charge of inconsistency, and insisted that the interests of the West called for no such road to an eastern market. If a wall could be built between the Eastern and Western States, as high as the Andes, then the products of the West would all go to New Orleans, where the God of Nature intended hat they should go. The great evil, at present, was that, while their exports went to the South, their imports came from the East. He inveighed against the extravagant Cost of the road, and compared it with that of the GuyanLatte road through Staunton, the whole of which had cost! And we have $6,812,720 to meet such appropriations as but $200,000. Congress may think proper to make, for what the genM. LOVE made some further explanations in reply, tleman terms "extraordinary purposes." Of that sum, ich he concluded by observing that he would allow the friends of this bill ask only for $300,000, to be exto the advocates of strict construction twenty years to go pended in the year 1834; and, in justification of this reSpun their principles, after which he was well persuaded quest, they exhibit, he repeated, not the crude calculaey would return to the way of their fathers. tions of members on this floor, but the estimates and Mr. THOMAS replied to Mr. CAMBRELENG, and in-calculations of the Department of War. ted he was not authorized to characterize the bill under Mr. POLK, in reply to Mr. STEWART, insisted that, if crisideration as one which proposed extraordinary ap- $200,000 was all that was needed during the present propriations, or as a measure to be classed with the bills year, it was unreasonable and improper to call for an ap on the table for the benefit of the District of Columbia. propriation of $600,000 at this time. As to what had Telatter had their origin in the committee of this House, been said with regard to the prospects of surplus revewere not, of course, included in the estimates of pub-nue, gentlemen ought to look at the other side of the expenditure for the year 1834, which had been sent account, and consider what vast sums had already been tous by the Secretary of the Treasury in December last. appropriated by the legislation of the House. The bills Neither were they founded on estimates from either of which are already passed, exclusive of the Indian annuithe other Departments of the Government. But, sir, ties, amounted to upwards of $9,000,000. The annuity What are the facts in relation to the bill before us? It bill would make the amount over $12,000,000. Then, provides for an appropriation of $652,000 for the repair $3,000,000 more would be required for the pensions unf the Cumberland road east of the Ohio; and an appro-der the act of 1832; then the fortification bill called for riation of $150,000 more for the continuation of the same $900,000; the old harbor bill near $1,000,000; besides l through the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. which, there was the new harbor bill, the light-house bill, Both these sums are founded on estimates from the War the bills for territorial expenses, besides $5,000,000 to Department. The gentleman from New York is, then, meet the public debt payable on the 1st of January next. correct when he places the bill we are examining in Let any man make the calculation, and he would find tame class with those by which Congress proposes to that the appropriations were like to exceed the receipts leve this oppressed District. He has committed another of the Government. Why, then, lock up these $600,000, ake, by saying that no part of the sum of $1,102,000 when $200,000 was all that could be expended this seaened in this bill is included in the estimates of the son? Gentlemen must not debate this bill as if it involved Suntary of the Treasury of expenditures for the year the issue of internal improvements or no internal improve14. Mr. T. said he had the estimates of the Secretary ments. It was merely a question as to sum and time. War in his hands. We there find the following sums He hoped the reconsideration would prevail. uired: F continuing the Cumberland road in Ohio, west of Zanesville, By continuing the Cumberland road in Indiana, + continuing the Cumberland road in Illinois, season. Mr. WAYNE was aware of the manner in which this road had become so burdensome to the Government, and $200,000 feared that they should not very readily get rid of the 150,000 burden. He admitted the propriety of appropriating, 100,000 but could not consent to the larger sum asked. He quo$450,000 ted the report of the chief engineer, to show that the Is sum of $450,000 is included in the estimates of the whole sum could not with advantage be expended this Sretary of the Treasury, and in the $1,102,000 pro-minded them that it was but six months till there would He called upon the House to be cautious; reelto be appropriated by this bill. The inaccuracy of be another session of Congress, and thought it would be gentleman, therefore, in this particular, is obvious; proper to insert a condition that the States should agree at his effort, by this means, to embarrass the friends of to take the road as soon as the sum estimated by the bill, must be abortive. The attempt he has made to chief engineer had been applied. He noticed that, aljudice the House against this bill, by awakening an though the completion of the road west of the Ohio was Pprehension that the receipts of the treasury will be to be placed under the inspection of an engineer of the equate to meet contemplated expenditures, would, United States, the bill contained no such provision as MT. said, be equally unavailing. to that portion of it which lay east of that river. He quoted documents, to show the miserable manner in which $7,983,790 the road had been constructed in Indiana and Illinois. The available funds in the treasury on the 1st The receipts into the treasury from all mated at To which the report of the Secretary of the 16th of June, instant, authorizes us to add 18,500,000 Mr. ASHLEY explained on that subject, and stated the utter incompetence of the persons who had been employed to construct that part of the road. Mr. WAYNE, after some further remarks, concluded by recommending that the smallest sum be now appro2,500,000 priated that would be sufficient to carry on the work un$28,983,790 til the next session of Congress. H. OF R.] Cumberland Road. [JUNE 17, 1834. Mr. PEARCE, of Rhode Island, after adverting to the not now enter into the argument on that subject. He great length of the debate, demanded the previous ques- forebore, in consequence of the lateness of the hour, from tion; which was seconded without a count. doing any thing more than merely offering the amend ment. The previous question was accordingly put and carried; and the main question, which was on reconsidering, being put, Mr. DAVENPORT demanded the yeas and nays. Mr. THOMAS moved a call of the House, but it was negatived; and the question was decided by yeas and nays, as follows: Yeas 101, nays 96. So the House agreed to reconsider. The question was then put on Mr. POLK's amendment, reducing the appropriation to $300,000, and agreed to. Of course, the amendments moved by Mr. SUTHERLAND and Mr. DICKERSON, of New Jersey, fell, having nothing to which they would apply. Mr. MCKENNAN now moved to strike out the words "for the entire completion," and also to strike out the fourth section of the bill. Mr. ELLSWORTH said he had been in favor of giving 600,000 dollars, provided the road was then to be taken off the hands of the Government. He was now unwilling to appropriate without knowing when there was to be an end. He could not give even the reduced sum without the limitation; and he should therefore be constrained to vote against the present amendment. Mr. BEARDSLEY approved the principle of the amendment, but thought that it did not go so far as he desired. He had drawn up an amendment, which he would offer if this should fail, declaring that Congress does unconditionally assent to the acts of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Mr. W. COST JOHNSON said that he would vote for the amendment, if the amount appropriated were ade quate to fulfil the condition on which alone Maryland had agreed to take the road, viz: that it should be put in per fect repair; should be examined and approved, and fur nished with toll-gates and tol!-houses. But being con vinced that the amount was inadequate, and that his State never would take the road unless more should be done. he was constrained to vote against it. The law giving he assent at all had not been passed without great difficulty. and he was well assured that her assent would never be yielded to receive the road in a state of imperfect repair. Mr. ELLSWORTH objected to the amendment, be cause it contained the implication that, in its preceding acts concerning this road, Congress had been guilty of a violation of the constitution, and that the General Gov Mr. GHOLSON thought that this was the time to as-ernment had no power, under any circumstances, to con certain whether Congress meant to persevere in appropriating for this road, or would now yield it up to the States. He therefore wished to move an amendment to the amendment; but which the Chair pronounced to be not now in order. Mr. ADAMS called for a division of the question; and, it being divided accordingly, the question was first put on striking out the words "for the entire completion." Mr. BEARDSLEY said he had voted against the reconsideration, but he could not vote for the present amendment. struct a road in a State, even for military purposes or the transportation of the mail. Such an implication unneces sarily embarrassed the bill. Mr. MERCER objected to the use of the word jurisd tion, as employed in the amendment. He had alway thought that the United States Government possessed a qualified jurisdiction over every foot of the territory the Union, and beyond it to a certain distance on the sea. But the amendment denied any jurisdiction of any sor and involved the doctrine that the Government could not punish any crime, not even treason, if committed on any Mr. McKENNAN demanded the yeas and nays, ob-portion of this road. serving that, if the proposed words were stricken out, the bill would then be in the form in which the Committee of Ways and Means had reported it. The question was then put, and decided, by yeas and nays, in the negative: Yeas 93, nays 115. The question being on striking out the fourth section of the bill, Mr. GHOLSON now offered the following amendment: Mr. GHOLSON, in reply, denied any averment that al the Government had done respecting this road had bec done in violation of the constitution. The amendment only went to relinquish all the authority which had bec claimed. As to the criticism of his colleague, it was as tonishing to him that the acute mind of that gentlema did not perceive the distinction between jurisdiction ove crimes and jurisdiction over a road. The jurisdiction referred to in the amendment was that over the road alone, which might be relinquished without, in the slightest de gree, impairing the criminal jurisdiction of the Govern ment. The amendment of the gentleman from New York [Mr. BEARDSLEY] applied only to one portion of the road, "That, from and after the expenditure of the money herein appropriated, all jurisdiction and authority whatever, heretofore claimed for the Federal Government over or in relation to the said Cumberland road, be, and the same are hereby, for ever surrendered and abandoned." Mr. VANCE said that this section had been added, un-his own to the whole. der the expectation that $600,000 was to be appropriated. Mr. EWING said that the subject had now arrived at The House had agreed to give but half that sum. They its crisis, and he should now offer a resolution, recognising might retain the section if they pleased. All he knew the compact of the General Government with the States was, that $300,000 would never complete the road, and of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and denying its right to he felt very certain that the States would not, in that case, surrender the road, unless completed to the satisfaction agree to take it off the hands of the Government. of all the States concerned. Mr. E. presented to Con Mr. GHOLSON said that several of his friends had sug-gress a serious question which might arise, and which i gested to him that the amendment he had proposed was, was necessary to have clearly understood, lest the faith in effect, equivalent to the section at present in the bill; the Government should be forfeited, and injury commit but in this they were mistaken. The section did not re- ted. Gentlemen had talked of constructing a road for peal the act of Congress of 1832, which act had declared $4,000 a mile. All he insisted on was, that the rost that Congress might reassume its jurisdiction over the should be placed in perfect repair. If gentlemen co road, if the States should not, in its judgment, act wisely do this for $4,000 a mile, he had no objection. He de in their management of it. His amendment did repeal nied the right of the Government to relinquish the road, this act. He was for doing nothing by indirection. His unless by a new compact with the Western States. If the meaning was, and he openly declared it, that Congress Government would make a new bargain, and give up t should abandon and for ever surrender this road. If the right to hold the public lands untaxed, good and well; i States were to take it, let them take it with that under- was just what he desired. The States would then have standing, and not, on any condition, that their acts were their own soil, without begging any part of it as a boot subject to the supervision of Congress. Mr. G. would from Congress. They were not beggars by habit, and JUNE 18, 1834.] Public Lands--Harbor Bill. [H. of R. fewer beggars were to be found at the West than were those relating to the Territories, being of local interest, to be found in this District. Mr. E. predicted that would be neglected. the veto doctrine would pass away, that the road to Mr. POLK objectingBuffalo would yet be constructed, and that the day would Mr. SEVIER entreated the House to consider that, if come when the representatives of the people would glory these bills were now passed by, as the bank or deposite in having constructed it. The gentleman from Kentucky bill would have to be acted upon after the appropriation [Mr. HARDIN] might now withhold his aid; but he might bills, any postponement now would have the effect of a hereafter reflect upon his vote with less satisfaction. A perfect veto on all the bills in relation to the Territories. contract and bargain had been made and sealed with the The House, however, on motion of Mr. POLK, susWestern States for the right of highway, and they had pended the rule for the purpose of considering the apgiven up the taxes to obtain it. If our side of the bargain propriation bills. was to be relinquished, the other must also. For such a measure, he would go heart and hand. If the gentleman! from Virginia would vote for Mr. E.'s resolution, he would vote for his amendment. HARBOR BILL. The bill making additional appropriations for certain harbors, and removing obstacles in rivers, for 1834, was Several verbal amendments made in then taken up. Mr. HUBBARD moved that the House should not con Mr. GILMER inquired of Mr. GuOLSON whether an amendment to this effect would not suit him better than Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union haythat he had offered? That, as soon as the sum appropria-ing been concurred in, ted should have been expended on the road, the United States would thenceforth cease to interfere with the juris diction and right of soil of the States through which the road passes. Mr. GHOLSON said he had no choice between the amendments-either would meet his wishes. The question being on the amendment proposed by Mr. EWING Mr. McKIM moved the previous question, which was seconded: Ayes 102. cur in an amendment increasing the appropriation for the removal of "the raft" or obstruction in the Red river from $30,000 to $100,000. Mr. POLK, chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, opposed the amendment. The House had heard a letter from the superintendent of the work, in support of the motion of the member from Louisiana; but it would be borne in mind that that was a letter addressed merely to a private member of the House. No such communiThe previous question having been put and carried, cation had been made by the Department to the Committhe main question, on ordering the bill to its engross-tee of Ways and Means; nor had any such sum been rement, was carried by yeas and nays: Yeas 127, nays 72. So the bill was ordered to be engrossed for its third reading. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18. PUBLIC LANDS. commended to Congress by that Department. He called upon the House to keep down the amount of money to be appropriated by this bill, and not to swell it by adopting every suggestion made by members for objects in which their own constituents might have a peculiar interest. It had been too often the practice in times past to load down the harbor bill in this manner, so as to endanger, if not entirely prevent, its passage. The Department had set down the amount required for this object of expenditure at $25,000. The committee, however, in consequence of representations made to them, had concluded to exceed that amount somewhat, and had inserted $30,000 in the bill, as by them reported to the House. It was now asked, on the authority of a private letter, at once to swell the sum to $100,000. He hoped the amendment would not prevail, and that it would not be made an occasion of prolonging the debate. Mr. DICKERSON moved that the House reconsider the vote by which the bill to reduce and graduate the price of the public lands was yesterday laid on the table. The bill and amendments there to having been readMr. PATTON said that it was perfectly manifest there was not time now left to consider the various projects connected with the subject of the public lands, and which must inevitably come up in discussion if the House should rescind their vote by which the subject was laid on the table. It was a question admitted to be Mr. HAWES said that he hoped that that portion of of importance to every State in the Union, and he thought the House which was desirous of seeing the removal of was therefore of too much importance for the House to this raft completed, and who did not wish to see Conbe dragged into a discussion upon at the heel of the ses-gress called upon year after year to make fresh appropribon, when members were but too generally unwilling to ations for this object, as had been the case with the Cumtolerate the deliberation and discussion which it was all- berland road, to concur with him in supporting the important to give it. He therefore moved to lay the mo- amendment now proposed. Did gentlemen forget the tion to reconsider on the table. important fact which had been stated and explained by the gentleman from Louisiana, [Mr. GARLAND,] that this raft was increasing at the rate of three miles every year, by the accumulation of floating timber at its upper extremity? Loss of time, under such circumstances, was loss of money. The work to be done was increasing every hour. From the explanations which had been given it was clear that, of the $30,000 proposed in the bill, not more than $15,000 would or could be expended upon the work itself, the rest being necessarily consumed in the Mr. SEVIER expressed his hope that the bills in rela-preparations unavoidably necessary beforehand. Whetion to the Territories would be taken up, that they might ther the men worked at the raft a longer or a shorter be passed upon, and those which were approved be sent to the Senate for concurrence. Mr. WILLIAMS, believing this to be a most important question, and one upon which it was necessary to have a full and distinct expression of the opinion of the House, ved a call of the House for that purpose; which was urdered, and the House was called accordingly. The motion to lay the motion to reconsider on the table was decided in the affirmative: Yeas 111, nays 87. So the House refused to reconsider the motion to lay the bill upon the table. Mr. POLK desired to have the appropriation bills proceeded with. Mr. SEVIER said there was little doubt that, as the appropriation bills were of general interest, they would certainly be taken up before the adjournment; whilst time, they had to be collected and transported from a H. OF R.] Harbor Bill. [JUNE 18, 1834 cumulation of more timber, and the repetition of the ex- Mr. McKINLEY, of Alabama, said he was in favor pense of collecting and transporting hands, would pro- the amendment. He attached great weight to the lette bably cost the Government not less than $200,000. By of Mr. Shreve, which had been read by the honorabi this short-sighted saving, the country would have to pay gentleman from Louisiana, [Mr. GARLAND.] He had fa double for the same benefit. The Government must be the more confidence in his estimates and opinions than loser. Had it not been shown that, by the expenditure those of any engineer, however scientific, because h of this $100,000, the Government would gain millions from was a practical man. He had had experience. He d the body of land drained and brought into market? He not speak from theory merely. All his estimates were hoped, therefore, the friends of economy in the House founded on an intimate personal and practical knowledg would vote the sum at once, and be done with it. of the subject; and he thought that $100,000 could b Mr. VINTON said that he had voted for this amend-well applied, and that it would finish this great improve ment in Committee of the Whole, but he should now vote ment during the present year. Could there be tru against concurring; and, lest this might be considered as economy in refusing the sum, he asked, especially whe an evidence of inconsistency or fickleness, he begged, in the raft was growing in size every day? The differenc a few words, to state the reasons which had occasioned was but $70,000, and for this sum the Government woul this change in his determination. have such a body of rich land brought into market a The effect of this improvement, when carried to comple- was no where else to be found. But the gentleman free tion, would be to throw open 70 or 100 miles of country Ohio [Mr. VINTON] was very apprehensive that, if the to sale and settlement, which was now overflowed and raft should be cut through, settlers would immediate uninhabitable. This vast tract would be opened in a new push into the lands and get pre-emption rights. But L and wild country, where there were no inhabitants, and would ask the gentleman what inducement could any which lay on the utmost verge of settlement, beyond the man have to go into land in the condition this was in, as range of population as now existing. Under this view must be in for a long time to come? Would they go d he had voted for the increased appropriation; because, if settle in the water, among snakes and alligators' H this work of clearing out the channel of the river was to rather believed not. The squatter could do nothing et go on at all, it might as well, and better, be done at once such lands. As soon as they were thrown open, they than protracted for years. On making inquiry from gen- would be purchased by the cotton growers; by men wh tlemen who possessed the local knowledge, he had learn- wished a body of land together, not a little lot such a ed that the country immediately above this raft contained would suit a squatter. one of the finest bodies of cotton lands in the world; and There was, therefore, nothing in the gentleman's arg he had become satisfied that these lands, when drained ment; and it presented no good reason for any man's chan and exposed to sale, would bring from $8 to $15 an acre,ing his vote who had voted in favor of the amendment and thus pour into the treasury a very large amount of The body of land to be drained would bring in a larg money, perhaps ten millions of dollars. But, since the amount of money to the treasury. Had this raft been re bill had been up in Committee of the Whole, the House moved, and this fine body of fertile lands thus brough had passed another bill which had entirely changed the into market thirty years ago, they would have paid o whole aspect of the subject, and had removed every mo- more of the public debt, even supposing them to hav tive which had induced him to vote for this appropriation. brought no more than one dollar and twenty-five cents He alluded to the bill granting the right of pre-emption acre, than they would now at five dollars. There wa to actual settlers, or squatters, on the public domain. And another bill, reported from the land committee, for grad he did not now hesitate to believe that, should this raft be uating the price of the public lands, and selling some removed, and that rich body of cotton lands be thrown twenty-five cents an acre: and if such a bill had passco open to the sun, every acre of the entire tract would im- fifteen years ago, enough land might have been sold to mediately be taken up at the minimum price. No soon- pay off the public debt. Was the Government to hol er would an acre of this rich soil be drained, than that in-up its land for ever? And for what? To get more than ot stant there would be a squatter upon it, claiming the right dollar and twenty-five cents as an average price for it? | of buying it at the Government price. Did any gentle. was a vain expectation. The thing could not be done man remind him that the pre-emption law was limited in But was it indeed the policy of gentlemen to keep the its duration? He knew it was limited. But, did gentle- poor and industrious citizens of this country, the han men, did any gentleman, seriously believe that it would pioneers who were prepared to brave the dangers a not be re-enacted, and continue to be re-enacted from privations of the wilderness, from becoming freeholder: year to year, so as, in fact, to be perpetual? Was not the If that was their desire, let them avow it boldly like men principle openly justified? And would not the arguments let the people understand it. [Mr. MCKINLEY was her for it be as good one year as another? The squatters were called to order by Mr. HUBBAHD, on the ground that he favorities with some gentlemen in that House, and always was discussing and defending the bill to graduate the pries would be. of the public lands, which bill was not now before the He therefore repeated his prediction, that the moment House.] this country was at all accessible, it would be penetrated Mr. McK. excused himself by observing that he h in all directions by adventurers, who would be stimulated been cut off from his privilege of discussing that bill whe by the hope of getting land worth $10 an acre for $1 25. it was up, by its having been hastily laid upon the tab If such was to be the result, and must be the result, he and as the present bill presented what he deemed a ta saw no longer any inducement to go on with the work of opportunity of discussing the principle, he had avail opening the river. Let it remain as it was till the regu- himself of it accordingly. He insisted that, upon the lar advance of settlement should bring population into the question of the benefits to be derived from opening the vicinity; then the work could be done at half the cost; raft and draining the lands above, the general question then the laborers and the supplies would be on the spot; the value of the public lands was fairly open. Whoen now they had to be brought from a great distance, and at examined the subject must be convinced that nothing an enormous expense. Seeing that there were no com- would so greatly promote the public happiness as bring mercial purposes to be accomplished by the improvement, ing settlers upon our public lands. It conduced to a ger and no financial benefits to be derived from its prosecu- ral equality among the citizens, which was the life of a re tion at this time, let it lie over. He was not for giving public. By removing the obstruction in one of the finest $100,000 from the treasury, to be put in the pockets of rivers in the West, a body of land, containing more that individual land speculators. a million of acres, would be brought into public sale, ara USE 18, 1834.] Harbor Bill. [II. or R. uld bring two millions, at least, into the treasury. It on; yet the gentleman told the House that laborers and as true economy to bring these lands into market as provisions would have to be sent on from Kentucky. ecdily as possible; because, from their quality, their mediate sale would be certain, and the money realized. and would the House, for the petty consideration of the 70,000 difference in one item of this bill, retard such a Esult, and subject the country to double and treble exense in effecting the improvement itself? He trusted a ser policy would prevail. Mr. VINTON: I said no such thing; I said not one word about their being brought from Kentucky, or any thing like it. The gentleman is wholly mistaken; he has misrepresented me altogether. As Mr. EWING disclaimed any intention to misrepresent the gentleman from Ohio. If the gentleman had not expressly said what he had represented him as saying, he Mr. LANE, of Indiana, entreated gentlemen who op- had said so impliedly; he had intended to say so. Howposed this amendment to recollect that the raft, through ever, as the gentleman now disclaimed any thing of the which this opening was to be effected, consisted of a vast kind, Mr. E. stood corrected. The gentleman, at any beds of trees, which had floated down the stream of the rate, had said that the work would cost three times as river, and, having lodged and become immovable, occa- much now as it would when the country should be settled. sed a daily and hourly accumulation of other trees He had said, however, that settlers were flocking there filing from above; the raft was thus constantly enlarg-in great numbers; and yet the gentleman had declared ng itself, and consequently the expense of its removal that the country was an uninhabited wilderness, beyond as continually growing greater and greater. It had been the verge of population. Now, Mr. E. should suppose ated by the gentleman from Louisiana, within whose that, while the men were poor, they would work cheaper estrict this obstruction was in part situated, that so great and sell cheaper than when they had got in possession of the amount of the timber thus constantly brought down these rich lands, and brought them into full cultivation. by the current of the river from above, that the raft ex-As men grew rich they were apt to grow indolent. tended itself up the stream at the rate of three miles a to the land question, which had been introduced by the year. As soon as a cut of sufficient size should have been gentleman from Alabama, [Mr. McKINLEY,] he should -Hected quite through it, the trees floating above would not investigate it, as he thought it had nothing to do with longer be stopped in their course, but would pass down the present debate. Nor could he agree in the opinion th the stream. It was obvious, however, that, in this re-entertained by some gentleman, in disparagement of those pect, till all was done, nothing was done. The impediment who went to settle on public lands. Some men placed above would continue to increase, and the land beyond it the distinctions of society in the pocket, not in nerve and rld continue to be overflowed. But, no sooner should sinew, and hardy daring, and indefatigable perseverance. Dssage be made for the water, and for the trees and But, under no circumstances should Mr. E. fail to sustain ranches floating upon it, than the draining of the country the cause of these valuable, though much abused men. ld immediately commence, and rapidly proceed, until a So far from grudging them their little tracts of land at ast extent of the richest alluvial soil would be thrown open the Government price, he was in favor of going to a to collivation, and brought under the industry and enter-greater extent than any bill which had yet been brought e of man. For every dollar expended in removing before the House. The doctrine he held, and his sincerraft, the Government would get back ten, fifteen, and ity in holding it, would be put to the test when the bill to ruty dollars; and why, therefore, should they hesitate which he had allusion should come in from the land cometo appropriate a sum sufficient to accomplish the mittee. In the meanwhile, he hoped the House would One word to the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. not spend more time in the present debate. TO] That gentleman appeared to have a great horf the idea that these lands should be taken up by set-were now within ten or twelve days of the close of the at the Government price; now it would not change session, and that if, by continuing to debate this bill, they L's vote if he could be assured that every acre of the should delay its passage much longer, it would be too life tract would be thus disposed of. The gentleman's late to give it a hearing in the other House. The House ment amounted to this: that the Government ought to bad now, he believed, heard all that could be said about ulate upon her own citizens. This was a doctrine the cutting of this raft; and he hoped they would proceed! st which Mr. L. entered his solemn protest; it was to act. strous doctrine-unjust, impolitic, and utterly dis- Mr. VINTON said that if the gentleman from Pennaceful to any Government that would act upon it-that sylvania [Mr. SUTHERLAND] had heard all that could be Government, erected for the common good, should un- said on the subjeet before the House, he enjoyed an adake to speculate upon the members of its own family! vantage over him, (Mr. V.,) who had been part of the ke money out of the wants and enterprise of the poor time detained from his seat. In briefly stating the rea industrious portion of its own inhabitants! Those men sons which had induced him to change his vote, he had unst whom the gentleman had directed his invectives had no intention of opening the general question of the the most valuable members of any commu-sale and settlement of our public lands. One gentleman they penetrated into the wild forest; they left the had said that the more squatters went upon these lands forts of the more populous settlements to brave the the cheaper provisions would be, and the more readily frors of the wilderness; they endured its dangers and the work might be done. That might be true if settlers pations, and encountered years of tedious labor, that moved into these swamps, bringing their flocks, herds, y might earn a home for themselves and their children.and cornfields along with them. Otherwise, he did not radventurous industry induced others to follow them. see much force in the observation. Now, it seemed that They opened roads and bridged the streams, and thus nobody pretended or expected that these lands were to ered the public lands accessible to settlements, and bring more than one dollar and a quarter, or, at the most, ught a constant stream of money into the treasury. two dollars. But very different language had been held Mr. EWING, of Indiana, declared himself to be in fa- when the amendment had first been moved. Then the at of the amendment now proposed; and said that, if he House had been told that Government was to receive ten hard entertained any doubts of its propriety, the reasons millions of dollars, and that the lands were to sell at 15 red by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. VINTON] against or 20 dollars an acre. It was urged, however, that would have been sufficient to have induced him to vote the pre-emption law, which only extende to a quarter ts favor. The gentleman, it seemed, apprehended section of land to each settler, would not interfere with but settlers would immediately rush into that part of the the sale of the Red river lands above this raft, because try, and, according to him, many had already gone they were cotton lands, and would be purchased by cot arre among Mr. SUTHERLAND reminded the House that they |