Speech #430008162

That bill is pending. and this billouglt not to be acted ou. unless adversely. until she Coniittee on thePbhlic Landshave report edon the other bili. A fter one hundred years of a system of wild donations and graits aud land specislation. leading to a vast dimimtion of the publlic domin. the time has come when ott the return of that great anniversaryon th 4th of July. 1876there should not be a land warrant. or land scrip floating. or any floaing elaim to an acre of this vast inheritatnce of our countrymen. We should then proclaim to the people of this contry -and to immigrants from the whole world that frorn that anniversary not an acre of land shall be taken from the public domain except by men who will settle upon it and make bread out of the soil. That wili be a glorious consummation of our first centennial ann iversary--a triumph greater than what I hope will be the brilliant triumidh of the centennial exhibition. I ask the uceiuburs of the House to take these reforms into consideration. and to consider them favorably if the views I have presented commend thiemselvestotheir judgments.