Mr. BUCKALEW. I understand that this is for 75,000 acres of land, and that it is only one 6th part of the whole amount which will be claimed if the other claimants come forward and show their loyalty. That will amount to over art of the territory, taking 400,000 acres of the public lands appropriated to a claim which, upon its statement, is certainly very ancient in its origin, and I presume doubt. ful in character, from the fact that it has not heretofore received the indorsement of congress, that is, of both Houses, when there was leisure for its consideration. Now, sir, I am unwilling to vote so large and enormous a claim upon a brief verbal statement made in this Chamber and without an examination of the papers. It seems, upon the very face of that statement, that the party or parties entitled to this land at one time abandoned it, gave up altogether their claim, went off to another section of the country; and that in that condition, when the lands were entirely abandoned, when there was no claim in behalf of any private party, the U.S. assumed jurisdiction over them and proceeded to sell them out, and the country was settled, improved, and brought into cultivation. When it became very valu able, at a subsequent period of time, we do not know how long, some of the parties came for ward and revived their ancient pretensions. I confess, sir, that I do not feel much in clined to vote for these ancient claims. We are asked to administer equity or favor in the 3rd or 4th generation frequently on account of some alleged injustice committed upon the ancestors of a claimant 2 or 3 generations back 50 years back, 100 years back. I think we ought to confine ourselves to those cases of claims recent in their origin and unquestioned in their justice which are before Congress in both Houses. I believe the HoRep at the last session adopted a rule that they would investigate and pay no claim whatever in an of the States which were engaged in this rebellion, no matter whether the claimant was a loyal person or not. That House deliberately shut the doors of Congress against any claimant whatever for any claim of recent origin, any claim that is new, no matter how merito rious it may. That is the existing condition of this subject of claims. Why then, sir, you should pass by recent claims which you can investigate, why you should pass by claims in favor even of loyal persons in the southern country who have peculiar claims upon you, why you should pass by claims which you can investigate upon fresh evidence, and go back and revive these ancient claims, I cannot understand. I shall vote, at present, without an opportunity to investigate this subject further, to {po.stpone this bill. PRESIDENT protempore. The question is, Shall the bill be engrossed and read a 3rd time?