The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-04

- Robertiop, made report concluding with a
relouton that the petitioner have leave TO Withdraw
his petition, under the impreon that any provifi-
on be made for his cafe, hould be of general ma
ture including all like cafes.
Mr. BLSekslge. From the bsft information have
been able to collect, by examination of the doeu-
ments lad ON our table, we'll as by converfation
with gentlemen better acquainted with the fubiea
than myie, find that from the fales of public lands
already made, there will be to be collected in the
eoure ct about four years upwards OF millions of
dollars from the fame fources Of information like
vile learn, that in the courfe Of the prefen year.
the ita;e OF Ohio only, upwards of 100000 dollars
are to be paid, the lands mutt be fold to rafe the
balances from the perfons owing this enormous fum
and that fales for part of are to commence in this
or the next month. The petitions prefeneed to Con-
grefs at this FELTON,, praying for exenon Of credit
Tor the balances due from the petitioners, aud depc-
ing the dilfreGes TO which many ruul be reduced If
our laws are rightly enforced ought to draw our at
tention to what is to be the probable consequences Of
aiyitem, which in practice is found likely 70 bring
largely in debt TO the government 70 comfortable
proportion of the citizens Of any feon of the union
10 my mind there is nothing more obvious, than
that It the Preent fyfem Of telling lands is perfe-
vered IN, the peace of the union may and probably
will not be preferred. Men who have paid three
fourths or perhaps more Of the purchafe money for
their lands, and fpent fevera years hard labor in i'm
proving them, Cannot feel very frongly attached,
nay, mutt feel an averfon, to government, whole
rigid policy, in confequence of their having failed to
pay the balance which may be due, takes from them
not only their lands and improvements, but
fues to refund that part of the purchae money which
may have been paid. Let the number of perfons of
tins deicription increafe that extent to which our
pre'ent iytem naturally leads, and fear fir, it will
De impossible to enforce your laws No man will dare
to bid at your fales, his life mnf he in danger if he
does and tho the lands
the government, what good would it do them
ne hrit Purchaier is in pofe0ion, and the fpi-
rit OF the community in which he lives is
IN favor of his holding it. To evia him you mutt
reiort to force the consequences of which are too OBJ
vious to need defcrption A committee of this Houfe
has already decided the principle that it would be i'm
proper to grant longer indulgence to thofs whole
time OF credit has expired To have decided other
wife would have been adopt towards your debtors
tor the purchaie of your lands, practice directly
! contrary from that which snder fmar c;reumn an
ees OF hardihip has been uniformly obierved towards
! your debtors at the culfom houfes difin9ion
which cannot, as conceive be fulfilled by any prin-
ciPle OF policy or juice. ] know of no way BY
which the evils to be unprecedented can be 70 eeetu-
ally averted as to put flop the practice of telling
the public lands on credit, and with the view to
bringing the fubea before Congrefs aud aicertainng
their opinion upon it, beg leave to lbmit the follow
ing refouton;
| RefoiSsd, That the committee on public land. be
inrueted to enquire into the expedency of repeating
all fuch OF the f-veral as for the fae of the
lands OF the u as authorizes a credit on any part
OF the purchaie money and that they report their
| pinion thereupon
| Mr.. Ne7otOn moved amendment, going TO refer
this refoution to the Committee of Ways and Means
which did not prevail-Ayes l3-
When the reiou,ion was agreed TO without di.
| viiion.
! Mr.. G. W. Caut5eR, from the committee to whom
were referred undry memorials from the leqiaatnte
and inhabitants of the Mippi terr,osy, relative TIC
the eiabklhment of hofpital at Natchez, made re-
port in favor Of aiding fueh inituton by granting
$4,000 acres of land. {
Referred to committee Of the whole Houfe or
Monday.
melage was received from the Senate, fstinp
that they infiit on their amendment TO the bill fa
fixing the compensation of the officers of the Houfe-
tina. they have agreed to the refolut;on returning
thanks to MIR. Nien, the Danih Confnl at Tripoli-
that they have agreed the amendments of the HOME
| to the Ohio road bill this bill has confequently paffed
| both Houfes)--and that they have receded from all
| their amendments but the laA to the bill providing
| rules for the army.
Mr.. i. RondaIpb from the committee of Way:
and Means, reported two bills, one making appropr
atoms for the fupport Of the military effabhment
and the other making appropriations for the fppor
OF the navy, for the year 1906, which were referred
| to committee of the whole Houfe.
Mr.. CLARK moved the following refolution:
ReoI0ed, That it is expedens 70 far TO amend the
aa fixing the military peace Establishment of the u
States, TO abolih the office OF brgader general III
the army of the u S.
| FRIDAY March