The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-23


was referred to Messrs. Brent. Gregg, Pope.
Smith, and Bradley with directions TO report
thereon by bill or otherwise.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MONDAY, Dec. 1s.
Mr.. Knicker6deker appeared and took his
seat.
Mr.. Gotds6sroueh and Mr.. Key obtained
leave OF absence fer two weeks.
A report was received from the Secretary
OF the Treasury in obedience to RESOLUTION,
OF the House of the LIST inst. respecting the
settlers in Madison county, Mississippi Ter
ritory.-Ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Poimdr.rfer reported bill for the re-
lief of Josiah H. Webb disabled by a wound
received whilst carrying the mail of the u
States.) The bill was twice read and com
mitted.
Mr.. N'Kim's propositions to instruct th-
committee of Commerce and Manufactures
to enquire into the prrpriety of passing coun.
tervailing commercial regulations, were ia
ken up and agreed to.
INTRUDERS ON PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr. Psfnderter observed that a resoluti-
on had been laid on the table some time a
go by gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Mil
ler) proposing the reheal of the law autho-
rising the President Of the u. States to expel
intruders from the Public Lands. M. p.
said that he was aycrse to the repeal Of thai
law, but thought some parts Of it arbitrary,
and unconstitutional, and therefore wished
it modified. Without designating the part
to which he objected, he said the following
resolution wsuld shew his object in rising at
present.
Resolved. That the Committee of Pub
lie Lands be instructed to enquire whether
any, and if any. what alterations are neces.
sary to be made in tie act entitled An
act to prohibit settlements being made Oh
the Public Lands until authorised by law"
and that the committee have leave to report
by bill or otherwise.
The motion was agreed to.
MIR. Fisk reported bill providing for the
third census or enumeration of the populali-
on of the u. States. Twice read and COM
mitted.
YAZOO CLAIM.
MIR. 1rouh called for the consideration of
the motion made by him on Friday last for
printing for the use of the House certain pa
pers relative to the Yazoo claims.
Mr.. Bacon moved to amend it so as to in.
ciude the following papers the act of the
legislature OF Georgia passed on the 9TH day
OF January, I795, granting To sundry COM
panies and individuals, certain lands there
IN described; the message of the President
of the United States communicated to this
House on the 18th day of February, 1895 !.
an act OF Congress, passed the 9Th day of
April, 1898, for an amicable settlement of
a government in the Mississippi Territory,
and an act supplemental to the last mention
ed act, passed the 10th day of MAY, 1900 !;
and the report of the committee of claims
on the memorial of sundry citizens of the
n a rhoc ax,I Ntl,a
sers under the Georgia and Mississippi com.
paay, made to this House on the 18th day Of
January, 1906.
Mr.. Irouft had no objection to include in
his motion all the papers mentioned by the
gentleman from Massachusetts but the first.
The House could not get at the act there
alluded to, because the virtue of the people
of Georgia had induced them soicmnly to
consisa 1T to the flames, and nothing of it re-
manned but its ashes, from which it could
not. Phoenix like, revive. 1t had been com
United to the flames because it was an un.
constitutional act of an unconstitutional Lee
gistature; legislature unconstitutional be-
cause corrupted, an act unconstitutional be
cause resulting from and originating IN
fraud. He asked the House whether they
would sanction the corrupt act of the Legs
lature OF Georgia, when in the most solemn
manner the people of Georgia had consigned
it tooblvionf Unless for the purpose of in
! suit to the state of Georgia, the House
would not in auy manner sanction sach an
act. 1t would be in effect to legislaie for
| the state OF Georgia, which this House had
no right to do
Mr. Bacon said that the fraud ofthe trans
action had been alleged against the petition
referred last week, as reason why it should
not be considered. 1t was impossible to get
at correct understanding of the circuIn
stances attending the grant, unless the
House had the act in its possession. How
would it be made to appear that the Legis-
lature had acted corruptly, except its act
and the names of the members concurring
lit were produced? He knew not how the
gentleman would prove the corruption which
he had pledged himself to prove without th AT
aet-and Mr.. Is. said he was DESTROYS Of at
fordiHg every convenience to the gentlesa,
IN the task he had undertaken. As to the
act having been burnt, Mr.. b. said he va.