The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-04-14

treasury department 70 suspend the paw !,
ment ct the bills, whenever they should
De presented, on,il the French government
should have furnished satisfactory proof that 4
the amount of the bills has been applied for
The purpose provided for in the convention.
The bill was passed To second reading,
and referred to Il committee Of the whole
House on Wednesday,.
The House resumed the consideration of
the amendments OF the senate to the bill for
the admission of Louisiana into the Union
and to extend the laws of the United States
to that state. The amendments were Sc
Hcrally considered, and one relating to sa-
lares was discussed in committee of the
whole, MIR. Basset in the chair. The a
mendments were all agreed to, including
that which separates from this bill the pro
vision for extending the limits or the new
state so as to include portion of the Florida
Territory.
| The bill further providing for the govern
ment OF the Territory Of Louisiana was
read third time.
| Mr.. M'Kee opposed it's passage on the
| ground OF the incomptibility of the seco nd
grade of government with public peace or
tranquility. He dilated on the disadvanta-
ges OF this grade of government. 'under which
the whole population was sometimes thrown
into the greatest ferment and connection
for the most trifiing cause, " TO watt a fea-
ther or to drown Il fy." He atlverted to the
lpetition against this law from the people of
that territory 1t appeared they were
themselves divided in opinion in relation to
the change. He was not therefore for
throwing this firebrand amongst them.
MIR. M-Kee concludedhis COLLECTIONS ,by
knowing to postpone the bill to the first Mon
day III December next.
Mr.. HfSton opposed the motion. He drew
a comparison between the first and second
grades of government, favorable to the lat
lrer, though he expressed his adherence of
the territorial form of government in any
shape. The complaints of divisions and dis
Iputes under the second grade of government
were not attributable to any defect in the
second grade, but to the despotic nature of
the first, in which the people were not re-
presented and had no opportunity of making
their grievances known, &c.
On motion of Mr.. Porter, the bill was or
ldered to lie on the table.
! Tuesday, .dhrH7.
| Mr.. Nezoton, from the committee of COM
merce and manufactures laid before the
House the following letter from the Secreta-
ry of the Treasury
| TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 1, 1872
| Sill have the honor to enclose CO.
pies OF two letters from the Collector of n .
YORK; respecting proposed purchase of
the Old Federal Hall for a custom-house. 1t
is the only public building fit for that use
IN the city. The situation is the most eligi-
glble that could be selected and it is pro-
bable that it will sell for sum in any de-
gree equal to the aggregate value of the
grounds ahh buildings. In every point of
view would think it eligible to authorize
this Department to accept the offer of the
Manhattan Company, as the only risk will
| be to pay some interest in case the rent of
the custom house and public stores should
not be equal to the interest of the purchase
money. But you viii perceive that in that
case no time is to be lost, as the sale takes
place ON the 18th inst
have the honor to be, &C.
ALBERT' GALLATIN.
The Hon THOMAS NEWTON,
Chairman u me committee IF
Commerce and Manufactured at.
| Mr.. .Nezoton sated that the committee had
| had this subject under consideration, and,
leave being given--Mr. N. reported bill to
aurhorise the Secretary to purchase for the
use of the U. States, the City Hall in New
York.-Twce read and referred to
committee of the whole.
| Mr.. Porter obtained leave, from conside-
rations of both public and private nature,
If absence from the service Ell the House for
six weeks.
A message was received from the Prcsi-
dent of the u. S. transmitting report of
| the Superintendent of Public Buildings, in
conformity to resolution of this House cal
ing for information of debts due for work
done on the Public Buildings, together. with
a letter of MIR. Latrobe on the same subject.
THE letter of the Superintendent trans
mits to the President statement in detail
made by MIR. Lotrobe, by whom the expen.
diture had been authorised, of the amount
due for work on the Public Buildings, the to
tai or recapitulation of which is as follows !:
| Capitol 1867 7o
| Sculptors 1928 rs
- 9791 81
| Presidents House 1858 50
| General Expenses 1850
S14,425, 06, 1-4]
| The message and documents were refer.
red to the committee of Ways and Means
| The House took up for consideration the
amendments OF the Senate to the bill autho
rising detachment of the militia of the u
states. The amendments are all matters of
detail, excepting new provision for abolish
ing corporal punishment All the amend
ment OF the Senate were agreed to, a slight
1 verbal amendment however having been
made to one Of them which recuired the