Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-12-19
HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVE,
FsDAY. DEC. !,

TUESDAY, DEG. 10.
The following resolution, moved by Mr..
EGSfon, on the 18th inst. being under con-
sdcration
Reso'Ued That the committee on the Public
Lands, be instructed to enquire, whether sny, and
ii any, what alterations and amendments are neces.
sary tn be made IN the law giving the right Of pre-
emruon 10 settlers OH The public lands, in The ter
rito-y of Missouri
A motion was made by another gentle
man to amend The same, by adding tn, re-
to the words" and also in the territories
of Illinois and Indiana. Upon which mo-
ton
Mr.. Eaaton observed, that the law giving
the right of presumption tn the settlers on
the public lands in the Illinois TERRITORY,
had been amended at the last session. He
was not, however, opposed to the propos-
et! enquiry-that the object of the resolu-
ton, offered by him, was to place those
settlers in the Missouri territory upon ST.
miar footing to such settlers on the Illinois
territorY-that the law of Congress of the
18th April, 1914, gave to the settlers on
the public lands IN the territory of Mssou-
II, the right of pre- emption in the purchase
there I, upon the same terms as is granted
to settlers Of the like description in the IL
lnois territory, by tic act of the 5lh of Feb
at the last -ssion of Congress. By
n reference to the last mentioned act Of
Congress, it would be found that no person
can purchase, under the provisions of the
act, more than one quarter section of land,
and that to be bounded by the sectional &
quarter sectional liues-'hat by these acts
OF Congress, 70 provision has been made in
favor or settlers upon fractional sections. of
less quantity than one hundred and SIXTY
ceres, and fractional quarter sections-that
by the genera provisions made by law, the
officers of the land Offices are prohibited
to sell lands in less quantity than tracts Of
100 acres-thst in the Indiana Territory
the lands had been surveyed, and the SET
tiers then located themselves within certain
known boundalies-that it was not so in
Missouri rritory, where the private claims
to land had been adjusted for more than u
years, and the public lands not yet survey
ed. Many persons had settled under spa
nish grants, some of which had been annu-
led by the government--that amongst the
numerous private claims, there would be
found great many fractional sections, &
fractional quarters ofless quantity than 100
acres, upon which persons are settled &
the object OF the resolution offered by him.
was to secure to each settler on the public
lands, his Improvement in that terrific
ry.
The following Members appeared th,
day, viz:
From New-Yvrk, Mr.. Ca1v from Ma
ryland, Mr. Goldsborough from Virginia,
MIR. Bassett; and from Kentucky, Mr..
Hardin.
The following petitions were presented 4
and referred to the proper COMMITTEES
viz:
BY Mr.. C2endenin, petition of sun
dry inhabitants of Portsge County, Ohio
demonstrating against the opening nd
Transmission of the Mails on the Sab
bath.
BY Mr. BroUn. the petition of S muel
a. Thomas, respecting tract of land for
feited to the Ulited States for non-pay'
ment.
BY Mr.. Ho1tkinson. the petition of Caleb
+ RI and John Keen, praying to be inden-
nfied for the loss of vessel and cargo, 3
which fell into the hands of the enemy at
Alexandria, IN consequence of being detain-
ed there by the embargo.
BY Mr.. Sergeant, a petition Of John 7
David. late paymaster in the army, pray
ing that bis accounts may be settled By
order OF Congress, upon his remaining
vouchers OF expenditures, part oil
which have been accidentally destroyedbS
fire.
BY Mr.. Tucker, the petition Of George !
Gale, praying to be paid for a Wagon and
team lost in the service Of the United
States.
BY Mr.. M'Lean, ofO. the petition d
sundry inhabitants of Ci0inattl, and is VI
cinity. who served in the campaign undsI
q n. Hull.
BY Mr. Chihman, the petition ofTa5lths
Wiley, praying relief in consequ nee OF he!
husband being killed whilst volunteer a.
Pittsburg.
BY Mr.. burnside, the ttion Of Jonn
lngles. praying payment Of a clam arising
out OF the revolutionary war.
by Mr.. H9tikinson, the petition Of JACOB
Shoemaker, merchant of Philadelphia
praying to be paid the drawback to VII CT
ne conceives himself entitled on the expcl q
tation OF a quantity Of merch tntizs ~ INC
year 1906 and also the petition of Frau
CTS David, praying relief in the case iA''
mentioned.
by Mr.. Minor, the petitions Of sua'"
inhabitants Of Philadelphia, praying iol
repeal OF the excise laWa,