Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-23
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
DECEMBER l6.

LEI StR 10.
Brief Sketch Of ,g!5at took place on tie COM
mutGtion Bill.
The House beng III committee Of the
whole, and the question before them be-
ing OH motion 10 strike out the first sec
ton OF the bill; in other words 10 reject
lit
Mr.. SAWYER, of n Carolina, opposed
the bill by variety of arguments, but
principally OH the ground of the heavy
demand II would create on the Treasury.
Money, he said was power. He did not
wish to live TO see another empty treasu-
nv. We had enough Of that during the
last war; and if that war had continued
another year, he did mol knOwwllat would
have been the consequence. After adj
vanclng various illustrations of the value
of full treasury, Mr.. S. added that he
considered this bill as merely Offering a
premium on speculation. 1t was surpris-
ing, he SAID how industrious we are, when
we get little money into the treasury, 10
get II out again: no prodigal was ever
more anxious TO lavish rich Inheritance.
For his part he wished that there could be
stationed at the door of the treasury, an
angel with flaming sword 10 prohibit en-
trance to all who had not pass from the
Genius of Economy, and countersigned
by the hand oil Justice.
Mr.. CLAY, (Speaker) rose TO read 10 the
House new bill, by way of amendment
to That now under consideration, which
he should propose, if the House decided
10 reject the motion now pending. The
proposed amendment consisted of seye-
raj sections, providing distinctly for the
three classes OF those who had obtained
patents, those who had obtained war
Iria had :aI
| for neither; provisions calculated equally
to guard the Treasury, Mr.. Clay conceiv-
ed, and to protect the interest of the SOL
| der ; and so worded as to exclude from
the benefit of The act all but original
grantees, holding in their own possession
the evidence of their right to tie cOmmu-
tailon. Mr.. G. explained the operation
which he anticipated to the various pro-
visions of The bill. With regard TO the
doubts'which had been expressed Of the
Legislative power, Mr. C.. said he had not
| the remotest doubt, and could Tot CON
| ceive of doubt on the subject. Neither
had he the smallest doubt that any con
| tract made with any soldier for bis rigiIt
to bounty land, prior 10 he emanaloa of
his patent, was totally void. The specu-
latlon which was anticipated III the qua
lily of the land, by which the best would
| be retained by the soldier or bought by
lie Speculation, and the worst be returned
by the process of Communication TO the go
vernnent, WAS guarded against in the "a
meadmenthe had read. Mir. T.. said, he be-
lleved, indeed, that the government could
not make better speculation than in the
re-purClIase of the public domains, which.
he was compelled to admit, with The gen
lleman from Maryland, (Mr. Smith had
~ ft,!l
manner justified however, by the circum-
stances of the times, when men were
wasting, and we had no money, bur had
land in plenty to offer them. The amount
OF money the measure might draw from
the Treasury would be most economical
" applied by such an appropriation OF ii
as lac advocated.
MIR. DEsHA, of Kentucky, thanked his
colleague for the amendment he had pro-
posed. He was perfectly satisfied, he
SAID, that there was not man ~ tie
House who had not sympafhizpd with the
| soldiers IN the sacrifices they were obilg-
ed To make 81 their land: he was satisfied
the proposed amendment would obviate
| the objections which had been suggested
| 10 the measure, and benefit The govern
| ncni and the soldier, and not the SpcclI-
| latOr. II the amount of communication
were fixed at one dollar per acre, the SOL
der would know he could get $50 dollars
| for his land, and the spesulator must bid
higher. Mr.. y. was satisfied that all the
lands were worth two dollars per acre, and
the government would he great gamer
by such communications as were made
MIR. ID. expressed his hope, therefore, that
the motion to destroy the bill would be
Withdrawn.
| Mr.. SToRRs, Of n. Y. was opposed TO
the proposition for communication IN any
shape, conIending that IFS operation would
be 10 benefit tIIe speculator, and not tie
soldier whom it proposed TO relieve. He
went into a view Of The mode in which it
would have this Operations. TIE soldier
could not, he said, present in person his
patent, warrant, or claim at the treasury !;
II would cost him, generally, more than
tho Whole value of lis land TO do IL. lie
must do il by deputy and this bill would
give greater facility 10 the spcculatog, Than
he now possesses, Of iilcliing from the
soldier the greater part Of his cOminuia-
lion, which to receive would require a
mere order from the soldier, after his pa
tent or REIMBURSEMENT was deposited, i'm
/ Toe .l..s. 4 4 1