Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-27

Mr.. Lowndes opposed the postponemeni
IN short speech, of which the object on
~ can be here noticed. lfany arrangement.
lac said, could he made in respect 10 the
bounty lands, at once beneficial to the
soldier and the gorernment, there could
be no doubt OF the expediemcy of lis a.
doption. That The measure before The
House would he beneficial 10 both. he
had no doubt, fof reasons which he stated
al large. The soldier, he conceived,
would be benefited nv receiying for his
land warrant a price higher than that now
given, which he understood from various
quarters, WAS not more than from so Ia
10 dollars ; whilst the government WOULD
be benefited by retaining into its pos
Sc, sion, and Withdrawing from the market
body o! land, the extent OF which might
tor some years, reduce the value of the
land OF the United States i'll that market.
The loss the United States might sustain
from that competition, MIR. L. calculated,
might be, all cir, umstanccs considered,
from 90 TO 10 cents for each acre thrown
into the market and that price, there
fore, it would be decidedly the interest of
the government TO give for these lands.
Having demonstrated that the measure,
therefore, would equally benefit the u.
States aud the soldier, he had no doubt
oil ITS cXpediency. AT The same Time, he
objected to the amendment iastproposed,
to give, III lieu OF money, stock bearing
an interest OF 6 per cent.-becauSe il
would not be in effect equally beneficial
Ia The soldier, and not as beneficial to the
United States, whose money III the Trea-
sury was no, worth per cent. per annum
Che Interestit was prOpOSedt the certificates
should bear which was demonstrated hy
The fact, that il could not obtain at par lis
own per cent. stock.
Mr.. Robertson. OF Lou. rose in opposi-
ton 10 The proposition for postponemeut.
The benefit of this measure 10 The soldier
c0u!d not he doubted but. ifit were, il
was entirely at the option OF the soldier 10
avail himself Of the provisions OF the bill
o. no!--his rights, therefore, not being in
III least affected by it. As to the u.
States, MIR. K. coniended, that the bene-
III OF Tie measure would be, ii possible,
still greater, by bringing all lhat land "a
gam within Its power, which, II thrown
into market, III competition with the u.
states, would set al nouahi all the caicu
latlous OF the Secretary of the Treasury,
or at the committee of WAYS and means
on the product of the annual sales of the
public lands. The lands included in the
v
was generally known, and infinitely more
important 10 the United States than his
friend (Mr. Lowndes) appeared To esti-
mate them as it was probable they
would, In the course of few years, sell
for three or four dollars per acre, &C.
and he could not see why they should be
valued at less than they would sell for.
Ihus.an Important advantage would ac-
crue TO the United States, aud at the same
time Il striking benefit To the soldier, by
the adoption of the measure If was now
proposed to reject, &c.
The question was at length taken on
the proposition 20 postpone indefinitely
and the vote thereon stood as follows:
For the indefinite postponement, ~
Againstii, n
Tie House being thus equally divided,
the Speaker, declaring the pleasure il
gave him 10 give his vote TO preserve in
existence measure which he believed To
be fraught with the greatest benefit to the
soldier and TO The nation, voted against
the proposed indefinite postponement.-
80 The motion was regretted.
The question then REQUIRED on the a
mendment moved by Mr.. Robertson which
proposed TO Substitute stock of "a certain
description in lieu of money, as the com
mutation OF tile soldiers right to bounty
lands.
Mr.. johnson, of Kentucky, Mr.. .Smyth,
of Virginia, Mr.. Butley, of New Hamp-
shire, and Mr.. Peter, obituary land, express
ed their views on the subject, the Two for
mer at greater length, and the latter Incl
deuially.
Mr.. RobeytsOn's proposition was eventu-
ally negatived, 70 TO IS.
Mr.. Smyth, Virginia, then moved TO
change the amount of commutatiOn to
be given for each I60 acres, by adding
The word Sirty" TO one hundred and six
ty dollars.
The question OIL this motion was decid-
ed without debate in the affirmative, ayes
rs.
Further Debate ensuedon amendments
to the detail of the bill in the consdera-
ton of which Mr.. Iaytor, MIR. Holmes, of
NJ, Dir Baiti0in, and Mr. Ed,Cards took
part.
Before the House got through the sub
Ject, motion was made to adjoura, which
prevailed.
FRIDAY, JAN. D.
Mr.. Pope, from a select committee, TO
whom were referred certain memorials
OH the subject reported bill 10 enable
the people Of Illinois territory TO form "A
constitution aud state government, and
for the admission of The same into the
Union ON an equal footing with the origi-
nal states; which bill Was twice read and
committed.
CONSULTATION ELL.
The House resumed the consideration
of the bill TO provide for the Communication
OF soldiers, bounty lands. An amendment
ofsome importance, moved by Mr.. Iayioy,
y fsaff fIst1s 81 no.
10: No other amendment having been
offered
Tie question was stated, on ordering
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