Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

nate ad journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. SMITH, of Maryland, from the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, reported a bill TO
remit the duties on a sword imported into
the United States, TO be presented to Captain
Thomas Marlborough, of the United States
Navy, which was twice read and committed.
Mr.. SERGEANT, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported bill for the establish
ment OF a Territorial Government in Florida !;
which was twice read and committed.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter
from the Secretary of War, transmitting "a
statement, showing the expenditure of the
moneys appropriated for the contingent ex-
pcnses ofthe Military Establishment for the
year 1891 which was read and referred TO the
Committee of Ways and Means.
On motion Of Mr.. WILLIAMSON, the House
agreed to consider his resolution, offered yes
terday, calling for Information from the Pre-
sident, relative TO the northeastern boundary
of the United States, and the resolution was
thereupon adopted.
Mr.. Cook submitted the following resolu-
ton:
Rcsolred That the Committee on the Public Lands
he instructed TO enquire into the eXpediencv of au-
torising the settlers The public lands ia the state
of Illinois preserve and gather their crops after
their lands may he sold by the United States, at pub
lac sale, where such settlers do become the pui.
clasers. Also, TO inquiie into the expedency of
tabshing additional land Office in the state Of IL
hnois.
Mr.. SMITH, of Md. inquired of the mover
how many Land 0Gices there were already in
Illinois
Mr.. CooE answered, fire.
Mr. SMITH. Aud does the honorable mem
Der want six Mr.. S. thought the Land Offices
IN the western states were sufficiently numer-
Gus already.
Mr.. COOK remarked, that there were Tor
IN Ohio, and adverted TO the large tracts of
rich and fertile land in the state of Illinois,
which it was desirable to sell, and which the
purchaser could not obtain without going
great distance TO some Of the land Offices
1t was not TO this part of the resolution, how
ever, to which his anxiety was principally di-
rected. The first branch of il, that is calcu-
lated to secure 10 the cropper the fruits of his
labor, when pennry deprives him Of the means
to purchase the soil, was to him an object of
primary soiictude.
Mr.. WILLIAMSON called for division of the
question.
Mr.. McCoY was opposed 10 both branches
of the resolution. The tendency of the first
was to encourage sguatters upon the public
lands and of the second, to extend the num-
Der Of land offices, which, in his opinion, ought
rather TO be reduced
The first branch of the resolution was fur
ther opposed by Messrs. Hood, Rankin, and
.Hoilary, and supported by Mr.. Cook, when
the question was taken thereon, and lost.
The second branch oft being under consi-
deration--
Dir. CONDGcT moved to amend the same, So
as TO authorize the Committee on the Public
Lands TO extend their inquiry so far as to ex-
anime into the expediency of disseminating
land Offices but before any question was taker
thereon, the resolution was Withdrawn by The
mover.
On motion of Mr.. FLoYp, the House agreed
to consider the resolution offered by him yes
terday, for altering the rules of me House il
relation TO calls for information from the Pre-.
sident of the United States which, after som,
discussion by the mover and Mr. McCARrY
was adopted.
On motion Of Mr.. CoNpIcT, it was
Resolred, That the Committee on the Pub
lie Lands be instructed to enquire into the ex
pediency ofreorganizinS the several land dis
trcts in the United States, and of diuninishif,
the existing number of land Offices.
On motion of Mr.. McCAgrY, the Hous
agreed TO consider his resolution of Yesterday
relative TO Indian expenditures which wa
adopted.
On motion of Mr.. CAMsREIENG, the Uous
also agreed to consider his resolution of yes
terday, on the subject of the Bank Of IN
United States ; and after some remarks by Nh
RANDOLPH and the mover, the resolution wa
adopted.
On motion ofMr. BuaroN, il was
| Resotued, That the Committee on the .Tu
dietary be instructed to- inquire into the expe
diency ofamending the law making the Re
cords aud Judicial proceedings of the sever;
states, evidence in each particular state.
The house then resolved itself into n com
nlttec of the whole on the unfinished bushes
Of yesterday, (the Bankrupt bill)--NIr. TAI
L0R in the chair.
Idr SERGEANT resumed his remarks an
begged the indulgence of the house for lc-
further observations on the subject The dis
cussIon of yesterday, IN his view, has led s
this result-tbat the whole Of the ciyilizc
I world, so far as it was commercial, had ;
dopted, with some modification or other,
bankrupt law and that, whatever modific;
ton those nations had provided, the tw
principal points to which he had alluded wei
regarded, viz security to the creditor an
relief to the debtor. He did not mean TO
understood that there were not specific diffe
ences among those laws between the sever
nations. In respect to the administration
those laws the differences were considerab
but, after all, the conclusion seemed To
liked and that by the common consent Of n
+ tioas, that where there was commerce, the
a bankrupt law must be--nOt only as n necc
sary, but as sslutary, measure. This co
sderation was fortified by the fact, that Il
! runners Of the Constitution Of the Unit
? States, foresecing the destiuies OF our countr
/, made this special provision believing, IS VA