Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-19


The resolution was of distinct and novel
character nor had il aDy thing In do with the
location OF the public lands. He also concur
red with his colleague Mr.. Wright in the o.
pnlon that It was Il matter which required the
undivided attention oftIie committee to whom
1t should BIZ referred, which could not he ex-
pected from the Committee on Public Lands,
consistently with the performance OF the other
da ies that Were assigned them.
MIR. ToMLINsoN would not oppose the re-
ference TO standing committee of any sub
lect that camewitIin It's legitimate province
ms resolution, however, did not, in his opin-
ION, properly come before ii it cOntaiaed "A
distinct proposition; IL WAS subject of no or
binary magnitude, and had receiS ed not ouly
the support OF the respectable state Of Mary
land, but the appreciation of the state which ne
Mr. Z. had the honor in part To REPRESENT
He thought it was due to those constituent
powers of the Union, as IL matter of courtesy,
no less than ofright, to give the subject such
consideration as should be regarded as some
thing more than mere formal go-by of their
solicitations. Parliamentary usage also had
uniformly dictated the course ofrelerring sub
Jccts OF this TO Committees, a majority
nf whom should be favorable t. its Inject, so
that it might be presented TO the hoIse in its
The motion of the gentleman from Ohio Mr.
~ would not prevail.
DIR. WRIGHT replied to the remarks of Mr..
Campbell.
Mr.. WooDsoN was also in favor of the refer
ence to special committee. He though, the
application, SO important in it's nature, and ORR
Slnating as II did ~ so respectable ii quarter,
came forward to the house rather in the attl-
tude of IA claim than oi pcition-and ne be-
llercd 1t would he as propcr 10 refer it 10 the
Committee III Claims as 10 the Committee
on the Public Lands.
Mr.. Ross was in favor of the motion He
read from the rules of the house the speciiica-
ton OF duties assigned To the Committee on
the Public Lands, and contendcd that the sub
Ject-matter of this resolution came distinctly
within the rule. lie also thought the con-
mitice was as well acquainted with all subjects
In which the public lands cuuld be drawn into
question, as any select committee could be.
Besides, how did gentlemen know but that
comm(:tee were favorable TO the resolution
offered by the gentleman from Maryland, Mr..
Neison.) de thOughtIt was a presumption
unwairdniad by ans tacts before lii" iiouse, To
suppose that committee was hostile 10 the
proposition.
mr.. HARDIN made few remarks in sup
pert of the motion--but they were not heard
with sufficient distinctness aud certainty to
warrant report OF them.
Mr.. NELSON, Of Md. observed, that it was
to DC presumed that when goat naiiona! sub
Iects were brought forward, other members
than these composing the CuHmIttce OH Pub
| he Lands would know semrthin5 on the sub
| Ject. lie felt no personal! objection to the in
dlyidial members o. that committee; hut il
was desirable that such subject should be re-
.,h I'm l.
posed 10 be- affected By prc-cunceiyed opin-
ions and it was known that five out of that
number were representatives, from states whu
were directly opposed in interest to the OBJ
.ects ui the resolution. This WAS :, question
al policy and power, and he thought it came
cutie as properly within the sphere OF iii,
committee of Ways and Means, as of the Pub
nc Lands, towhich it was proposed to refer it
| MI. ARCHER was disposed 10 acce;L. to the
| tppuntu1ent of select committee. 1t wa.
the Committee of the Public Lands To see ant
advise what lands were dispos IDLE, il the prn
clple were settled by Congress thai give.
quantity be disposed of. This subject now
occupied large space in the public eye, and
hethouSht,a question involving The highest prin
ciples OF the constitution of Quar- government
and ot the inter s and p ,wcr Of he nation
should not be In any way Withdraw from TIT
most Gull and deliberate examination. In re-
fus'n, to commit it to its friends he thought
one OF the first principles of legislation wa.
violated and he also wished hat a committee
more numerous than that which compose
the committee on the Public Lands should BIZ
appointed, to consist of one member from caci
state.
MIR. RANKIN thought this was the first tim
that the private sentiments of Il standing com
mittee were ever within his knowledge
made the subject Of M inquiry on mn,ion o
THIS sort. Hit was>a proper subicci- matte
| Tor the COMMITTEES on the Publ. IaHds, IL
thought 1t ought to be referred To thit com
mIttee, and ms, as a ulembe, of it, would sd,
that ITS attention would and should b. draw
immediately TO the consideration of it.
might he convenient, on many occa,iDns, 4
have committees appointed Oh application
I that were friendly To their adoption. Sue
would be peculiarly the case with regard to tn
Commlfteeon Claims, but those cases in whic
such commitments were made, were except
ed from the ordinary classes, and where spec
: al committees were rendered proper by the
: peculiar circumstances.
The question was tben taken on Mr.. CAmi
; BELLS motion and negatiyed-aycs 81, na,
! 80.
Mr.. CooS moved to amend the resolutio
~ 'si7c'ulB dltcT tHt NOTO ~ SliteS the 80
loving words :" Aud also OF making simil;
, appropriation for the support of a Nation
} University in the District of Columbia"
, Mr.. G. remarked, in support OF the amen,
g 'nent, that he thought it was an object of nj
D tona concern to encourage learning in Il
D District OF COlunbia--not merely for III
purpose of extending thc empire Of intclec
4 but also to dluse a rational feeling and 20
body national character. The establish
a ment of an University at the seat of COVER
j ment had been an object of great solctuC
y with all the Successive Presidents OF the u.
t and whose sentiments must carry with the