The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-01-23

course proposed by the gentleman from New
Hampshire, 10 order that additional informa-
ton might, in the mean time, be procured.
Considerable discussion was had on this
question-when, finally, the motion for the
postponement of the subject till Tuesday next,
prevailed by large majority.
The House took up, in committee of the
whole, (Mr. Smith, of Md. in the chair) the
bill for the apportionment of Representatives
agreeably to the fourth census.
MIR. Lowndes said, that in consequence of
the census not being yet received from one
district of South Carolina, he moved that the
committee rise, &c. He however, withdrew
this motion and it was subsequently, renew
ed by MIR. Nelson, of Va. and carried; and
the subject postponed TO Tuesday next. A
motion to strike out 10000, so as to leave the
ratio blank, is pending.
Without trahsacting any other business of
consequence, the House, on motion of Mr..
Golden, Adjourned TO Monday.
MONDAY, JAN. 14.-Mr. Gorham, of Mas
sachusetts, presented memorial from sundry
inhabitants of Boston, adverse to the establish
ment of an UNIFORM system Of Bankruptcy.
Mr.. Sergeant, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, repfted a bill to provide for deliv-
ering up persois held to labour or service in
any OF the States or territories who shall es-
cape into any cher State or territory which
was twice readand committed
Mr.. Nelson, bf Md. after adverting to the
importance of the subject of the motion which
he had laid on the table some days ago, pro-
posing the appointment of committee to con-
slider the expediency q making appropriations
OF publick lands for the purposes Of education
in the old States, and therefore was entitled
to the serious attention d this House-moved
that the House should nov proceed to the con-
sideration of that motion!
The House agreed to consider It.
Mr.. Campbell moved tdrefer the subject to
tn landing committee o. publick lands, in
stead OF select committee.
Mr. Little thought the sIbject-matter of the
Resolution had nothing to do with the imme-
date. business of the Committee on publick
lands. The Resolution was Of distinct and
novel character, and demanded the undivided
attention of the Committee tp whom it should
be referred, which could not be expected from
the Committee on publick lands.
Mr.. Tomlinson thought that the Resolution
did not come within the legitimate province
of any of the standing Committees it con-
tanned distinct proposition it was a subject
OF no ordinary magnitude had received the
ATTENTION and support of a number of the
States and he thought it due to those con-
stituent powers of the Union, as a matter of
courtesy, no less than of right, to give the
subject the consideration to which it was en-
titled. Parliamentary usage dictated the ref
erence of subjects of this nature to commit
tees, majority of whom should be favoura-
bic to the object, that it might be presented to
the House, in its most favourable aspect.
Mr.. Ross was in favour of the motion. He
commended tina: tie subjcct-natter came with
in the rules of the House, which he read.
specifying. the duties OF the Committee on
publick lands. 1t was presumption unwar-
ranted by any facts, to suppose that commit
tee was hottie to the proposition.
Mr.. Nelson, Of Md. said it was known that
five OF the committee on publick lands were
Representatives from States directly opposed
in interest to the objects of the Resolution
This was QUESTION of policy and power, and
came as properly within the sphere of the
Committee OF Ways and Means as the Com
mittee of pubick lands.
The question was taken on Mr.. Campbell's
motion, and ntgatived-ayes 81, nays SO.
NJ Cook moved to amend the Resolution.
by inserting after the word g States'' the fol-
lowing words =" And also of making SIM
liar appropriation for the support of National
University in the District of Columbia
The proposition was opposed by Messrs.
Sawyer and Nelson, Of Maryland, to whom
Mr.. Cook replied when the question was talk
en-, and the amendment lost.
The question then required upon the or;sin-
: al Resolution.
MIR. GoThara opposed the Resolution. He
thought it would be unjust to adopt it, The
new States had not received any thing as a
donation. When the inhabitants moved to
the west, the allotment of portion of land
for the purpose of schooling their children,
was held out to them. as an nducement to
emgrate. 1t became part of the considera-
ton OF their settlement in the wilderness
and was rather matter of purchase on their
part, than of gift on the part of the United
States. But whatever might be their title,
the States had none. They had neither the
usufract nor-the fee of The land The former
was in the settlers, by virtue of the original
compact, and if the latter did not belong TO
them also, it remained in the government.
and was never parted with to the States
That Is now asked, therefore, by the old
States, as an equivalent for what the new
States do not possess. Another difficulty
equally insuperable presented itself to his
mind. Ii would be difficult, not to say I'M
practicable, to make the apportionment, even
were the principles secured. 1t would be inn
possible for human ingenuity to devise plan
that would not bear unequally--and such
rule would naturally produce joalouses
and dissensions. There were already jealousies
enough among the members Of the Union,
without adding to the causes that produce
them. Mr. G. questioned the authority of
Congress to apply the publick fund in this