Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-30

Ir. Condict moved 10 amend tic resolution
so as Ia Inquire into the expediency of re-
porting plan, &c.
Mr.. Cnok accepted this amendment rs II
modification or ms motion. lie said il would
probably answer his purpose as well rs his
original motion.
slr Williams, of North Caroline, rnevcd 10
amend the resolution, so ms In direct the Com
m,tee ON the Public Lands, instead of Il
Select Committee, 10 inquire into the subject.
MIR. Cook said he had as much disposition
rs any one tn refer 10 the Standing Com
mltices of the Hnuse the things which come
properly within the sphere Of their duties.-
But the Committee on the Public Lands WAS
already overwhelmed with business There
were persons not on any committee. who might
be very nserully employed in the investigation
(of this sub, ct He referred particularly 10 the
distinguished gentleman from Louisiana, Mr..
Livingstone whose talents and experience
would he of important service in the discus
sion of the subject, sc.
Mr.. Williams said, that the reason which in
duced him To move the amend ment was II
very obvious one. The gentlemen who com
posed the Committee on the Public Lands
were presumed 10 be acquainted with the sub
ject of land claims, more than other members,
and there was propriety in any general
measure on that subject emanating from that
committee.
Mr.. Brent supported the amendment The
resolution required the committee TO inquire
into The crpeGiency of the plan proposed To
do this, il was necessary that they should be
acquainted with the claims preferred and iii,
state of them seSerally. For another com
mittce 10 acquire this knowledge, would ne.
cessariy consume much time which, i'm the
other case, would be saved. The intimat.
knowledge, too, possessed by the Standing
! Committee, " oud enable them, when they
reported OH the plan, TO accompany and sup.
| port their opinion, whether favorable or other
wise to the measure, with full and satisfactory
reasons.
| MI. Rankin rose TO propose a modification
| of the motion Of Mr.. Williams Though no.
| counting the reference OF business TO the Com
mittee on Public Lands, he WAS willing, IA.
one oil that committee, 10 take upon himself
the responsibility which properly belonged tc
| that committee. and he thuughi the COMMITTEE,
of Public Lands would be probably as com
petrnt 10 the due examination ofthis subipc
as any committee which could be- selected
| The amendment which he was about I,
propose, Mr. II. said would GO further thar
that Of the gentleman from North Carolina
The gentleman from Illinois, it appeared tc
him, had not well explored his ground. Hi
| proposition went 10 the appointment of com
mssloners 10 decide on claims. But, Mr.. II
said, other plans had been heretofore suggcste,
for decision Of these claims One of then
proposed to refer the adjudication of them I,
the Secretary of the Treasury A.; another I,
the District Courts of the United States i'm tn
respective Districts and a variety of plan
had been proposed, which might be equal,
proper with the one suggested b, the gentle
man from Illinois. This however was no
the only objection to the sh pc into which In,
gentleman from Illinois had thrown his motion
The House would find, upon examination
that The resolve would include all land ella m.
that had ever existed from The beginning of he
government, thus opening anew the Whole
held OF legislation on that subject. la antici-
patton "f something of this kind being pro-
posed, Mr.. 4. said he had prepared rrso,u-
ton which be intended to offer by way o.
amendment 1t was, he admitted, very i'm.
psrtant To the government and TO individuals
that some fina decision should b. had on thi.
SUBJECT. Whatever were the merits of the
claims, they ought TO he settled. He should
therefore, move AN amendment which wen
tn refer the subject to the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, with greater latitude for inuuir,
than the resolution as il stands would allow
10 them.
Mr. Williams Withdrew his motion TO make
way for MIR. Rankin's when
In" Speaker proceeded to the Orders oi
the DAY, which supersedes, for the present
day, the further discussion aboriginal motions
The engrossed bill for the relief of Jeremiat
Manning, and the engrossed bill for the relic
of Thomas W. BacOt, were then sevprally
read ii third time, passed, and sent TO the Sen.
ate Tor concurrence.
4 md then the HOuse adjourned