Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-01-18

dppiicsnts lot toeni, OUT 10 gel niCou-
peient men to Gil them. This, Mr.. r.
said, was false economy. He protested
against it, as injurious to the best inte-
rests OF the country. Immediately alter
the war, distraction seemed to have selz-
ed on all classes of the people, in their
rage for speculation in the pu,'lic Lands,
as IN every thing else. The quantity Of
land sold al some of the Land Ofhces
was immense; III consequence Of which
Congress rEougnt propoi "a diminish the
per centage on the sales of public lands
which had been allowed to the Registers
aud Receivers. But, since that time
things had retired 10 their natural chan
mel, and the compensa,ions of these Of
fcers had become decidedly inadequate
TO their duties, &c.
Mr.. Barter, OF Ohio, stated the fact as
to the Land Office in the district in which
he resided. The money received had
to be transported quarterly, often 10
specie, and on horseback, one hundred
miles to the place of deposl,e; and, IN
GLIDING the necessary expense of travel
ling, &c. the one per cent. proposed 10
be allowed would hardly pay the cos, OF
transportation.
Mr.. Sterling, Of New-York, was not
re, dy, lie SAID, 10 vote on this bill. BY
areporl which was made at the last ses-
sion of Congress, be had been perfectly
satisfied that the expenses OF the Land
Offices were greater than necessary, and
thu the officers themselves were already
ahandanty rewarded for their services.
Al the Cahawba Land Office, he found
the r gisier and Receiver charging, to-
gelher, 1000 dollars for clerk hire alone,
which was considered an incidental ex
pense. High charges were also made |
Tor rent, sc. making the whole amount
Of incidental expenses at Cahawba for
the year 1920, and the three first quar-
ters OF the year 1921, to be more than |
eigh. thousand dollars. 1t struck him
there was something wrong in this--that
the expenditures were larger than the, |
ought to be: and, until he was satisfied |
on that point. he could not give his vote
for the bill. He moved therefore, FOR
the present, that the bill lie on the table.
On the vote, the bill was ordered to
lie on the table as moved
December IS.
Mr.. Jennings presented a petition of
th, Board of Trnsi OF the Western Mis-.
sinnary Society, praying for grant of
tlaet oi land, the better to enable them
to AIRY into effect their plan for the
civilization OF certain Indian tribes
which was referred to The committee on
puolic lands
Mr.. Cook, from the select committee
en- the subject, reported, in part, bill to
authorize the laying out and opening
Road from Wheeling, in the state OF Viz
kmia, 10 St. Louis, in the state Of Mis-
soari The bill proposes TO appoint
Commissioners, &c. One of the pro-
visions oil II is, that the road shall pass
by The seats of government of the states
oil OHIO, Indiana, and Illinois The bill
was wlce read and committed
Ga motion Of Mr.. Hardin, of Ky, il
was
Resotved, That committee be ap-
poioied % inquire what further reirench-
men AN be made. in the expenditures al
ernment, without detriment TO the
public service.
Mr.. j. s. Johnston, Of Louisiana, Of
feted the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State
be requested 10 lay belpre this House so
much of the letter OF Mr.. Provost as re-
lates to the establishment at the mouth
oil Columbia River, and such Information
as ne may have in his possession in re-
ation to the arrangements made about
the year 1914 by the North Yves, Com
pany, with the proprietors OF settlement
made by citlzens Of the United States, al
The mouth OF Columbia River, by which
tina, company became possessed of that
settlement.
OCCUPATION OF COLUMBIA RIVER.
Il House, according tn the order OF
the day, resolved itself into a committee
OF the whole, Mr.. CamhbeH, Of Ohio, in
the chair, on the bill 20 authorize the &C.
cupatloa OF the mouth OF the Columbia |
Ryer.
No debate or proposition being offered |
there n, the committee rose and reported |
the bill, to the House with amendments. |
The amendments were severally taken |
up a2d agreed to by the House, and, the
bill eng further amended,
Mi Wright rose, and delivered his
sentiments al length, in favor OF this bill. |
H dwelt upon the policy OF establishing
ststion in that country, and on the duty
oil providing government OF law over
every territory which is acquired by the
Uaued States, He enlarged also upon