Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-30
REPORTED FOR THE NATIONAL IyrELIIcEycre
Eighteenth Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5.-[CoNTINuEp.l
On motion of Mr.. Plumer, of New Hamp-
shire, twas
ResoLUed, That the Committee on the Judi
cisry be Instructed To inquire into The exprdi-
enc! prosiding by law for compelling the
attendance OF illnesses before Commissioners
named In commissions issued by the Courts
at the United States, for taking evidence in
Other Districts of the United States than those
where HE Courts are held and also. into the
expectancy of establishing, by law, mode of
taking Evidence in equity cases, depending in
the Courts ofthe Uuited States
Mr.. Cook of Illinois, offered the following
resolution for consideration
Resotrtd, That a committee be appointed ia
inquire into the cxpediency ofreporting hill
to provide for the appointment Of 4 Board of
Commissioners Ia examine and adjust all claims
To land by individuals against the United
States, where such claims depend on titles de-
rived either from auy law nf the United States.
nTact of any foreign go, ernInents, and which
have been granted to The United States by viz
tue of any treaty or compact with such foreign
governments.
In uil;.ring this resolution,
Mr.. Cook said that something more than
four years experience in the House had led
him TO the conclusions that ouch of the time
ofthe House might be saved by The establish
ment of tribunal Uf the description hirh he
proposed, and much The money of the Peo-
pie, too, the expenditure of which is caused
ny the protracted Sessions of Congress. /,
had Iong been "a desirable object 10 take from
this House great portion of the labor W hich
grows out ofthe investigation of these claims
Ii was impossible. indeed, from the nature of
things, that the House could thoroughly un
Gerstand and correctly decide upon thr vast
nuinbrr Of claims which are continually pre-
scented for their consideration. His object.
then, was, that some plan should be presented
To the House, the details of which might be-
come subject Of consideration after the bill
was reported. He adyertpd To the fact. that
more than million ofacres Ofland are reserv-
ed from sale for the purpose of satisfying such
Claims as should be found admissible, which
cnnns have been kept in suspense, some of
then for nearly quarter Ola century, and all
of them too long. Injustice was thus done 10
The goNtr"n,epi, by Keeping mp The land from
saie. or tn the Individuals who claim IL bv With
holding from them their right. 4 Board of
Commissioners, If established, might either
pass upon fle claims drfniti,t ely. Or collect
e'dsare, and digest aud report il 10 Cou-
gross, with their opinion thereupon. More
justice would IN this manner he done, rs well
as murh time be saved. For the last four
national importance had been eutirelv passed
o. pr, for The want Of time nu the part of the
u uusr To- act upon them. IN consequence nf
the fine occupied by the discussion Of land
claims, in which Members felt, for their con
sttnents deep interest, the great subject Of
Msnuiaciures, for example, among rnauy
others, had been tossed aside, nr PERMITTED 10
slunber on the tabIrs. II VAS tu eudpayort
pr vide - romrdy fnr Ibis crying evil, that le
had proposed this resolution.
Mr. Foot of Cont. moved 10 lay The rrso.
luton on the 'gblc. NtgatNrd, Is 10 50.
Mr. Foot sad his object IN ibis m0fDn was
to avoid disc ussion, ofhaud, on this promo
siiion, .'hicH, being ali matiye. could not be-
expected to PISS without discussion Of the
principle which was involved in IL.
Mr.. Cook said II was by no means his OBJ
Jeci 10 invite discussion, or To consume any
considerable portion of The lime Of the House
III had offered II from firm conviction that
There was disposition. ON the part uf this
HOUSE, 10 resOri Ia some plan 10 abridgc the
labor to which II i4noU subjected. The rcso
luton presented 10 lhr House no question but
thai nfihr eXpedicucy Of having plan pre-
stntsd for It's Consideration, which was al
that The Select Committee would have 10 do.
II wss not bis wish to bring on discussion
nuw Of the principle which the plan would