Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-01-13


passed the Legislature of the State of
which he was Representative, had been
presented to the last Congress, and not
finally acted on. His object in calling
the attention OF the House 10 the resolu-
ton at this time, was, 10 obtain their de-
cision on ii, if favorable, that the state of
Mary land, and those states equally inte-
rested with her, might derive the contem-
plated advantages from it; but if, con-
trary to their just expectations, the deci-
sion should be unfavorable, that they
might turn their attention TO some other
source for the promotion OF the impor-
tant purposes OF edu cation. He would
mention, for the Information of the house,
thai Maryland was not sin gular in adopt
ing the principle contained in the reso-
luton; that it had received, after de-
lherate examination, the appreciation of
the Legis latures OF several oil the states
the disapprobalion of but few. Mr.. K.
hoped the resolution would be adopted,
that the subject might be fully exa-
mined.
The question being on agreeing to the
res I've,
Mr. Rankin observed, that similar
prupos lion to that now cred had been
brough; forward by the gentleman from
Mary land, al 'lormer session OF Con-
gress and he regretted tina, it had not,
nov, been thrown into the same form, as
when before offered. Ii was then pre-
sened IN an Affirmative shape, which az
Ilrt. ri Tar fI1tx iAr n Y1n direct and
mediate discussion ui the merits OF the
proposition by the House. H. was OPP
posed to the reference Of this inquiry TO
select Commitlee, II it went to a COM
mittee at all not Oh any special, bul on
general principle. 1t was The we'll
known and universal usage, in appoint
ing select committees, TO compose them
OF the known friends Of the measures
proposed; in consequence oil which on
y an &c harfe view OF subjects was pre-
scented me House in the reports of the
committees, and inc was consumed in
obtaining, by dis. u>sion, the views of
gentlemen OF the opposite opinion. Bot,
Standing committee was a sort Of gene
raj tribunal, composed neither OF the
friends nor the oppqsers OF any particu-
Tar m easure such committee was ike
Ay 10 pres nj more general view of
subjects committed to their consieiera-
ton, than a select committee; ard, should
they report against any particular mea-
sure, its adj, oCales had still their appeal
to the House, and full Iiberiy to discuss
IFS merits. He thought The subject of
a. l. 4 L 4
the committee on Public Lands-not be-
cause he happened personally to be con-
nected with that committee, bnl because
the nature of the OBJ lect embraced by the
resolution, seemed naturally 70 belong
to it.
MIR. Cook considered the resolution,
though on the face of il merely proposing
an inquiry, TO involve principle, mas
much as the expedjcncy of any inquiry
into the subject must depend upon the
supposed existence OF a fac, which is
denled-namely, that grants of land have
been made, without an equivalent, to
some Of the states, and not to others.
This, Mr.. c. said, was a position which
he, Tor one, denied. If the object OF the
gentleman from Maryland was to create
fund for the promotion of education,
let it be abstract, and not based upon a
supposed fact which does not exist. Let
the fund apply equally, to all the states
OF the Union, Without attempting to dis
criminate between the new and the old
states. He objected, however, to the
reference of the resolution to any COM
mittee, in It's present form, because it
took for 1t basis that which was, in point
of fact, untrue.
Mr.. Jennings said, he apprehepded
the resolution was not very well under
stood by the House. Il certainy was
not by him, Judging from the remarks
which had been made upon it. For fur
,her examination of it, he moved that the
resolve lie on the table, and be printed
Which motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Rankin presented the following
resolution, which lies one day of course:
Resotved, That the Secretary of the
Treasury be directed to furnish this
House particular statement, containing
The names of any Receivers of Public
Moneys in the Land offices Of the Unit
ed States, who may have failed to make
ibeir returns and payments OF public mo-
by the Treasury Department; the amount
due from such Receivers severally +; the
time when the same ought TO have been
paid TO the Government the measures
adODted To DtniSh any Such de linuuencv