Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-01-27
COSGRESSY0%AA.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Hedne8day, December "a.


Mr.. Cook, of Illinois, and discussed YES.
terday, was again taken up:
RESOLVED, That the Commitee OF Pub
lie Lands be directed TO inquire into the
expectancy of reporting bill TO provide
tor the appointment OF Board OF Com-
missioners 10 examine and adjust all
claims TO land by individuals against the
United States, where such claims de-
pend on titles derived either from any
law Of the CnHcd States, or act OF any
foreign governments, and which have
been granted 10 the United States by
virtue OF any treaty or compact with
such foreign governments.
Mr. Rankin, oil Mississippi, moved TO
amend the same, by striking out the
whole OF Il, and inserting IN lieu thereof
the following:
That iae C0mmittee on the Public
Lands be instructed 10 inquire into the
expetlieney Of providing by law for the
decision, by some tribunal, OF all claims
to lands in Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala
bama, and Missouri, and III the Ferrto-
ry OF Arkansas, winch claims have been
heretofore presented 10 some one OF the
Boards of Commissioners heretofore ap-
pointed 10 examine titles and claims TO
land in SAID STA SIS aud territory, but which
have not been finally acted upon, because
the quantity claimed Exceeded hat which
| said Boards were several,y authoriz ed
to contlftn, or report TO Congress for
confirmation
Mr.. Cox objected to the amendment
proposed by the gentleman from Misss-
| sippl, because il fell entirely short OF
reaching the OBJECT he had IN view in the
original resolution, and which he thought
the circumstances OF the case required
There were inapy land claims against
| the United STATES which bad never been
presented 10 any of the Boards OF Com
| missioners these constituted precisely
that class of claims for which il was
most necessary 10 provide a mode Of
settlement. There were, within his
| knowledge, many such in some of the
states. MIR. e. SAID, it was true thai The
object which he had il view was general
aud universal; yet The proposition he
| had presented 10 the House was lar from
extending so lar, or being of such an ln-
definite kind, as the gentlemen from
Mississippi seem cd 10 have supposed
| He owed II 10 himself 10 say, that The
| meaning imputed TO the resolution by
| ha, gentleman, in his dissertations yes
| rday, was one which never entered in
10 his thoughts. That which The gen
Ienan urged as the principal objection
% the proposition, was in lis very nature,
! impossible. IL seemed TO apprehend,
! that il would be the operation OF this
resolution TO disturb the ,i.le of occu-
pants, and who held under warrants
from the United States, by reviving
claims which have been rejected. This
was impossible. A vested right could
never be ivesied-Consres could moi
dives, 1.-THE att mpt would be direct
violation oil The constitution. But, though
these cases could not be disturbed, there
were others, winch, On the face Of them,
appeared 10 be equitable, which must be
omitted, if the an,endmeo, OF the gentle
man from, Mississippi prevailed, and
would consequently be thrown upon
Congress, Which it was the obcc, Of
his motion to prevent. Mr.. c. SAID, be
had no particular preference with respect
to the committee TO whom the inquiry
was to go All he wished was, that it
should go TO some competent committee
of this House, by whom the general mea-
sure might DE considered. Some gen
,lemen seemed strongly in favor OF send
ing these claims to the Judiciary for set.
llement; but on farther reelection, they
would perceive that there are many OBJ
ieclions 10 such a course. If they 90 to
the Judiciary, it must be because they
are proper subjects for legal adjudca-
ton; and, il SO, they must go through
the whole process OF regular trial in
each case. The cost Of such trials will
be enormous--,he delay enormous-and
the difficulties altogether insurnounta-
bic.
Mr.. Rankin replied. Intbe remarks
he had yesterday made, touching The IN
limited range contemplated. by the rcso.
luton, he was far from aiming at the mo-
lives or intention Of the gentlman from
Illinois-he spoke merely Of the resolu-
ton as it stood; and its terms did GER
,sinly bear him out in what he had said.