Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-01-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
IN THE SENATE.
Monday, Dece m6er 90.


The Hon John BILean, OF Illinois,
elected Senator for the remainder of
the term OF Ninian Edwards, appeared
this day, produced his credentials, and
took the oath Of Office.
Mr. Macon offered the following reso-
luton:
ReSotpsd, That the committee on Mi
litary Affairs be instructed to inquire in
to the expectancy OF limiting the mum
Der of Cadets at the Military Academy
al West Point, 10 the number Of the
members in the House OF Representa-
tives; and that the number TO be admit
ted from each state and territory respec-
lively, shall be the same as that OF the
representatives 10 which such state or
territory shall be entitled, and that the
brother of no person educated at the
Academy shall be admitted SO long as
there be other applicants; and that pro
vision be made Tor admitting from the
District OF Columbia This resolution
was taken up The next day and adopted.
Wednesday, December %.
Air. j. S Johnston, offered the follow
ing resolutions for consideration
RESOLVED, That the public lands of the
Unlted States be appropriated and
pledg, d as perpatua! fund for educa-
ton and internal Improvement.
Resolved, Tina, the proceeds of the
sales OF the public lands, after delraying
the medicinal expenses, be annually in
vested by the Secretary of the Treasury,
in The stock OF the Bank OF the United
States, or il the stock of the government,
or other stock as Congress may direct,
together with the interest annually ac-
cruing thereon.
Resolved, That the year following the
return OF the next census, and INN edlate-
ly after the apportionmenl Of represen-
ta,ives, and every tenth year thereafter,
the proceeds OF the interest, arising from
Inc said capital stock, shall be distributed
among he sey eral states according to the
ratio of representalion--ope halt oil which
sum shall constitute fund FOR education,
TO be applied to ihat object under the
authority OF The respective states; and
Inc other half shall constitute fund for
internal improv e,nen', TO be applied un-
der the authority Of Congress.
Mr.. x. NJ Johnson, OF Kentucky, yes
terday submitted the following resolution
for consideration, which was this day ia
ken up:
Resolved, That tho committee on the
Public Lands be instructed to inquire
INTO the expediency Of making provision
by law, to authorize the several Banks
in which the public moneys arising rrem
the sale OF the public lands were deposit
ted, and which sill owe balances 10 the
United States, on account of deposites
to The United SAFES. as well as the debt
ors OF such banks, whose obligations have
been transferred TO the United States, to
pay .he same in lands, uron such terms
as may be just and equitable.
Mr.. J. explained The object Of the re-
solution. II stated that the emount due
from Banks in the South and West, of
pubic money which had been deposited
ia them, was somewhat like 500, 600 dol
lars. / would be recollccted, he said,
that he had introduced proposition a
few years ago, upon which was Subse-
quently based those measures which
Congress had adopted for the relief of
pure hasers oil the public lands. The prin-
ciple on which Congress had proceeded,
in those laws, was this---that indivd ais,
who had bought public lands, and made
partial payment, should not forfeit their
purchase, by reason OF their inability 10
pay the remainder; and this measure,
he believed. had produced good. The
present resolution was based on the same
principles of justice and equity with
those laws. The difference which would
result to the government, from the adop
ton Of some plan, as suggested in the re-
solution, Was this: large loans had been
made to individuals in the South and
West, from Banks, who bad vested them
in the purchase of public lands, and loans
10 such an amount, that the Banks ia
consequence failed. If this payment
were coerced, if violent means were re-
sorted to, not one-6fth, no, no. e-tenth
of the amount of the whole debt would
the gcyernmeD t realize. I'll. resolution
imported only an inquiry into the expe-
pediency OF making provision for their
relief, and if any arrangement could be
made, by which the debtors to The CO.
vernment could give back this landed
property, it would recover, in .he course
OF a few years, the greater part, il MOI the
whole Of this 100000. From 1917 to
1920, the rage Tor land speculations ex-
isled, and now that the mania was over,