Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-21

: VAS OH rciechoE, CONVINCED that il would not
30 10 kcirotn the territorial governments the
power OF taxing the public lands. But. that
'he subject required, in some shape, the iuter-
position of Congress, wasverv certain. None
COULD noubt it,When he stated that, on a recent
toScaslon, at siDgle sale Of lands for the nom
ipIlment OF taxes, three thousand quarter sec
ions had been sud, amounting to half million
of acres, and that the taxes for which they were
sold Amounted to about seven thousand dollars
ne proposed TO refer the subject to the Conn
mittee on Public Lands, because he was well
assured that the great difficulty which now ope.
rates on the minds of capitalists to prevent their
investing more money 10 the public lands was
the amount Of taxes, and the difficulty in the
mode OF paying them. As TO the amount to
Which the taxes should be allowed togo, he was
not niavor OF restricting il too far. He would
'caVe To the territorial governments liberal
discretion, but some limit ought 20 be set An
olier subject OF the resolution was the niace
where payment was to be made. In one of the
territories, redemption was provided for on
cohui'on OF paying the tax, and one hundred
per cent upon the amount oft. But this was
10 he paid, not into the Treasury Of the United
STATES, but TO the purchaser of the lands; and
oe'ore man could redeem his land, he must
hunlup the purchaser through all the States of
the Union. Mr.. T. saw no objection 10 an ar
rangcment, by which an officer, residing at the
seat OF government, should receive moneys ac-
| cfuing In the territories, make quarterly re-
| uiinS, deposite the money in bank, and from
Iine to Tune, pay 1T over to the draft of the off,
CIR residing in the territory. A draft on the
bank OF the United States would always sell at
| a premium IN the territories. Such n plan
! would afford great facilities TO the purchasers of
the public lands, would impose but a small
burden on the officer here, and would promote
The public advantage, by improving the price of
'he iands' lie was persuaded they would sell
much more readily if The buyer knew the limit
beyond which the taxes could not go.
In reply To an inquiry of Mr.. Rankin, Ms
Taylor explained the difference between the
present resolution and that formerly offered by
! Mr. Wckliifc.
MIR. Webster also farther explained what
was the pnrport the former resolution, (which
had been reiei red 10 the Committee on the Ju-
diciary,)
MIR. Conway moved to strike out so much O f
the resolution as proposed to restrict the amount
10 winch the territorial governments might tax
| Tie public lands within their limits In sup
port OF this amendment, Mr.. Conway observed
that he thought it entirely unnecessary for Con-
gresS to adopt any restrictive measure for the
control OF the Legislature of Arkansas in its
| power to levy taxes The tax imposed upon
lands by the laws of that territory was not more
than sufficient 10 meet the demands upon its
treasury, and to support the government. There
was no distinction made by the laws of Arkansas :
between citizen and non resident owner of
lands The tax was equal, and he was sure If
would not be increased, bat would be reduced
as soon as circumstances would Justify reduc-
tion, TO amore moderate rate. He was not on
posed to the general tenor of the resolution; on
the contrary, he thought it might be produce
i've ofgood, both TO the territory and non-resi- ,
dent owners of lands, in securing a portion of
revenue to the one, which might otherwise be
/ nm atf r1Irorr Al.
OF the other. twas only to that part Of the re-
solution which he proposed to strike out, that
he objected. He objected to 1t, because il
would, 1t the proposition was carried into effect.
be an indirect repeal of a law of the TERRITORY;
and he doubted whether Congress could With
Propriety repeal an act passed by the Legisla.
ture under the organic law. 1t was certainly in
The power OF Congress to repeal the organic
law, and re-orgaDize or abolish the government
which would destroy the whole system; but cir
cu'nstances did not require this, and he thought
1t wrong to adopt any measure which would
have that effect. He, therefore, proposed to
amend the resolution as stated.
Other gentlemen spoke.
The question was taken on the amendment
of MIR Conway, and negatived
The resolution Of Mr.. Taylor was then
adopted.
UNITED STATES PENAL CopE.
The House then proceeded to the unfinished
business of yesterday, which was the bill far
ther to provide for the punishment of crimes
against the United States-(and which was
gone through in committee of the whole Mon
day last and reported without amendments.)
MIR. Webster stated, that, as he understood that
several other amendments were to be offered,
and In particular some by member from Lou
lslana MIR. Llyingston) which that gentleman
desired should be printed, he should move the
postpoHemcnt ofthe bill till Monday next as
soon as those amendments were presented
Mr.. Livingston then moved series of amend
ments of considerable length, and embracing
many new provisions. The mover having said
a few words in explanation ofthese amendments.
they were ordered to be printed and the farther
consideration of the bill was postponed TO Mon
day next.
WESTERN NATIONAL RoAp.
Mr. Beecher moved that the House go into
committee Of the whole on the bill for the con-
tiDuation Of the Cumberland Road. The mo.
ton preyailcd--ayes 81 noes SIS.
The House went into committee accordingly.
Mr.. Sterling in the chair, on that BILL which was
road MIR. Beecher, of Kentucky, rose and ex-
planned the objects of the bill The blank for the
sum to be appropriated was filled with 100000;
a substitute for the whole bill was moved by MIR.
Cook of Illinois, but subsequently Withdrawn:
and the bill was amended by the mover; when
the committee rose and having obtained leave
to sit again
The House adjourned.
Thursday Jan. 10
Mr.. Holmes, of Maine, submitted the following
resolution:
ReSoiued, That the committee on the Library