Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-01
TwEMr1ETH ooMGREss.
FIRST SESSION.
IN SENATE.
TuuRsDAx, Dxcrmprn 2o,h, 1927.

~. offered the following resolution.
I;eS0fred, That the Committee on Public Lands
I've instructed to inquire into the cxp,-dcncy OF ce-
ding and rclipcuishing, in full property the public
anu unappropriated lands within The limits Of the
new States, TO the several States in which they lie
Mr. Hendricks said, that in Offering This rcsolt:-
tiof Tor consideration he would ask the indulgence
OF the Senate, while be made few remarks That
at the last session of Congress be had offered the
same proposition. though in different form. This
propagation seemed, at that time 10 many novel
sSnd bold one; and, indeed, 20 gentlemen who
looked upon the public lands source Of revenue
At would, without doubt, appear an unreasonable
one The Senate not having had time TO act upon
It At was not diScusscd; il laid the table and
finally permitted there - rest, until the close Of
the Session.
To prevent this state of ih:ngs at the present
Session, to preserve himself from any imputation,
and TO afford ample .e Tor full discussion of The
subject, he had, at this early period submitted it
| 10 the consideration of the Senate.
! The subject, Mr. Hendricks said, was one of
deep interest. and he believed, that when fairly
understood, it would appear flat constitutional ar
guincnt. rs well eNpediency, was in favor OF
reiinqushing the public lands the several States
| In which they lie. The general government had
no power under the Constitution of the u. S., 10
mold the soil ot the States, except in special cases.
and IN those cases, the Constitution required that
the assent ofthe Legislatures OF those States should
he given.
lie was wall aware that from the cessions Of the
STATES 10 The general government. pledges were
referred Ia as authority for the governments bold
lnS those lands; but ii surely was the intention of
those States cedng lands and of Congress. that the
new states to DC formed, should ut proper time,
be admitted into the union as free SOVEREIGN
and independent states, and on u perfect eololity
with the old.
10 produce that equality. concessions and "a
yors were granted by the large States TO the small
the representation the floor of the Senate is ar
instance Of this policy.
To Senators vino hold TO the doctrine of strict
construction OF the Constitution, who deny the
power OF the General Government TO enter upon
the soil of the States, merely for the construction
OF road or canal he appealed
III HE constitutional argument were in his favor,
then, Said Mr.. H., no obligation OF compact could
produce STATE OF things, which the spirit or letter
OF tie Constitution forbids 1t would surely be adj
united, that if the proposition to make those COM
/ pactS came from the General Government, and
was by the new States accepted, that those States
mad Inc right to enter into those compacts, or re-
fuse, at their pleasure.
On the score of expediency, many arguments
might be urged in favor of the resolution On ex-
animation il would appear that greater estimate of
the value OF the public lands a source Of revenue
nae been made, than recurrence 70 facts Woulli
warrant. The lands had been in the market for
upwards oil 10 years; and what We're the receipts
Why, somewhere aboat 36 millions of dollars
notwithstanding the vast quantity Of land already
surveyed, and now in the market, the sales for the
last few years had evidently fallen, and the re-
ceiPts were sometimes even below million THIS
said MIR. H.. shows that the receipts in the Trna-
sury, from Inc sales of public lands are very I'M
| important.
Mr.. III. sail, that this proposition would not az
| lect the great mass OF public Lands The public
lands III the new States, amounted to not more
than 200 millions OF acres; and when taking into
view, Tie amount given away by the General Go
vcrnment, III military bounes and other don tons
they were reduced 10 100 millions The remain
ing lands, tiien, belonging 10 tic General Go.s--
ihcisi: wonid DC or 800 millions, with which il
ought TO be satisfied 1t his opinion that the
new states knew better GHln Congress how 10
graduate the price OF public lands fo grant pre-
enpiion rights, make donations % actual settlers
III was better, he thought, even the score of
lr%PtSiency, that these lands should-b yiplcd 10
the States, az in the peculiar situation in which
they stood. the strongest inducemcnt was offered 90
dissolve the nion which, as if il fook PLACE the
lands would Immediately become the property of
these STATES and il. ht act bride 10 a discover
ment; measure, in his opinion most carefully 10
be guarded against AT future dav if opportu-
nifty offered, ne might 20 into farther discussion
Mr. Bartoo, from the Committee Oh Public
Lands, TO whom referred The bill althoriziurr
the President of the United States To cause GER
tain salt springs i'll the State of Missour TO be ex-
posed TO sale, reported the same without amend
ment.
The following, resolution offered Yesterday bv
Mr.. Paris, was considered
! ReSotrod, That the Committee on the Judiciary
be Instructed to enquire into the expediencv OF
providing for erecting suitable buildings for the
accommodation Of the Courts Of the nit;,d States
/ in the General Judicial Districts.
Mr. Paris explained dlai his OBJECT in Offering
THIS resolution, was 10 secure the records OF the.
United States Courts, who were in measure.
dependent on The courtesy Of the State Courts for
| their preservation.
MIR. Benton gave notice that he should on
Monday next, ask leave to intro luce bill 10 grad
uatc the price Of public lapds.
! The President said, that il there was nothing
urthcr before the Senate, il would proceed L, the.
unfinished business Ct yesterday. The bill for the
adjustment o. imprisonment for debt was then
called up when Mr. BciTien proposed some few
amendments, which, ~ he affirmed were OF minor
consideration, bcinS only intended tn change the
phraseology, not affect it, provisions Other
! amendments oil like nature were offered by
Messrs. Eaton Iiaync, Rilgeley and X ane which
) were adoptcd-when Mr.. johnson of XIV. moved
That the till be made the special order Of trp day
ior TUESDAY next, by whciI time all the amend
Ihen's deemed necessary might be made
Mr. Tazcwcl did not rise at this time 10 discuss
me merits OF the bill Whether il were necessa-
or desirable TO pass il in the present STATE Of So
ciaty In the United States vas "A question that re-
CURED mature delibcrahon His only object now
was TO oilcr few suggestions 10 tc advocates Of
tpc bill, AZ 10 the means adopted 10 secure their
views ~ must occur 70 gentlemen Of legal know
ledge, that would be dangerous to Interfere with
"a systcm so closely interviewer, affiliated and
ainaigdnatcd ~ that Of the law, whore the mo
I inent we touch one part PER should affect
iic WhOlc-InJ lac would suggest 20 lie Trainer of
lh" biz That ia its present shape, IL was not cgirt-
lated 20 fulfil the objects intended, as Il wuull al
lhcr accomplish more than ne wished r Icss IN m
be proposed
1hc State, which nc had tho honor IN rcpresc,f
retained the English system of Independence sucl,
Us our iorciaihcrs had brought with thcIn-l, that
Jaw, iand could no, be taken; huf there were fici
iucs Afforded, which effcctually secured ffc plain
'hi from i."ud--he might take The body Of The