Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-05


their condition may require. He would strictly
observe the faith Of compacts. but II was surely al
, iowable to suggest every objection to them. He
denied the power Of the States to transfer the right
Of their own soil to the Federal Government, and
the power Of the Government to such trans
fer; and said. tha; for this opinion there was the
higies; authority. He referred to the cons.ruc-
ton Of the Constitution given by Mr.. Monroe, in
his veto on the Gate bill, and TO a recent argu-
'rent IN the other House. the same subject; but
would not enter further into the argument, but
tisc'aimed the allegation that the compacts were
| made for the benefit OF the new States. If the
Senator from N Carolina had, in his State, vacant
| lands. and wished to appropriate them to the pur-
poses OF education, he would not object, but ne Gid
object to ansppropriaon Of the soil within the III
nits OF the State he had the honor to represent,
, for those purposes in N. Carolina.
: Mr.. Barton said, lift true that there was no
validity in the compact. it was called. although
ne considered 1t no compact. but merely ar
Tansement between owners Of property for the
best disposal Of that property, the supposition
mat the individuals, when making the contract for
their descendants, were but as minors, then the
j gentleman from North Carolina was manifes,ly
right in his proposition to admit the old States
He did not himself consider these compacts inva-
10 he considered them merely arrangements be-
tween all the owners Of a common property TO
dispose OF that property. He could not discover
my objection to the claims of the old States that
had school lands. He thought the new States
were entitled 70 such lands were granted to
Them Tor the OF schools without the old States
coming IN. He did not see tina, there was any in
validity on the ground Of minority, and believed
the whole argument wrong for il an ar
rangement made between parties fully competent
MIR. Hendricks replied. that the Senator from
Missouri, Mr. Barton,I had said, in reference to
his former remarks, that il the compacts OF
no validity, then certainly the proposition Of the
Senator from North Carolina was correct for then
the public lands, unembarrassed by ali restric-
tions would belong TO the Union, and might fairly
be distributed among the States. He wished to be
correctly understood. Perhaps the word validity
would not so well express his meaning some
other word. He cared not for terms, but thought
IT was absolutely certain, that the Congress Of the
United Stscs.in passing laws requiring these COM
pacis, understood the subject very differently
from tue Senator from Missouri Congress had re-
quiredsthe new States 70 sipulate that they would
not interfere with the primary disposal of the soil,
and t.iat they would not tax the lands for 8 e.
cited period after their sale. Now. il the Congress
OF tn day believed, that the States without thes
compacts, OF their admission into the Union would
have no such power, why was it thought necsssa-
ry TO restrict them by compacts. II is evident
that Congress believed the power would exist in
the States, or they would have taken no measures
to restrain its exercise; would not have imposed
the cornpacts. He would respect the compacts
while they had the form o! existence. but it would
surely be permitted TO the new States, even at
this late day, to say, that they had hard bargains
and that Congress ongh. not TO retain the advanta
ges they gained Mr.. IT spoke Of the political ba-
lance which had originally adjusted the powers
OF Government between the States and the Uniou
aud said, that il this balance were DESTROYED by
cessons, on the part 10 the States of the Federal
Government whether OF abstract political power,
or the object OF its exercise, that their system
destroyed.
MIR. Noble then addressed the Senate in his u
sual forc6e manner, in opposition TO the re com
mitment Of the bill.
Mt Berrien said he had given a notice yeste~-
Day and. Tor The purpose Of redeeming his pledge.
he moved 70 lay The bill upon the table, and the
Senate proceed to the consideration OF Executive
business; which motion prevailed.
After sitting III! tate hour, with closed doors,
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MASoR GENERAL AND BREvET RANK:
Mr. Vance from the Committee on Military af.
fairs, reported the following bill
a Bal to abolish the office Of Major General. and
10 regulate bTeyei rank il the Army Of the u
States.
See. |. BE II enacted. &c. That the Office of
Major General IN the Army of the United States
be, and the same is hereby, abolished; and tina, no
breTet rank shall he conferred by the President
and Senate any officer of the Army but for GAL
liant actions, and meritorious conduct on the field
OF battle: Provided. That nothing in this &c,
shall be so construed as TO prejudice the claim Of
any officer OF the Army TO whom brevet rank Is
now due, agreeable to the established regulations
Of conterCing the same.
Sec. 2. Be it(urfher enacted, That so much
ofthe 9th section Of the act TO reduce and fix the
Military Peace Establishment of the United States
approved March the I'd, 1921. and of the 4th SEE
ton OF the act making further provisions for the
Army Of the United States. and for other purposes
approved July the 9Th, 1912; and of the second
section o! the act 10 regulate The pay of breyet Of
iceTs. approved April 10Th. lelS as conflicts with
THE provisions OF this act, be, and the same are
hereby, repealed.
This bill was twice read and committed.
SLAVERY IN THE ID. OF COLUMBIA,
Dir. Alexander from the Committee for the
District OF Columbia. to which was referred sun
dry memorials from various parts of the United
States, praying for the gradual abolition of slave
ry in the District of Columbia, and representa-
ton upon that subject from the Grand Jury of the
County Of Washington, in said District and who
were instructed by the House on resolutions in
troduced by Mr.. Miner, TO make certain injuries
in relation TO the same subject, made a report
thereon, accompanied BY bill concerning the i'm
portaiion OF slaves into the District Of Columbia
and Tor other purposes which bill was twice read
and committed.
VACCINATION.
Mr.. Carson, from the Committee appeiaied on
the memorial Of Doctor Joseph G. Nancrede. OF
Philadelphia, made the following report thereon:
"The Select Committee on the subject of the
establishment Of National Vaccine institution
for the dissemination Of vaccine virus, &c. re-
port:
"That the late period Of the session az whic,,
the subject was brought before them, renders il
impossible 30 give TO il the attention and inyestpa-
ton which they deem the importance of the
subject to require; they therefore beg leave TO
be discharged from The further Consideration OF
the subject
This report was read and laid on the table.
SCHOOL LANDS.
Tue House resumed the Consideration Of ,be
following resolution. moved BY Mr.. Weems on