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

- The question before the House was ON agres.
ing to this last amendment moved bysMr. Strong.
Mr. Weems now addressed the House.
Mr.. Sprsgue said, he had risen with no inten.
ton of discussing the resolution, but to enter hi,
protest against its being discussed at ALL What,
asked Mr.. 5. are we at this day going to inquire
whether we own the public lands.-Which we
have possessed and disposed Of from the
very beginning OF the Government Can il DC
seriously proposed that we should send to Com
inttec to ask whether those lands are our proper
ty or noH Sir, should as think of inquiring
| whether we own the public ships! Whether we
own the Dock Yards and the Navy Yards Whe-
Their our forts and fortresses are our own! Nav
sir, whether own the very hall in which
| stand II il is to be held matter Of doubt wh.-
Their the States in which tie lands lie do not on
that account possess the right and title to the lands,
then ii may be doubted whether the Corporation
OF ashington City does not rightfully own this
Capitol' But ], for one, will never give INV con-
sent to any measure by which we throw doubt I'm.
on our own title. Sir, the ingenuity of men can
conJure up doubts about any thing wbatever.
Grave philosophers have very solemnly doubted
whether the universe, around us, has anv er;s
tehce. Whether t,s material world is not a non.
entity. But, sir, Il such doubts are TO prevail. il
" time we made retrenci ments in more ways than
one; will not move that this resolution lie up-
on the table, because viii never consent that il
.oNN>' S'eu NOR WDi.ii send n
Committee, nor will discuss It, 1 know the
very respectable source from which tho amend-
ment mas proceeded, but I hope the gentleman
who moved It will himself consent TO withdraw il.
ana that he will not, by pressing its reference to
Committee. throw even the shadow of shade
upon title which is beyond all doubt, or contro
versy.
Mr.. Strong said, that he did not feel willing to
withdraw the amendment, nor should he discuss
the merits either Of il or the resolution He would
nhcar hat -.
the States to the public lands presented different
case from that Of mans claiming the hat and
coat which he had on. Such claim he SHOULD
mol think Of referring to any one, but should leave
the claimant 10 do what he could. But the case
resembied claim set up to his hat and coat bv
some other person having them in hi possession.
10 SUCH claim II would be his duty 70 respond.
and to rebut it by argument. Now, although
thc title to the public lands was legally in the U
nited otates, yet the actual possession of them
was IN those States in which they lie. As some
OF these States Claim the lands, he thought il was
que to the rights Of the United States, that both
sides OF the question should be argued He would
not nave the public mini assaed by all the ar
gnments in favor Of tho States, and by these a.
lone If such course were pursued. il nigh,
happen that the weight of public opinion would,
IN time take the side of the States, and when the
pubic mind arrayed itself against the claim of the
Genefa' government he need not tell gentlemen
what the final result would be- The time for in
attained if he succeeded in attracting the ,ubIc
notice to an unbiased consideration of the subject
Inc suDject was IN itself one Of great moment 1t
was rapidly winding up, and Congress would
soon nc Obliged to decide to whom the lands be-
longed 1t they should continue to neglect and
to defer this, tho time was coming, ana he beIiev
ell was not very distant, when the House would
ne called to discuss, not merely its own tile but
something beyond that.
>, Nj. Moore, OF Alabama, now addressed the
Hnd E.,
ton and amendment thereto lie upon the table.
And the question being taken, it was carried by
large majority.
On motion ofMr Alexander, it was
Resotued. That the Committee on the Post or
hce and Post Roads be instructed 10 inquire into
the expediency of establishing a Post route from
eidon in North Carolina, to Halifax Courthouse,
in Virginia.
PRoHIBIToRY DUTIES.
MIR. Gtimer moved the following; which, accord.
ing TO an established rule Of the House. lies on the
table one day:
Resoired. That the Secretary of the Treasury
oe directed to report to the House Of Represen-
tadves upon what articles imposts are laid bv the
present laws OF the United States, so high as to
prevent or lessen their importation; the yearly
quantity OF such articles imported, from the COM
mencement OF the present Federal Government.
TO the LIST OF January 1929; and showing. also the
different duties imposed upon such articles. and
the yearly revenue arising therefrom, until the
time aforesaid Wv
CUMBERLAND ROAD
Ire House then, on motion of Mr. Stewart Of
Penn. went into Committee of the Whole on the
state Of the Union, Mr. Martin in the Chair. on the
bill Tor the preservation and repair Of the Cumbsr
,and koaei and (Mr Mercer who had the floor,
being confined to his room by indispo.i tion)
Mr.. Buckner took the floor in support of tbe
biH, and IN opposition TO the amendment of Mr..
buchanan, and continued to occupy il till the ris-
ing OF the committee, which took place at the usu
Al Al hour' Wnen' on motion of Mr.. Stevenson, of
Virginia, Speaker of the Housed who has tba
floor for tomorrow,
The House adjourned.