Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-02-02


 : Ofere this, and we may now look for something o general interest
 In the House of Representatives, on the 10th o January, Mir TREzyASr submitted resolution, in sstructng the committee ofways and means to report bill toreduce the existing duties on imported goods to go into effect after the public debt shall hal been paid off, us to raise revenue adequate to tine sup port of government under an economical mnistra tion of its affairs. A consideration of the question was demanded, but the House refused to consider the resolution by vote of III to73 On the 10th. Mir HAYNES renewed his resolution to reduce the du. ty on brown sugar imported into tho United States and, after modifying his notion the Rouse agreed to take it into consideration. Yeus S9-Nays S5.
 On the 10th of January bill having for its object to change the mode of disposing of certain lands granted to Illinois and Michigan for the purpose ol making canal, was taken np. This bill was lost. but Ill its progress, it eliced some discussion; in the course ofwhich, some reflections were cast upon Alabama as to the manner she disposed of the land donated by Congress for improving the navigation oithe Muscle Shoals: upon which,
 I MT CLAY ofAlabama, rose and said he had not intended to participate in the discussicn of this Dill, nor shonld he now have riecn, but l.i take notlcc ct some remarks which had fal- len from two gentlemen who had preceded liim, having reference to the State which he, in part, had the hcnor to represent.
 The gentleman from Virginia, (Mr Me Coy.) had remarked, that if this bill passed. we should have applications from Ohio, h. diana, Alabama, Slc. (to all of whom similar grants fad been made,) 10 change The terms ct fhcir Yrant8-to fake back Me lands erant- cd, Sc. To relieve the gcntleman's appre- henslons, so far as Alabama was concerned, MT (. said the State had already sold and dispesed of the the lands, CT at least, much the greater part, which had been granted fer the like improvement. and they were n~w in the hands of individual proprietors. Hence there wasno probability that any similar mea sure would be proposed by the legislature CT the people of that State. The State of Ohio had, no doubt, also disposed of her grant; and no apprehonsons were to be entertained of any similar proposition from that quarter
 But the gentl. man from Tennessee, (Mr Bell had alluded to certain rumours which had been affoat, That .fiaJama had ,nismQn- aged fhc grant of 100000 acres 7phich had oeen m0de tofhat State, fer the improvement ot the Tennessee and ether rivers. MT C. said he was not displcased at the oppotuni- ty which had thus been afforded of giving ksome explanati, n of the manner in which that land had been disposed of The legislature had passed law for the valuation of tn SC lands, by Commissioners, appointed and sworn tor that Purpess, having due regard to the quality soil, locality, Sc These com nissioners were citizens of the country in which the lands were, and fully competent to assess fair and adequate value. They had aSSpSSfd "a xrsr1nf ff oeI, and Ter the prices so ascertained ard fixed. the land had been sold, and had, doubtless. produced an average price. above that fer winch the United States had sold like quan- uties otland before and since. Mir C. WAS aware, Che said) that rumors, as the gentle man rom I Tennessee remarked, had been in circulation, unfavGrable to the conduct cfthe l commlssicners; and iii consequence ofimpres slcns produced by these rrmors, morr Man f7vefre months ago, the Then Chief Mags- trate of Alabama, had noticed them in his communcation to the legislature. Upon that communcaticn. Gas MrC. urderstoed d it,) a committee had been appointed, with power to send fer persons and papers, and an inqui- ryinto Me srounds ffheae rnmors in8titut- ed. Inc committee was composed of high minded, honorable and intelligent gentlemen. .1any witnesses had been examined, and la
 
 resulted in a report zyhoiy e.rculhating aa,d acquiting Me comnlisioners from the c,n- sure which rumor had bestowed upcu them. Copies cf these reports had been forwarded, durdg the last session, to several gentlemen of this Hcuse, and could, no doubt nv be had for examination, if desired Mir C. ad- dcd, that 1t was true, having the henr if d seat in the legislature of Alabama, at the tine the disposal of these 4Co,CC0 acres If land was under consideration, he had preferred another mode, and felt it his duty. to onpcse the one adopted in the law which passed.- But, he nevertheless thought, when the facts he had mentioned were taken into View and considered. the imhutations against fhe hyis- lafure cfthat Sfate, which had been alluded to, would be considered unfounded and un- just. The important work contemplated by this grant is now ill progress, and will, no doubt, be accomplished in the manner and 1vithin Me lime designated by the act of Gen. | gress H4
 While up, MT c said, as he intended to vote for the bill under consideration. he would make few remarks upon that subject. The bill ccntemplates, as it's title purports, tc change the mode of disposing of the lands heretofore granted to Illinois, to enable her to construct the canal in question. No ques- tion of constitutionalty, or perhaps of policy, which might be involved, if the original mea- sure were now presented, could arise on this occasion. Indeed, lie did not understand that the question of constitutionality had been raj sed by the opponents of'he bill. And, MT C. said, he would take this occasion to remark, that he concurred, most cordially, in the sentiment, that aH further ahhroh,iaticns O monty for he hnrfoses of infernai imh,oo1e- menf, should cease, at hast until fhe hu6iic de6t quds haid--however willing lie might have heen while