Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-11

meut OF the Tennessee and other rivers. Mr. c. .ad
he not displeased a, the opportunity which had
thus been afforded, OF giving some explanation OF the
manner In which that land had been disposed Of The
Legislature had passed law for the valuation Of those
lands, by Commissioners appointed and sworn Tor 'ha'
having duo regard to the quality Of so local.
iy sc. Those commissioners were citizens oil the
country in which the lands and fully ,nt to
asses, a fair and adequate value They had assessed
the value Of each particular tract aud tor the prices
ascertaned and fixed the land had been sold, and had
doubtless produced an average price, above that Tor
which the United States had sold like quantities OF land
before and since.
Mr. c. was aware, (hs said,) that runiors, as the
gentleman from Tennes es remarked had been ia cir
culaon unfavora5is to the conduct OF tn, commission
ere aud 10 cons. t~nce Of impSps ions produced by
those rlmors than tt1eipe months ago. the then
Chief Msgisas OF Alabama, had noticed them Ia h,-
comnuncaiion to the Legislature: Upon that com.
munic alton. (as Mr. G. understood D committee bad
been appointed with 20 send tor 20 sons ami pa
p.rs and inquiry into the grounds Of these rumors
fnstituted The committee wa' composed OF high
minded, honorable aud intelligent gentlemen Many
winssse, had been examined, aud lsborious nvest-
ga'ion had taken place, which resulted 10 repoS
vhoiiy ereuipdting. and aequitng ne commissioner
from the eensure which runner had bestowed upon
them Copes Of this report had been forwarded during
the last session, to several gentlemen oil this House
and could no doub'. now be had for examination, il
desired. Mr. G. added, that il was true, having the
honor OF sea- in tho legislature Of Alabama, ut the
tine ths disposal Of these 100000 acres OF land wa,
under consid ration. he had preferred another mode,
1
law which passed. But, he nevertheless, thought, whom
the facts he had mentioned were taken into view aud
considered the inpuaion' against the legislature q
that State which had been alluded to- would be con-
sidered unfomnded and unjust The important work
COZ tempatsd by this srantis now in progre and Will
no doubt be accomplished IN the manner and "'fhin
the time designatsa by the ac, oil Congress.
While up, Mr.. c. said he intended to vote for the
bill under consideration, be would make Jew remark.
upon tht subject The bill contemplate, as ito title pur
porte change the mode oil d posing the njs here-
toiore ed to Illinois, to BILE her tn
canal in question No question OF consitutionaity, per-
haps of policy, which might be involved if the original
presented could arise this aston.
Indeed he did not understand that the question Of
sttuonalty had been raised by the opponents of the
bill. And, Mr.. c. said, he would take hi, occasion
remark that he concurred most cordially, in the sen-
ment, that all further appropriations Of money for
purposes of internal Improvement, should cease, at
least until the public debt ,oas padhowever willing
he might have been, while the system prevailed, that
his State should receive liberal dividend.
But Mr.. c. repeated, no question OF that nature
in this case. The land which had been granted to
Illinois, was situated along the proposed line of the
nal-n tract OF country altogether unsettled and
mote from those parts which settled. Consequent
ly, il would not noD sell for fair price, when other
lands Of the State, and in Others afforded facilities
much greater. No man would 20 into the midst Of
wi derncss TO make settlement, announcement the
means Of subsistence, when no could get land OF nearly
-qrAl quail in the neighborho Of abundant su ppss
= What does the legislature OF Illinois proro,e, and
what does This bill contemplate! Merely that she mas
be permitted to reInquish portion OF This lend.
dollar and toenfy five cents per acre, 20 be receiv,
in payment for other lands OF IN Uri,ed ae. In ILL.
nois aon-. II amouns a, most, to exchange Of
lands hereto ore granted for other lans Not dol
lar Of the public treasury is proposed to be apr opria ell,
of the public land to be g.anei.
II had been inhmated in debate, that the land pro
po,-d TO be reinqushed probably inferior, and,
that account, could not b, sold Bat the gent man
from Illinois. (Mr Duncan,) had placed the n. tier be-
yond doubt, Gas Mr.. c. eonceved) by the evidence Of
Of The engiEeers whose statement had re ad
she wing, satisfactorily, that the lard of COED
quality, generally, as perhaps any other like quantity
OF land in the State The completion of the canal,
would, unques,ionaby, enhance the value of the and
proposed &c be relnquished, we'll the publ Edo
main in that State, generally, and thus answer to the
government a most ample indemnity. The only ineon-
venence that could arise to the United States, would
be the rossibls delay of receiving the money for
W bch the land Tor which the script would be pa d
might cell. for few months. or perhaps Ionxer.-
The script was not, in any event. to be redeem
ed with money, hut land, and Only acre fur acre -
Not moro than fifty thousand dollars of script could
under the provision OF the bill, be issued once aud
the invesure OF that SUN in conformity with the
jions OF the grant, must he 81 tn ton
Of the Secretary of the Treasury. before ANY more
could issue. Indeed, every interest of the general GO
contemplated in making the grant, is
fully guarded and preserved The work intended is
admitted Mr.. G believed. On all hand. to be one OF
national mpo lance, asi proposed cion hewee
Lake Michigan and the navgabls water. Of the Mris-
'ippi. The benefits likely TO result from it, if complst
I'd, wosd be almost incalculable, not only to Illinois,
but to the whole western country Shali we not then
aid, when we do not sacrifice single dollar OF money,
or a foot of The public domain
Mr.. Angel aked for the yeas and nays on the ques-
ton OF the engrossment Of the oil; and they
dered
Mr.. Strong offered the Glow ng ansndnent to The
5lh section Of the hil
Provided, and il further enacted that M land a.
ad shall be received in exchange for the rpt
no ssad at less price than dollar and twe My
cents per sc'e."
The amendment was agreed to.
The preston was then taken the engrosSnent Of
Of the bill for third reading; when il was decided in
he 81. nav liz