Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-03
THE ALTERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRE-.
SENTATIVES

The dispute between Messrs. Branch and White has
been of long Standing 1t from the White Oak lands
oil Flordaut burst out in the House Of Representa-
tyes Saturday last with vehemence and into yo
lent attack.
Mr. Branch submitted resolution calling for commu.
ncations made TO the Navy Department by the agents
employed TO examine the Live Oak lands BELONGING to the
u Staesalso by the agents who were TO make surveys
OF the Live Oak plantations Santa Rosa Sound, near
Pensacoa-and requesting the Secretary TO report upon
the best means OF preserving the Navy timber growing
on the public lands, sc.
Mr. White moved TO amend the resolutions so as to re-.
quire report OF the number of agents and assistants ap-
pointed for the preservation of Live Oak the last wear
the date OF their commissions, the authority under which
ey were appointed their salaries, Sc, and also whether
the said agents have found Live Oak enough TO paw their
salaries or to justify their continuance in Office
upon these resolutions and amendments the controyer-
sy began-GOv Branch stated that the "obiect of the
gentleman who had offered the amendment was too mani
lest; IT was to make attack upon administration of
department That never yet had shrunk and never would
shrink from scrutiny"
Ihe object of his own resolution was simple and obv
Gus 1t was to enquire whether there existed without the
use OF aruhcal means, an adequate supply of Live Oak
Timber Tor the uses OF the Navy If the information il
might elicit should satisfy the House that the natural sap
ply oil that timber abundant then would be for the
House TO decide whether they would enter into the ar
cial cultivation of ornot. The only object sought in the
resolution was that the Nation might act on this subject
lnelgently why, them did the gentleman from Florida
seek TO interrupt or embaFrass its adOption Was il that
the gentleman apprehended that the facts when disclosed
would reflect upon him. his rcnds' He would moi
say th"t me gentleman did apprchond that was for
olhers 10 Judge Commissioners had been appointed TO-
examine site Tor the plantation OF this timber near PEN
sacola the Information obtained in the Navy Depart
nen let 1t be produced and let the House know whether
1t was necessary TO go into the artificial cultivation Of his
species OF timber not lie had hoped since the resou
uon asked only Tor normaon that there would have been
objection TO IT, why this effort made to cmbarass
the resolution, lac could conceve he waited TO hear
the genteman's reasons"
Mr. white denied any intention OF embarrassing the
passage oil the Resolution lie said that, An agent had
4een employed by the last Administration when Mr.
Souhard was at the head of the Department in reference
10 me preservation OF this timber, with salary of $1,000 TO
S2OO but had been discontinued by his on the
ground OF doubt as to the power Of the Department to
employ such an agent, and also on the ground that his
services were useless but now the Department had
such agents salary Of S24OO each with assistants and
vessels, the total expcncc of which amounted TO little il