The Arkansas advocate., 1832-02-01

of the people depended upon their ln- telligence, then he vsts certain that he had not attached too much importance to tIis petition.
 Mir. A. asked, what does the peti- ton propose? It contained five distinct propositions:
 lat. fhat,to all actual subscJibers,news- papers and pamphlets, not exceeding one fsheet, should pass through the mail free of postage.
 2d. That all owners of printing presses and types, and all persons actually work ing ard employed as printers, should be permitted to receive their letters free oi postage.
 3d That the two cents at present allow ed to postnasters for delivering free let tters, be dispensed with.
 4;ls That, SD soon as the natiinai debt shall be paid of, tie wiloic exPe''se e.f ssie Post Office Department be defrayed ont of the general fund. This proposition, he presumed, would meet the views of gen. tlemen wio.arc so much alarmed to know what si,aii besd0he with the accrning and increasing revenue.
 9th. The fifth proposition lie considered a very important one. twas, that eU the newspapers within the United States should he permitted to publish the Laws of the United States, and the Advertise ments of the Post Office Department, and that each should receive one hundred doi- lars per annum for such publication. Ev- cry man in this country was presumed to know the law: and he was heid amenabie to theslaw, as knowing it. Such being the fact he thought tliat much pains should be taken to lei ihesa who are subject to the laws, know sgliat tbe laws were. As at present promulgated, there was not, he would venture to say, one man in t. thous- and sho ever saw the laws that were there enacted
 aIr. 4. concluded by moving that the petition be laid on the table and print. ed; which motion was agreed to by the Iiouse.
 Tbe following resolution. laid on the able for consideration by Mr. HickhBe on ihe i3ihnstant, was called up, read, and aaopied:
 Resofeed, That the Secretary of the Treasury communicate to this House such Information as the Department may have collected upon tl,e suhject.o Of steam boat navlgation. with ;lsslea to tie adoption of sucb measures as may be deemed practica- tie tie better to guard and protect passen- gers from tie danger of the bursting of boilers.
 Dee. 2I.-On motion of Mr. Heistcr, it vas
 Resoluad. That the Committee on the Post Office aud Post Roads De instructed toinqnlre into the expe1ieney Of aboiish- ing the postage on newspapers and period icals.
 I On motion of Mir. SEWER. il was
 jSesofpea, TT lat ttttiis flee inc. Public Lands be instructed to inquire into tlle expediency of establishing surveyor Generals Office in the Territory of Ark ansas, and of causing a transcript of tie records and surveys of all private land claims, aud also tue plats of sil surveys of the public land relative to said Territory, to De deposited II. said office.
 On motion of Mir. Corr, of Indiana, 1t was
 Resolred, That the Committee on Pub lie Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediencs of reducing the price of the tuDlic lands, and tliat they graduate the price thereof in such manner that the re- fuse lands which remain unsold in districts winch have been cul!ed, may be offered to purchasers at q less price per acre than the mi4imum price of the public lauds, securing 10 the actual settler for ; speciii- ed term of time the opportunity orpriyi- lege Of pt rchasiHg the quarter section, half quarter section, or quarter quarter section, by him improved.
 Zee. 2S.-Nir. iaickli1e,from the Com mittee onthe Public Lands, reported a bill to give theaetfai settlers on the pub l lie lands q right of pre-emption of a quarter section at the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre; which was committed to q Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the t's,j; ta ' soii 6 morrow, after having been twice read. and directed oi,e printed.
 The House resumed the considera- tion ofthe resolution submitted by Mir. Biair, of Tennessee, on Thursday the 22d instant.
 Resotred, That the committee on the pii 10 tue expectancy oi dlstrIoHtlng laccor- ding: to popuIation) the proceeds of the public lands among the several States and Territories: which distribution, when made, shall he expended OF internal inn lprovements, or to reimburse monies ai- ready expended on such works. or for Purposes Of education, as the Legislature of the several States stall direct. The following substitute. having been submitted ky Mir. Ignfon, yesterday, was accepted by the mover of the Res olution, viz. to strike out all after the word < Resofred.n and inert That. a cafr isAiftee he annninted fn er-