Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-25

league l, would greatly increase the salaries Of these
ohcers, who already received almost the hes. pay under
the Government. They were offices which were cager-
y sought AFTER and tcnacously held TO- under the
present compensation These officers are now pad a
salary of S5uO, and per cent on the amount Of pr
chase money received by them for public lands They
are also furnished stationary Many of them receive
from SlouO 10 5000 per annun; and if the amendie mt
oil ms colleague prevailed of them would receive
at least $4,000 per annun and the whole Of them would
obtain by IT greatly increased compensation BY his
own amendment he proposed that neither the purchaser
nor the Government should pay the fees for
the necessary oath but that the duty should bcperlor
ed without fee by those who already receive the most aim
pie salary.
Mr. McCarty said, that of the arguments Of his
colleague, (Mr. Lane) convinced him that his own
amendment proper it was that the fees for perform
ing these additional duties would frequently a,nount IN
$1,000 or upwards for one year. This fact would con
vince gentlemen that these extra duties would occupy
much time, and would greatly increase lnbors OF the
Registers and Receivers. With view that the bill
might be properly maured, MIR. McC. moved that il be
committed TO a Committee of the Whole House
MIR. Clay hoped that the motion to commit would not
prevail The main object of the bill afford iacil
to the purchasers OF the public lands, in making their
entries and purchases Neither Of the amendments was
important to those most interested, and they would pre-
Ter paying the fee OF twenty five the defeat of
the BILL In order to the passage of Tn, act h,
had assened to the amendment OF of the gentlemen
from Indiana (NIr Lane0 He never coud Summers tbe
amendment of the other member from the same State
(Nlr Mccarthy commitment, unless to a day special
would be tantanount to defeat of the measure and he
hoped 1T would not be done
| Mr.. McCarty proposed TO commit the hill and mako
it the order for tomorrow
iehs AS matter OF convenience. by the original bill
the purchaser may either make oath before the REGISTERS
and Receivers, or before Justice Of the Peace This
was all they would require expect.
Mr.. Ashley thought it triilinp matter as il re.
gardcd the fee for administering the oaths He had no
objection the amendment Offered bv one of the non
tlcman from Indiana, (Nr Lanc) In order however 10
prevent tc delay defeat of the bill by the discussion
cf uninporiant propositions lac would the prev
Mr.. Ashley subsequently, withdrew his motion for
the previous question: when the motion to commit was
Mr.. J. O. Adams said h. hoped the first amendment
would be adopted and that the amendment last offered
would be rejected These officers, the Registers and Re-
celvers OF the public lands, their whole time to the
public which employs and pays them If they were au
horzed to administer these oaths it would be the pub
Inc time, and not their which would he devoted 20
that service. The last amendment offered would one
rate as reduction Of the price of the public lands MIR
A. SAID there were already propositions enough before
the iiods Tor reducing the price of the public domun
and for giving away the public lands i've hear them
neutrality-suspicious. he might properly call them
should not be forgotten that these lands belonged to
the whole Union, and yet hear the monstrous doc
rnc almost daily advanced that the lands should belong
10 the States IN which they are located 1t time
those States who receive part the benefit derived
from plundering the public domain to look to their
rights lie called upon members to hold to- and guard
sacredy the public strings The duties of the Re-
gstcrs and Receivers would interfere with the admit
nlstraton of those oatls
MIR. Clay said, that the remarks of the gentleman
from Massachusetts, lh1r. Adams,) would have been
strictly in order if made ion nm occoa;ou in
pect, when the whole subject of the public lands would
come up for discussion. The gentleman seemed TO be
excited and spoke of the daily attempts on the part of
the new States to rob the Government of its territory
Was this true? The applications made to this House
generally looked to reduction of price on inferior
LANDS according to their diminished value The propre-
~ OF complying with these requests would be matter of
inquiry at the proper time But the gentleman complains
a the old States receive benefit from the disposition
OF the public domain. What said Mr.. c. becomes of
the millions which paid into the public Treasury by
the purchasers of the public lands the New Stales Was
not much the greater proportion of money thus paid into
Of oil
In relation to the present BILL its passage was of more
Importance to the purchasers than any consideration
connected with tie subject Of fees for administering the
oaths referred TO- The principal object was TO relieve
the purchasers from the trouble of hunting up judicial
officer for that purpose, and he trusted question would
be taken at once, and the bill be suffered to pass
Mr. Boon said the amendment of his colleague (NIr
Lanel would operate gnequay BY it, those Receivers
and Registers, who will have much the largest salaries
Will have the least to perform lie anxious that the
shcers referred to, should be put upon something like
footing of equality.
Mr. Lane said his colleague (NIr Boon) was mistaken
that the greatest amount of dny under this
salaries lie referred to the business of several of
correct
subject should administer these oaths and hence the
Receivers and Registers had been named what was
without fee or reward. He agreed with the gentleman
from Massachusetts,, (Nlr. Adams) that these officers
owed their time to the country, and they well paid
Mr. Mards said, the debate which was progressing he
considered wide of the question The bill proposes to
substitute the Registers and Receivers of the Public
Land Offices for judicial officers before whom certain
oaihs or afdavs shall be made was also proposed to
amend this proposition, and require this duty per-
formed without charge to the person making oath and
upon tins question of mere convenience facility TO the
purchaser the pubic lands engaged in discus
sion OF the whole land subject This certainly not
me time or the occaslon to enter into debate upon the
future disposition of the national domain and he there
tore hoped that the bill now before the House would be
permitted to progress.
Mr.. Lanes amendment then agreed to- and the
bill ordered to be engrossed
| On motion of Mr.. Connor the Select Committee mp
pointed at the last session examine and report the stu
alton of the Post Office Department had leave to sit
during the session of the House.
OFFICERS OF THE NAVY
| The House resumed, in the Committee of the Whole
the state ofthe Union (N1r Briggs in the Chair the
consideration of the bill to regulate and equaze the nay
of the officers of the Navy.
The question being the motion of Mr. Wise to
amend tie amendment of the Committee, concerning
captains,
Mr. Pearce resumed his remarks lie considered the
gunneTs as most useful and mertorous class of of.
ficcrs. Considering the skill necessary for the efficient
conduct OF this branch of the SERVICE he desired put
these officers superior footing in point Of paw
lie then remarked the importance Of naval school
which he desPalrcd of seeing established; indeed he
not without apprehension that even our military
scnoo would be suppressed. He adycred the close
gcons subjected If they passed the examination
they must be possessed talents far beyond what would
command for them, in the exercise Of their talents
higher rate Of income than the pay of their rank.
| MIR. Watmough reminded the Committee that the
question of surgeons not before thcnI that if
were the pay of that class had been fixed with the entire
appreciation Of the surgeons and assistant surgeons
NJ Il a,I, a..