Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-16

facts relative the subject that would make us
BLUSH for free Institutions in this respect. But
ssrn to his proposition il confined to this District
The citizens of the place had Legislative power. Con-
grcss had the exclusive legislative jurisdictions OF the Dis
trct, by grant OF power III the Federal Constitution,
and he wished the principle establ he'd early in the his
tory of country that person should be- iprs
for debt within the ten mcs square lie had doubt.
he said, upon his mind that stronger reasons could
be given for nbolishng Imprisonment debt within the
District of Columbia, than amy equal portion i'm the u
Sates, arising from the nature of the occupations of its
inhabitants-thc character of the populaon-thc dis
fraLchisemen of its citizens and other obvious
and considerations and law to abolish imprisonment
for debt, would give all particsthe creditor and the
dehtor--a notice and warning which would be bcncf-
cal to all concerned.
In conclusion he would remark that he had purposely
excluded the States, and confined his proposition TO tins
District from that Congress would not abs-
fteiy abolish Imprisonment for debts and unless that
done no law upon that subject could pass without injury
TO his State, by giving to the Federal Courts sys-
TEN OF executions less liberal less humane and less Just
than the system governing State and Federal Courts
within Kentucky; he felt bound, therefore to attempt
nothing that would prejudice the citizens Of his own
State while all the States equally free adopt her
policy.
The resolution agreed to-
Mr.. Mckinley submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be in
structed to bring in bill To reduce the price of the
public lands to seveny-ve cents an acre and all lands
which have been offered for sale and remain unsod for
more than FIVE and less than ten years to fifty an
acre. and all lands which have been offered for sale and
remain unsold. for than ten and less than fifteen
years. To twenty five cents acre and all lands which
have been Offered for sale and remain unsod more
half cents and all lands which have been offer
ed for sale and remain unsold than twenty years
and less than twenty-five years to six and oncourth
cents an acre. and all lands which have been offered for
sale and remain unsod for than twenty five years
to become the property Of the States in which they lie
respectvcly and all persons who reside ON the rub
land, and shall have cultivated any portion thereof for
one more years to have the right of prescription of
quarter section, the price above fixed upop the
class to which 1T may belong in the foregoing scale of
graduation.
Mr. Williams said that there bill pending before
ha lttclan hl.rnra tl
the resolution. IL subject of great Importance
lie saw no proprcty in thus prematurey anticipating the
action OF the House the bill; and believing that the
discussion of the resolution, at this time would time
msspent, he moved to lay it the table But hc with
drew the motion at the request of
Mr. Mckinley who remarked that he had no obicc-
ton to postpone the consideration of his resolution for
the present and have il printed The gentleman from
North Carolina (N1r. Wiiams) was mistaken i'm sun
posing that the substance of his motion was elraccd
in the bill referred to- He proposed to reduce the price
of all public lands. The bill provided for the
of the price of certain lands The resolution would
bring the subject before the House in all its aspects II
would test and settle the principles and policy of the
Government on this important subject. There was no
longer any necessity of considering this in refer
TO revenue. So far any pledges had been made
in regard TO the public debt and finances they had
redeemed. The question was, what should Ike the
future settled policy of the government in the DISPOSE
ton of the public lands-whcther the poor and
INDECENT should be allowed to purchase anscs upon low
and reasonable terms His constituents wene interested
to considerable extent in this He had NO de-
sire to interfere with the bill which had been a,dcd IN
but he trusted the House would have no objection 10
postpone the consideration of his motion giRe time
say this day week.
Mr.. Williams had wish TO forcstall any discussion
OF the subject lie in favor of full and free iEves
tgntion OF it. 1t must of later (and perhaps at
the present SESSION. he disposed of His euy oiScct
was TO prevent premature discussion 1--we came TO
decision on the resolution, we must again review the
subject, when the bill shall come up
The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. McKinleY) ssIppo-
n consequence OF the extingushmen of the yub-
lie deta final disposition of the subject of the ab
lie lands should be made If the gentleman could move
that should not in future, any more esc we
might act on the subject without fear trembling
The Treasury was said to be full (ahon gb tbc ryntl
from Georgia, Mr., Clayton had indicated a very
different opinion bat in of war he would ask If
woald not be compelled to look public bands
necessary source of revenue? Upon ysrst other
fund could we readily rely the proceeds of the
sale of the public domain? He decidedly in favor
of the present land system With view 10 brine ap
the whole subject at the same time he post
pone the resolution to the first day january e dav
fixed for the consideration of the bill in relation the
public lands.)
Mr.. Clay Thought il premature enter into discus
of the merits OF the subject He in favor of the
motion to print, and also that the resolution SHOULD be
postponed for week. IT, at the expiration OF thui
time gentlemen should desire a further posponement
The House # 1t thought proper, could 50 order.
Mr.. Mckinley presumed that gentlemen would he
prepared 10 act the subject in the of week
If however, that should not be the case he would not
object to further postponcment to any reasonable time
MIR. Williams had no objection TO pnnt the resolution
He did not wish to be taken by surprise this subject
Che would not however charge the the rcsou
ton with any such intenton) He thought the first of
January would be the most proper time for the consde
ration of the subject
Mr. Vinton inquired whether the bill in relation to the
public lands, in the hands OF the Land Committee or
upon the Speakers table? On being Informed that il
in the House, and had been made the special order
for tho first day Of Janay he suggested the gentle
from North Carolina (Nr WiiansO 10 vary lis
motion TO refer the resolution TO the same Commit
tee of the Whole the of the Union to (which the
bill had been referred
Mr. Williams said he heartily acquiesocd in the suo-
geAtio2 idst made; and thus modified his motion was
agreed to.
The Speaker laid before the House letter from the
Secretary of War; enclosing, in pursuance of rceou-
ton, Ecport and Documents relation the cXDcnd-
lures heretofore made for objects of internal improve
ments which, on motion Of Mr. Briggs laid on the
table.
The Speaker laid before the House a report from the
Secretary OF the Treasury, mnde pursuant a resoIu
ton, specifying the aggregate Of revenge co
lected on mpoCed merchandise Tonnage &c hl each
State Of the Union for the year 1888 which Iad
the table.
The Speaker also laid before the House a comn,uuea-
ton from the Secretary of the Treasury in response TO
resolution of the House, in rcIHon the effect &C.
of the modification of the tariff in certain particulars:
which on motion Of Mr. Polk, refereed to the Com
mittee of Ways and Means.
On motion Of Mr. Ward the House then adjourned.
Frdi0y, Dec H.
The Senate did sit to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Petitions and memorials presented by Messrs
Hall Of Maine; Gorha and Phillips Of Massachusetts,
Allen Of VermonG White Ward, Adams Turrill and
Wpdwell Of New York; Heath Of Maryland; Patton
Chnn, Taylor, Loyal, Wilson, and Mason Of Virginia.
Gamble of Georgia. Johnson and Chiffon Of Kentucky;
Lea Of Tennessee; Garland ID Louisiana; Lyon Of MI
chgan and White Of Florida
BURNING or THE TREAsURN mU1LDISG.
mpCg aup oil frr.,. IL