Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-22
avvcssey-aossrtEa Comgrcss--sd seSs
-NOHday, December -, lSJG.
~ SIN A'rE'

/ The Chair presented the credentials Of Mr. Buchanan,
elected Senate! by the Legislature Of Pennsylvania
| for SIX additional years.
Nj Davis presented the petition Of J. j. Robinson
Missionary in Greece, from the Protestant Episcopal
Church, representing that he fears his children born TO
him Greece do not cume within the principles OF law
which will secure ~ them their citizenship here, and
| therefore asks for i law 10 That effect
On motion of Mr. RIveS, the petition IF Daniel Stein
rod. TIC files uI the Senate, praying CUnpensa.
ton for work the CuLeI land road referred
| ~ The Committee OF Claims.
Mr. buchanan presented the petition Of number Of
merchants and other citizens OF Pnilade phia asking
appropriation Tor the purchase u se, aud for the
ton ut Custom house. Ke!tr!ed To Tie Committee
| Comuercc.
Also the memorial Of number Of Judges and lawyers
cf rlaGrlp stating the Inconvenience attending III,
! sitting Of the Circuit Court Of the United States, and
asking app opatlVn for The erection Of courthouse.
Referred 10 The Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Wright presented the memorial Of Il number Of
merchants Of New York, sufferers by the fire in Deem
Der last praying that the duty gouds consumed might
be RENTED or refunded Referred TO tie Committee
Commerce.
Mr. CLAW presented the petition Of several Reyolu
tionary pensioners III Virginia. praying an Increase OF
pension Referred to The Committee On Pensions.
Other petitions aud memorials were presented by
Alessrs Ewing OF Illinois, Linn, Robbins, Soulhard
| Miles, Robinson ,-Scvier and Page.
MR.. CLAY'S LAND BILL.
Mr. Clay, in pursuance OF the notice which he had
given, TO ask leave 10 introduce the land bill He
le il due 10 the occasion to make some explanations.
The operation OF the bill which had heretofore several
times passed The Senate, anu tie House.
ced the last OF December, 1852 and was to continue
five years 1t provided for distribution Of the nett pro-
ceeds Of the public lands during TINT period, upon we'll
known principles. But the deposle act OF the last
sion had disposed OF 50 large part OF the Invisible
fund under the land bill that he did not think it right
in the present state OF the Treasury TO give the bill
which he about TO apply Tor leave TO Introduce
that retrospective character He had accordingly, in
the draught which he was going 10 submit made the
last day Of the present month lis commencement, and
tue last day of the year le4l, its termination. If it
should pass therefore, in this shape the period OF It's du
ration vii! be the that prescribed in the former
bills Ike Senate will readily comprehend the motive
for fixing the end Of the year ISL, it is at that time
that the biennial reductions Of ten per cent upon the
existing duties cease according TO the act 81 the ID
March Il S33 commonly called The Compromise act, and
reduction Of one.ha of the beyond 20 cent
Of any duty then remaining is TO take effect BY that
time, fair experiment Of the land bill Will have been
made, and Congress then determine whether the
proceeds oil the national domain sha! continue to be
equtaby divided, shall be applied TO the current e-
prnses Of the Government.
The bill in his hand assigns 10 the State Of Ar
kansas her just proportion OF The fund.- and grants TO her
QUO UOo Of land as proposed to other States 81
mar assignment and grant not made to Michigan,
because her admission into the Union is not yet complete
put wheh 'ns event occurs provision is made by which
mat Slate VIII receive It's fair dividend.
He had restored in this druught the provision con-
taned IN The original plan for the distribution OF the
public lands which he had presented to the Senate by
which the States, in the application Of the fund.-
strc,ed 10 the great objects Of education internal i'm
provement and colonization Such restriction would,
he believed, relieve the Legislatures of the sevctal
States from embarrassing controversies aboutthe dspo
siton Of the fund, md would the application Of
what common, in lis origin 10 common benefits in
its ultimate destination. But it scarcely necessary
for him to say that this provision, well the fate Of
the whole bill, depended upon the superior wisdom of
the Senate and of the House.
no
toned, the bill is exactly as i: passed this body at The
last session.