Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-14
twenty fourth Congress--ist scss
Monday. January II, 1896.

~ IN SENATE.
ne Hon. A. Cuthbert, from Georgia appeared and
took his seat So Nrr~ INV
The President laid before the Senate the following
communications: IS
Report from the Secretary of the TREASURY y, tho
subject oil the construction Of the Potomac Bridee-A
Report from the Secretary of the Treasury on the sub
~. ., ,e banks OF the District of CounbaA Report
i" tne Secretary of War, enclosing from the
second Auditor, as to boancesA Report from the Sc.
Seaty Oh war; ensgsng an account OF the contingent
Petitions were presented by MIR. Webster Mr. Teller.
s Mr Tendricks Mr. Kent Mr., Buchanan MIR Preston,
Mr. TalmaJgc, and Mr. Coldsborough
Mr. Buchunan said he was now about TO present the
meinoai OF the Can Quarterly Meeting of the religious
Society OF Friends in Pennsylvania requesting Con.
eIess TO abolish slavery and the slave trade in The Dis
trct of Columbia On this subject he had @ rnressca
ms opinions TO the Senate Thursday last and he had
no disposition to repeat them present He would say
however, that ON review of these opinions he was
perfectly satisfied with them. All he should now saw
was that the memorial which he was about TO present
was perfectly respectful in its language Indeed il.
could not possibly be otherwise considering the
table source from which it emanatcd
would become his duty TO make some motion in re-
gard TO tins memorial On Thursday last he had sup
gescd that IN his judgment the best course TO pursue
was 10 refer these memorials 10 select committee or to
, ,he 1Gi mn Tor the District of Columbia. He still
thought so; but he now found that insurnountabe oh
staces presented themselves 10 such n reference
In presenting this memorul, and in exerting himself
so lar MS in him lay for that respcctf
uon by the Senate which deserved he should do his
duty TO the nemoriasts. After it should obtain this re
eePton he should have duty to perform himself and
n
sons he had stated on Thursday last that Congress ought
not at tins time to abolish slavery the District of CO.
umba, and that it duty promptly To place This
exciting question at rest lie should therefore move thai
me memorial be read, and that the prayer of the memo
rialists be rejected.
Mr. Preston said that The question was areadv r,;sod
oy ms colleague, and he trusted that the Senator from
rennsy would not urge any action this petition
until some disposition made of the one presented ON
Thursday by the gentleman from Ohio
Mr. King, OF Alabama could no difference betty
usslhg 'e question on this or on the former petition
inc language oil Tins memorial, indeed being more re.
sPcctnl there seemed to be propriey conine the
debate TO IT, rather than extend on the other the
words OF winch were calculated TO produce much Bit
Mr. Webster hoped tiat the Senator from Pennsvlv,
ma would not take course by which all the ordinary
business OF The morning would be obstructed and that
TIC consideration of this memorial would be deferred
until other petitions had been received
Mr.. Calhoun thought the debate which commenced
on thursday ought 10 be resumed and continued He
saw no reason why this memorial! should take priority
over the one presented from Ohio why VIC should break
away from that petition to receive this merely because
the language IN which 1t was couched was respectul
mat Is, as respectful could lie expected For howe
yer temperate 1T might seem, the same principle " as M
bodied in il; and the inucndoes conveyed wore os O.
from being acceptable the bareced nsolence of the
other He hoped the debate would go on on The FIRST me-
t9n; that The question would be met maniuy and that
at the same time, should encroach upon lie hor
which ought TO be devoted to other business
Mr. King of Alabama, said his object TO avoid ex
ctement' The object OF the petitioners in both memo
rails was the same 1t intends the abolition of slavery
and of the traffic in slaves in the District of Columbia =
lie had no wish 10 shrink from the question; on The con.
trary, he DESTROYS of giving direct vote ct Tho
motion OF the Senator from Pcnnsy prevail and Ger
aniy the object of the gentleman from South Carolina
would be attained. 1t would say to all who hold the
same sentiments with these petitioners that no further
action would be had any similar memorials exceut
merely to read and to reject them He had hoped that
THIS session would pass away without any additional ex-
citement But the legislation here upon this subject had
produced tenold agitation Suppose you reject the ne
tton from Ohio because the language is dsrespoctfi
will that put an end TO this excitement? ANY man must
dad
one, would go abroad that not received on thai
account merely and that legislation had on it in re-
terence only to the language in which it was couched
ne course pointed out by the Senator from Pennsylya
ma puts an end to all this II says distinctly we will
Iect what we VIII not cannot, ought not to receive
lie ad no disposition and intention take any part
in the debate. tc should give a silent vote
MIR Clay said that he had moi risen take part in
the principal question lie did think however that
these petitioners ought have any monopoly Of the
time and attention OF the Senate He could not consent
to IT, lie had motion himself which he wished to pre-
sent, and TO which he attached much Importance lie
should therefore, that this whole matter be laid on
e table, at least until the necessary business of the
morning be got through with.
The question being taken, the memorial &c was or.
dcred TO lie on the table
SPECULATION IN INDIAN CLAIMS
Mr. Black said, he had received, aud would take this
occasion 10 present memorial fiom number ofthe ct
zens at Mississippi residing in the northern purt of that
State on an important subject. ii related extensive
frauds said to be about be prucscd on the Government
IN relation to The public lands involving as tbe memo
riallss suppose, least the quantity of upwards of two
ifiohs o acTes oI the pubhc ands. lie informed
ihal lherc was much excitement the subject in that
State, and that other memorials would be forwarded
signed. IL appears by tie treaty of Danc
ing Rabbit Greek, that 10 each Choctaw head of n
family DESTROYS OF remaining and becoming citizens of
Alabama or Mississippi, reservation was made of ST
hundred and forty acres of land, TO include improve
mcnts, and 70 each child less quantity ADJOINING tho
improvement OF the parent; the land to be patented
TO claimants after residence thereon of five wears
IL was made necessary, under the I1th article which
contains this provision, that all Intending to avail them
selves OF THIS advantage should record their names with
tic Indian agent within SIX months after the making Of
the treaty This register kept by the agent a that
ume (Col WafdO hat it appears that, by mistake some
names were omitted, or, if recorded the register has
been INITIATED The memoralsts state that some spec
ulaOTs seizng upon the advantage which This citcn
stance afforded, have gone the Indians who have 70
moved beyond the Mississippi river and have procured
LOT uii'ng consideration very numerous claims be-
preferred sufficient to all nearly all tho good
land remaining. He was informed that some Of those
gentlemen, specializing these claims no doubt from
" patriotic motives, had sold out their chances for
immense sums. lie also informed, that sczing
upon the advantage Of the fact that these lands had been
reserved from the late sales they were cndca yorj 40
exact large amounts from The settlers 10 Quit their pos
sessions, ana secure their homes under apprehension
mat these claims wllhnally be made good Mr. - said
ne had doubt there some fcV coses ia ,vt;rb
hen ny their names not appearing in The register kept
Oy NE agent who have CONFIRMED 10 the rcousitions of
ihe ucaiy but be had doubt that those cases were
very icw indeed, and those should meet when pre-
stnWot Win the favorable attention Of Con0tese --
Wha nc desired az present was 20 put all their pnafd
against thcse claims, and 70 prevent tic innocent
seitiefs rom Dclng taken in by them They fpnst
come undcf the action Of Congress; and while he Wi
tsay 20 uo luslce 10 the mentorious claims he would
at The same time say IL his firm conviction that few
very few, VIII lie found 10 be Of that character lie
would advise the settlers therefore against eatselee
Prehension, md all especially against dcalnt, in such