The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-01-25
Twenty-FOurth Congress.
Second Session.
SENATE-Friday, Jan. Doth.

ordered to a second reading.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Davis,
calling on the President for certain infor-
nation in reference TO Mexico and Texas,
&c.
The Expunging resolution was then con-
sdered, and Mr.. Davis, Of Me. resumed
and flushed his remarks. After which
! Mr.. Preston, of s. G. took the floor and
addressedthe Senate against the resolutions.
! The debate was further continued by
Messrs. Rives, Moore, of Alabama, Niles,
Southard and Calhoun. A motion was
then made to adjourn, which was agreed to.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Several private bills were reported.
REDUCTION OF THE REVENUE.
The House resumed the consideration of
the Bill to reduce the Revenue to the wants
OF the Government, two motions pending,
one TO commit the Bill and Report to the
Committee of the Whole on the State of
the Union, and the other to postpone it in
definitely.
Mr.. Halsey, who was entitled to the floor,
yielded it, and the question being taken on
The first motion, it was decided in the affir-
matlve without count.
Ten thousand extra copies of the Bill
and Report were ordered to be printed.
The House then went into Committee,
! (Mr. Mckennon in the chair and took up
Il number Of private bills, which were re-
ported and ordered to be engrossed.
The House then adjourned.
SENATE-Satufday,J Jan. 18th.
After several reports from Committees
we're made, and private bills acted on the
Expunging Resolutions were called up,
their consideration postponed, and the
Bill to prohibit the sale Of Public Lands
except to actual settlers, IN limited quanti-
ties was taken up for consideration, the
amendments, reported from the Committee
on Public Lands.
Mr.. Walker then addressed the Senate at
length, in defence of the policy of prohibi-
ting the sales Of the Public Lands to spec
uators, or to any other than actual settlers,
and particularly in defence Of the bill as
amended by the committee.
He stated that the sales Of the last year
amounted to 81 millions Of acres, produc-
ing 26 millions of dollars that within the
last three year there had been 80 millions
! of acres entered, while for 40 years previous
the entries had amounted in the whole, to
only 32 millions. lie considered the
Treasury order as having produced benefit
by checking The spirit Of speculation. En-
barrassment had been produced, he admit
ted, in the money market, but he commended
that only proportion, aud a small one, of
this evil, should be charged to this Treasury
order. The greater portion of the embar-
rassment he considered as emanating from
the accumulation and locking up of 40
millions of revenue. He stated, however,
that he believed this order would he rescind-
ed before the close of the session. The OBJ
Iiect Of this Bill was to bring down the rev.
enuc to the level Of the expenditures, which
could not he done by the reduction of the
Tariff alone. 1t would be necessary, while
reducing the Tariff, to limit also the sales
of public lands. The sales of public lands
annually, under the present system, are
more than sufficient to meet the whole ex-
penditures of the country. He stated that
the whole amount Of the sales of public
lands from 1870 to 1880 was S,2l6,000
acres, while the augmentation of population
/ in the new States and Territories during
the same period was l,07l ,96S. Compar-
ing this state things with that which pre-
walls now, he came to the conclusion that
the present population would require
lands for settlement to the amount of six
millions. He looked at the objections
which had been made to this bill. 1t had
been said that il would be evaded. He
contended that even if evaded, in some in
stances, it will still be better than the pre-
sent system. If this objection be relied on
against this bill it would be equally so
against all laws, and We may rs well strike
them all off from the statue book. He
pledged himself that the sales for specula-
ton would be checked, and that the revenue
would be reduced, and these were the main
objects contemplated by the bill.
After Mr.. Walker had concluded, Mr..
Clayton rose to move the consideration OF
the bill, and said he was glad to hear that
the Treasury order would he recinded dur
ing the present session. He wished to ask
! the gentleman if there would be any report
shortly on the subject. =.
Mr.. Walker said he believed there would
be an early report on the subject, perhaps
by Tuesday nex;.
The question was then taken and the
further consideration Of the subject was
postponed ill Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House was principly occupied on
the subject of granting part of the pro-
seeds of the Public Lands to the old States,
and on private bills.
Monday, Jan. l6.
The Chair laid before the Senate a CON-
mnnics,ion from the Treasury Department