Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-01-07

tary of The Treasury lay beure this House at The
and each successive session of Congress- copies of stale
mcnts and returns, far he is able to do showing
the capital, circulation discounts, specie depUsitcs
condition OF the different State banks and Banking Com
panes.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE PUBLIC LANDS
Mr.. &. Allan offered the following preamble and reso.
luton:
Whereas Congress has herctnfnrc made donations Of
The public lands IL: the purpose Of internal improvement
aud education,
10 the State Of Ohio, 1857 SIS acres.
Indiana, l,Ol25g2
Missouri, l,lel,245
Mississippi, 1924
Alabama, 1,>lo10V
Louisiana, 92o:Uoo
Territory Of Michigan, o099i3
Arkansas, -90G,335
Florida, 947724
III The aggregate amounting TO eleven million y-scvcn
thousand six hundred and eghty-tivr acres:
And whereas each Of the United States has an equa!
right participate in the benefit Of the public lands,
the common property Of the Union;
And every wise and good American having agreed IN
he opinion that the cause of general education Is ndIs-
snlubly Identified with the Of general liberty;
Therefore, to do equal and exact justice TO all the
States TO aid in GiusIng among the rising generation,
intelligence enough 10 comprehend, and spirit enough 10
defend their rights and thus TO elevate the national
and insure the pcrpeluily of free instu
tion5-
lie it reso'red, That select committee Of one mem.
Der from each State be appointed, whose duty shall be
to inquire into the justice and expectancy OF making 10
each of the thirteen original American States together
with each Of the States Of Vermont, Maine, Kentucky,
and Tennessee such grants OF the pubic lands or lie
purposes OF education vii! correspond in just pro-
portion with those heretofore made in favor OF the first
named Su,cs and Territories, und that said committee
have leave Ia report by bill or otherwise But, 10 avoid
the objection Of State holding land IN another Tie
committee is directed TO insert clause in the bill which
they may report providing that the grants to be made
there shall lp
General Government now in force aud that the proceeds
arising lherefrom shall be paid over 10 the States en
tied To The same.
Mr. Hail. of Maine moved 10 amend tho resolution
by striking the words select committee TO consist
OF member from each State, and insert " the Com
1ntt2e Public Lands
Nh e.. Allan said he hoped the amendment would not
prevail, because it would be perceived that the duty inn
posed on the committee was one which did not properly
fall within the class of duties gned 10 the Committee
on Public Lands. But there was another reason That
committee, he believed consisted Of majority OF mem
bers from the States, in whose favor these grants
hal heretofore been made. lie submitted to The justice
and impartalty Of the House. whether il was fair 10
submit, proposition which had io7 its object TO do equal
and exact justice 10 the lweny.sx American States 10
4 committee composed Of a minority Of members from
the States. He (Alr A. had Iejoiccd that these
grants had been made to The States; and it was not
from any OF friendship 10 the new States that he
oppused the amendment MIR. A said he did not dstrust
the impartiaty ability OF the Committee OIL Public
States deeply aud vitality Interested, he thought
shonld go to such committee as he had proposed
MIR. Hail withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Davis opposed the adoption of the resolution al
this time, and expressed his establishment that 1t should
have been Offered, i'll the present condition OF things,
and as the relative ratio of representation existed be-
tween the old and new States at the present time.
Mr.. Vin,on moved to amend the resolution by adding
thereto the following:
Rcsolrsd That the said inquiry extend to all the
States, and that the said committee be further instruct
ed to inquire into the cIpediency Of inserting clause
in said b 10 pay said new States the value OF the I'M
proyemens made by them OH the public lands or 10 pay
to them the amount the public lands would have been
assessed for taxes if they had been private property
The debate continued by Messrs. Vinton, Allan,
Briggs and Parker.
Mr. Johnson, OF Louisiana, commended that these
grants the States had been made considera-
ton for exemption from taxation of the public lands ly
ing within these States for the term Of FIVE years. He
had objection TO the resolution going TO comhitlec,
but he thought that, in its present form, il was directed
only TO partial inquiry and he moved TO amend 1t by
extending the provisions of the resolutions 10 all the
States OF the Union.
MIR. C. Allan accepted the modification.
Mr.. Claiborne of Mississippi. moved 10 amend The
amendment by adding as foluws
And provided that such grant shall interfere with,
be located the claim improvement Of any actual
settler on the public lands.
Mr. e.. said, that at every session Of Congress- appl
made for relief BY actual settlers; these
pcaons had been treated with indifference. Mr. e..
remarks OF s1me length, complained of the influence
OF geographical preJudccS the sections COM
ing before the House, and declared his intention not to
Vote away dollar Of the public money III custom-houses
tu5npkrs or any similar object till the rights of these
settlers had been regarded.
Mr. Ashley Of Missouri said he could not agree with
the gentleman from Mississippi the want Of ope
ration the part of the Eastern members in matters
touching the interest Of The West On the contrary, he
(Nr A. had every reason TO speak in terms OF high ac-
acknowledgement OF the attention he had received the
of The West A. IN he beO
House, he moved its reference to the Committee on Pub
lie Lands Ti.a he thought, the appropriate COM
Inltee, and must be considered more conversant with
questions affecting the public land than any committee
that could be raised.
MIR Jarvis said he had amendment himself to offer
but lie was willing to waive it. lie thought that the
discussion should end here especially as he anxious
that the States should have opportunity to pre-
sent resolutions. lie therefore moved the previous ques
ton
And the House refused to second the CALL Ayes GO
not counted.
Mr. A. Mann contended that this proposition was in
Disguise nothing than the old proposition for dis
trbulion Of the sales Of the public lands 1t old
idea broug ht mp in garb. There could be just
principle by which the old States could claim those
grants, the ground that they had, by their
this floor, given grants 10 The States. The PROPOSE
ton would throw dlstrus the beraLy and patriotism
with which those grants made. II was in fact, Il
claim remuneration for their berality. Mr. NJ express
cd his belief that the preamble to the resolution cal
culaed 10 deceive, and 10 deude the public mind anc
said that. if in order, he would TO strike il out.
The Speaker said the motion not now in order
Mr.. Mann gave notice that when in order, he would
renew the motion.
MIR. CarnLreeng said that he thought it would be bet
ter 10 dispose Of one resolution at time, and for this
purpose he would move that the House proceed 10 The
Orders Of Day; which motion prevailed.
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION.
The House resumed the consideration of the resolution
Of Mr.. Wise, and the amendment thereto pending, pro
posing inquiry into the Executive Departments.
MIR. Robertson addressed the House until the usua
hour Of adjournment, when lie gave way to motion t.
adjourn
And the House adjourned
1t must be pretty busy time just now with the Sc
cetary Of the Treasury, bu,lng the first nsalmen
Of lis SuIpus Revenue nm1ong The several States.