The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-13

Mr.. WHIITLESEf was Of opinion that other
interests were involved in the matter and that full
investigation ought 10 be ordered. he alluded to
the Loose practice Of last session. which had been re
erred 10, In paying the members their per diem, that
/ Il was especially exposed 10 error and mistake, &c
MeSsTs EVERETT and McKENNON were in
favor Of posponmg the consideration Of this subject
so as 10 allow The BANK to make It's final answer in
The case. The latter gentleman had learned from
director in the bank, that IL under considera
4 lion by the directory.
1 Mr.. EYERETTS motion 10 postpone was lost
| MIR. THOMAS again addressed the House in
| favor ola reference TO a select committee He cen
sdered the charge Of carelessness made against The
! Sergeant at-arms, as Inconsistent
i Mr.. CRAIG was in favor of a reference,
/ Mr.. MKENNON believed thai the Sergeani-at-
arms was faithful and honest in the performance Of
i his duty, blt the motion to postpone would, in his
4 opinion, be the means Of bringing The matter 10
much speeder termination than an immediate re-
4 ference 10 a committee.
Amer some brief remarks from MesSrs Bouldin,
Reed, Bond, and Marvin,
/ Mr.. BRONSON moved the previous question on
| the motion as amended, but subsequently Withdrew
| ii.
Mr.. WHITTLEsEY moved 10 amend the motion
for reference to select committee, by adding thereto
! the following Instructions
1 "With power 10 send for persons and papers and
TO inquire into The manner OF discussing the money
and whether errors and mistakes were committed
and 10 what extent any were made by the Sergeant
Arms in paying the money at the said session Of
| Congress"
Mr.. WHITTLEsEYs motion was agreed TO-
and, with these instructions the motion for reference
| 10 select committee was agreed TO.
! Several private bills were reported, together with
/ Mr.. BOON, from The Committee on Public Lands,
reported Senate bill, entitled an I" act authorizing
the States TO tax any lands within their limits sold
! by the United States" accompa MED with statement
/ that the bill had come from the Senate withomlhe
signature usual alteration of the Secretary of nat
| body and resolution that message be sent TO the
Senate notifying them of the omission, which reso.
] luton concurred in.
4 Mr. THOMAS from the Committee on the Judi
cary reported the Senate bill, without amendment,
entitled " an act to ratiy and confirm certain official
| acts of John Pope late Governor of Arkansas"
! Mr. T. moved lis engrossment which, after some
! explanation by Mr.. POPE was ordered; and then
| the bill was read third time and passed
/ Mr.. ROBERTSON, from the same committee, re-
ported bill making further compensation to clerks
! In the district courts of the United 5 ateS
/ Mr. UNDERWOOD from the Committee on
Revolutionary Pensions, reported the following,
viz:
A bill TO authorize the issuing of land warrants in
certain cases
A bin to authorize the payment of seven years
halEpay TO the widows and children of certain Off
i GERS in the continental line.
/ Mr. GIASCOCK considered il absolutely neces-
sary from the course the discussion had taken that
reference oil the whole matter should DC MADE 10
select committee.
i ExEcUTrvE APPOINTMENTS.
The flowing res luton submitted BY Mr. WISE
on The ID inst was then taken up.
/ ReSoircd That a committee 10 consist OF -
members BE- appointed 10 inquire into The expediency
Of SO amending the Constitution OF the United STATES
as 10 prohibit the appointment of members of Con-
gress to Executive offices during the time for which
they are elected Senators or Representatives, and the
/ time Of two years thereafter"
Mr. BELL moved To fill the blank with " nine,"
| which was agreed to, and the resolution was also
| agreed to-
L Wy TT
bana on the llth of December, was then taken up.
RcSolred That it is expedient 10 reduce, accord
ing 10 some equitable scale of graduation, The price
of such portions of the public lands as will not sell
within reasonable length OF time al one doillr and
twenty-five cents per acre and that the lands which
be sold at such reduced prices, after being SO
offered for the term of - years, should be reln-
quiShed TO the States severally in which they are
| situated"
| The resolution. on the suggestion of Mr.. MER-
| GER was referred to the same Committee of the
Whole having charge of the bill embracing the same
object,
Kentucky, on the 18Th Of December, taken up
| and agreed to:
Resoiped, That the Secretaries of State, Treasury,
| War and Navy, be directed severally to report 10
this House the Of postage paid on letters and
papers transmitted from their respective Departments
! BY the Express mail, since its institution.
Resoired That the Postmaster General be direct
ed to inform this House whether in estimating the
papers transmitted BY Express mail, he includes any
estimate of hostages letters or papers transmitted
by that mail from himself or any officer or officers
OF his Department having the privilege OF Thanking
through the ordinary mail; and il So what amount
of hostages on letters and papers from his Depart
| ment are so included or is subject 10 be included
from the frs, establishment Of The Express mail;
The following, submitted by Mr.. MONTGO-
merry of North Carolina, were taken up and agreed
to- after modification BY MIR. MERCER, TO distin-
guish each year separately.
Resolved That the Secretary of the Treasury be
directed 10 communicate 10 this House
LIST The whole amount OF public lands belonging
10 The United States sold since they were ceded TO
The United States; exhibiting the nett proceeds, and
distinguishing between those which have been sold
within the limits Of the different States and Terri
tories
ID The whole amount of public lands which
have been surveyed and exposed 10 sale in the
raj States and Territories, and showing the amount
sold and The amount remaining to be sold, according
to the last returns
3D. The amount which has been actually patented
in bountes TO the Army OF the United States
All The amount granted to each of the States and
| Territories and for what purpose.
9Th. The amount set apart or reserved for schools
and other purposes in the several States and Terri
tories.
9th. The amount granted in donations forthe cul-
tyation OF the vine and olive and for other purposes,
10 Gen. Lafayette
The following submitted BY Mr.. MALLORY on
the 18Th of December, was taken up:
r. Solped That the Secretary of War be directed
| to continuance of the survey for an inland
route between Charleston S. G. and Norfolk, Va,
(authorized byan act ofthe last Congress beginning
at The northern termination of the Dismal Swamp
Canal, and extending 10 Hampton Roads, and also
the country between the Canal and Gosport, with
view to ascertain the expediency of continuing the
| canal 10 that place, or improving the river.
On motion Of Mr. MERCER, referred 10 the Com
miltee ON Roads and Canals
| Mr.. CAMBRELENG and Mr.. MERCER seve-
/ al prpI