Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-05
twenty. GGIl Collgress---:sd sess.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
T,,ssJ,,, Eth Dh 1870

The unfinished business of the morning hour was the
report Of the Select Committee on the Public Lands,
the question being The amendment OF Mr.. Robertson
Mr. Yell said that there but a lew days OF the
session left for the transaction OF business lndspensa.
Die the support of the Government; that 1t was now
apparent that action could be had during this session.
and he would not trespass another morning upon The
business of the nation, &c. lie stated Tie positions
which induced him oppose the resolution, in addition
10 those advanced former days FIRST that the public
lands under deeds Of cession set apart Tor the
payment Of the national debt which amounted, at the close
of the war TO about $50 100000 That debt has been
paid and If you please by the proceeds OF the public
lands rather the whole amount ct the sales amounts
to about SUG 900 COO, out Of which amount about $3O
00O 900 has been expended in surveying and paying all
necessary EXPENSE and salaries But IL must he reco
lected that this funded debt paid we'll out Of the
common treasure the'proceeds OF The public lands
Secondly, thai: from the estimate OF the Commissioners
of the General Land Office, there has been about $780,
900 900 paid for the purchase under the treaties with
Florida and Spain and the exnguisbment OF Indian ii
ties That be paid before the proceeds can be d.
verted from their original purpose. The money WINS
taken OF The public Treasury TO acquire these titles
and it thereby became part OF the revenue and could
from customs upon imports.
Mr. Y. took brief survey Of the grounds assigned,
and finally closed with his objections the passage Of
the resolution because the state OF the Treasury would
not Justify it, and because The effect would be TO iaiSe
the tariff resort 10 direct taxation to make up The
deficiency, which he estimated 10 be SlO0O0,O00, or
more and which, moreover, would fall heavily upon the
Western States as they were consumers, and paid the
dates in the end.
Mr. Williams Of Kentucky, on the ground of want Of
time to deliberately upon the subject, moved 10 lay
the report and resolutions on the table.
Mr. Haynes asked the gentleman 10 Withdraw the
motion, 10 allow hun 10 make a brief explanation. His
position peculiar one, for his constituency had
been assailed by the gentleman from Virginia. Mr.. Ro-
berson.l and he wished 10 place himself right before
the country
Mr. Williams declined.
Mr. Williams OF North Carolina called for the yeas
and nays but they refused, and the whole subject
land the table without division.
On motion of MIR. Cambreleng, The House then went
into Committee on the Union, Mr. Banks OF Virginia in
the Chair and resumed the consideration Of the
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
The question immediately pending was the motion OF
Mr. Oge 10 strike out the appropriations for the branch
I'ns, and 10 devote sum OF six hundred dollars 10
eacl for 10 take churge Of them
Mr. Montgomery, vino was entitled TO the floor, ad
dressed the committee against the amendment, and sPe
cally in reply 10 MIR Ogle's remarks last night
Mr. Johnson of Louisiana also advocated the proprie
t. of continuing The branch minis
Mr. Robertson sustained the amendment, and sad he
should have moved IL, one similar 10 it, had ii not
been moved by gentleman from the North. tle
pressed his surprise that any Southern man, opposed TO
the protection Of manufactures should support these
branch manufactures for god when they had before
capable Of doing all the business Of the country.
Sir Dawson expressed his surprise this having been
made by the advocates Of the amendment, party
sure, and less effort TO cut off in its infancy
before it had scarcely gone into operation, works like
these. He confined his remarks to the branch at Dab
louega the necessity Of which, he warmly insisted upon
Mr. Graham in favor Of The continuance OF the
branches
The Debate was further kept up by Messrs Everett
Stany, Mercer, Bynum, and Thompson when
Mr. Howard. stated 10 The committee that message
from the President Of The U. S. Of an important cha
racer in waiting, and hoped the committee
would rise, enable the House TO receive the
and have 1t referred to the Committee of Foreign AT
fairs.
aud reported progress and
The Speaker laid before the House message from the
President Of the u. S. in relation to the difficulties On
the Maine frontier, accompanied by Touminous docu
n.en,s from the Governor Of Maine; also commun;ca
tons from the Secretary Of State Mr. Fox, the British
hlnlster, and his replies thereto.
Mr. Howard moved that the message and accompany
ing documents be referred TO the Committee Foreign
Affairs, and be printed; and that the committee have H.
berry To sit during the siltings OF The House.
Mr.. Waddy Thompson moved the printing OF 20,OUt
extra copies, and supported The motion by speech in
which he highly commended the message, and which
together with The rest OF this highly interesting debate
will be given hereafter.
Mr. Pearce of Mary land biey replied to some remarks
Of Mir. Thompsons speech which he considered re
arcting. in an offensive manner, upon the House.
Mr. Thompson explained
Mr. Evans Of Maine followed in long and very ami
mated speech in which he gave full history Of the pre-.
sent difficulty in that State from it's origin; stated mi
nutey it's present cOndition commented with
ry on the neglect which had been shown by the Gene
raj Government, 10 the of repeated representations
that State which the present crisis had been represent
ed inevitably aud insisted that it evident from The
whole tone OF the message that the urgency OF The case
was not appreciated
Mr. Howard demonstrated agains this elimination o
the Government az necessarily leading defensive re
ply and thus tending withdraw the attention Of The
House to collateral subject, and divertng il from The
deeply interesting subject of The message.
MIR. Evans proceeded some time longer and when he
81, down,
Mr. Petrikin moved the previous question.
FLoud cries of "No," "no'-"whdraw it, with
draw it," from all the House
Mr. Pe,fikin withdrew his motion.
Mr. Adams then addressed the House. endorsing fully
the speech OF Mr. Evans, but suggesting constitutional
l:culy in relation TO the advice The President 10 The