The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

TO the consideration Of the resolution under
yesterday providing for the publication Of certain docu
ments relating to public defaultes.
Objections having been made,
Mr.. BOND moved suspension Of the rule; on
which motion there appeared ayes 60, as quo
rum votng)
Mr. HARLAN said that, as he DESTROYS to know
how gentlemen would vote on this question, he would
ask Tor the yeas and nays which were ordered
And the question again taken and decided in the
negative; Yeas 70, nays IS (not two-thrds)
So the rule was not suspended.
Mr.. CHAMBERS and said that there were
number OF bills from the Senate the Speakers table,
on which no action had yet been had, and to which it
Of vital Importance that prompt attention should be
given. II was known to every member Of the House
that the private calendar had remained wholly untouched
during the present OF Congress II was ameL-
table to the number Of claimants who left in
state Of agonizng distress, by reason Of their long
neglected claims. He hoped the House would concur
in the necessity Of dsposng in The first instance Of the
bills the Speakers table, and then Of proceeding with
the private calendar and he asked the general
to proceed accordingly.
Mr. SHERROD WILLIAMS hoped his colleague
would except from his motion the bill the Speskers
table, posponing the paymen. Of the fourth nsalment
Of deposites with the States.
Mr. CAMBRELENG said he was instructed, when
that bill up. that its consideration be post
poned to day certain
Mr. w. C. JOHNSON agreed with the gentleman
from Kentucky tMr. CRANBERRY in the necessity Of
acting on the important business which had accumulated
upon the House, as well Of private as of public
character and hoped that, in future, when gentlemen
made speeches. they would consolidate their thoughts
as much possible, and not consume the time OF tho
House in empty defamation.
And the House. by unanimous consent, agreed to the
motion OF Mr. Chambers.
number Of bills from the Senate were taken up on
their first and second reading and were referred TO the
appropriate committees.
The act further to postpone the fourth insslmen OF
deposes with the States taken up and having been
read twice by its title,
Mr.. CAMBREIENG said that, in obedience to
the direction Of The Committee Of Ways and Means,
he would move TO postpone the further consideration
Of this bill until some further day; and in order mat
there might be prospect of good attendance, ne
poned until Tuesday week, and that the bill De MADE
| the special order for that day. ,
The motion was agreed to, and the further consd-
Grafton Of The bill was postponed accordingly .n,
nicaon from the Secretary of the Treasury, IN com
pliance with resolution Of the House OF the 7th OF
July in relation to the donations of public lands the
quantity surveyed, the plans for dividing Inc pro
ceeds the Improvements most eligible IN the present
system of sale, with other matters OF character
'' Mr. W. G. JOHNSON moved to lay the same on
the table, and that it be printed.
MIR. ROBERTSON suggested to the gentleman
i from Maryland Chr. JoHNsoN) to withdraw the mo-
ton to lay the table, and to substitute for mo-
ton similar 70 that submitted by MN SMa - a.
/
select committee 10 be composed OF one member from
each State, to whom this communication should be
4 referred in connection with the resolutions hereto
| fore offered by Mr.. JOHNSON on the subject OF the
public lands and also cir he thought proper the res
outions heretorore offered by the gentleman from
GeSTgia SIM T1ys r;.}d.d : i.
pressing, at the same time his desire that, il such
committee were appointed, the CHAIR would place
some other member Of the House al its head The
documents lover which he had just glanced his eye)
mi ondv al nahl spfa rnaD
Mr.. J. then withdrew his former motion, and NOV
ed that the communication and documents, together
with the resolutions heretofore offered by himself
and the resolutions heretofore offered by the gentle
man from Georgia (Mr. HAYNEs) on the subject Of
the public lands, be referred to select committee to
be composed of one member from each State, and
that they be printed. '...,
[Mr J. also moved the printing of 5000 extra CO.
pies of the report and documents.
| MIR. CASEY said this subject was an important
one. 1t had hitherto, he believed, been referred to
the Committee on Public Lands and as he believed
that such was its appropriate direction, he would
move its reference to that committee
The latter motion was opposed by Messrs. MEN
EFEE, ROBERTSON, HAYNES, and FETCH
Err, of VT. all of whom advocated the reference to
committee Of one from each State.
Mr.. EWING said he apprehended that no salts
factory final action in relation to the subject-maer
Of this resolution could be reasonably expected dur
ing the unexpired time Of the present session
multiplicity Of business, of deep concern TO the
try and to individuals, is now matured and ready
for the decision Of the House but it seems that vexed
questions, with schemes and experiments " but of
minute DID," are thrown before us in succession,
which obstruct all salutary progress and keep the
country agitated The great importance Of the sub
ject of the public lands is admitted by ALL yet diff
ferent interests are involved and, unfortunately,
we are not one in feeling or in sentiment when the
matter is involved in our legislation. He would
not now enter upon discussion of the policy aimed
at, or the opinions expressed. He did not conceive
constituted as this House now is, and crcumsanced
the immediate and pressing business Of this short
session still remains when one-third OF consti-
tutiona period ofservce had expired that any salu-
tary or beneficial result can be effected. The best
mode TO secure justice 10 those citizens and States
whose rights are involved in portions acquired by
cession, portions acquired by conquest and portions
acquired by purchase, has yet TO be devised His
friend from Virginia, (Mr. Roberson,) had ex-
pressed his views during the last session. and he la
mented TO find them in conflict with his own. Now
his friend from Kentucky (Mr. Menefee,) stands
boundaries were Defined and the soil relinquished
by Virginia independent Of Congressional control.
This only afforded small glimpse Of the intrcacv
and difficulties surrounding the subject-mater The
new States had causes of complaint often minated
and not 10 be blazoned forth at this moment. The
party feelings and calculations which too evidently
insinuae themselves into our present action would
clearly point TO the proprety of allowing the subject
to rest for the present But in addition, ne feared
that no general scale Of division could now be adopt
ed to secure equal justice TO the States they were
little than one-third represented on that floor
certainly Indiana steod-and ne re]oced that The
period approached when a full ana equal delegation
could be sent on their behalf lie did not think,
unless n prospectiye measure of right were to re-
suit that he people OF the West could acitly sub
nit. After the next census, the great inequality in
numbers here will not exist, and more equitable
he reasonably expected. For these and many addi-
,;oraI reasons he could present. motion to Law the
resolution upon the table should be thought prevails il