The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WEDNESDAY, Feb 0.

HOUSE OF REPRESt.N lAl IVES,
WEDNESDAY, Feb 0.
ri. unfinished business Of The morning hour was
~ taoar, nj the select committee the subject OF
the public lands ,,.,, ,,o,,on
tha he committee be called for reports during the
morning hour. - a,o, az ,bis
motion, A. = ,oa
a suspension of the rule, when there appeared ayes
SO, noes 30, (no quorum voling)
Some further conversation followed on The effect
Of the notion when the House again divided, and
the vote stood ayes 81, noes 80. 80 Inc RUE was
M. ATHERToN, from the Committee Of Ways
and Means, reported bill for the relief OF Thomas
Latham. rc,.t
reported a bill for The relief of Miks w. Dickey,
! and made report against the petition OF WIN. H.
Williams Also, reported, without amendment,
Senate bill for the relief OF the securities OF ELIAS
T. Langham, late surveyor OF public land Tor The
states Of Missouri and Illinois which bill was read
the third time and passed.
Mr.. GlDDINaS, from the same committee, made
report against the petitions OF Gates Hon, Josiah
Rodgers r. Bond, and VIM. Hawkins.
I Mr.. STEW ART, from The same committee, made
report against the petition of Russ, Roche and
1 Boss.
4 MIR. CUSHMAN, from the committee Com
merce reported anendilory bill TO establish eer-
lain collection districts and creating ports OF entry
On motion Of Mr.. CUSiMAN,
Resoired, That detailed report and drawings Of the
light houses at Borleau and Osend prepared by Lieut.
Col b. Ayckngg one Of the chief engineers on the
State works Of Pennsylvania, be printed for the use Of
| the House, '..s.s
Mr.. MONTGOMERY, from the same commit
tee, made report against the petition oil Charles
Koher
MIR DEGRAFF, submitted the following resou-
ton; which was committed 10 the COMMITTEE OF
the Whole House on the state OF the Union: @,
Resoired by he Senate anil House Of Representa-
tires of The United States Of America Congress
sembisd That the COMMITTEE the Public Library be
authorized purchase hundred copies Of The book
entitled Joness Digest aud TdrH, at price not ex-
ceedng 81 so per each copy, and that fifty copies be
deposited in the Congress Library, and the residue be
deposited with the Secretary Of the Treasury 10 be
distributed by HIM, from time to me among the prin-
cIpal officers of the customs.
Claims reported a bill for the reliefo Thomas w.
4 TAYLOR and made report against the petition OF
Mary Peck and Of Joseph Nj, Sheppard.
Mr.. SHIELDS, from the Committee on the Pub
lie Lands, reported bill for the relief Of The legal
representatives of William Williams, jr. deceased.
! Also, without amendment Senate bills granting
to the State Of Illinois the right Of way through the
public lands Of the United States and for other pur
poses; and for the relief OF Isabella Hill, and John
Hill, Elizabeth Hill, and Samuel Hill, children and
minor heirs at law of Samuel Hill, deceased.
The SPEAKER laid before The House a letter
from the Secretary of the Treasury, in compliance
with the resolution OF the House Of the 4h instant,
in relation 10 the amount of gold and silver which
I had been coined at the Branch Mint in Charlotte,
/ North Carolina, since il has been in operation.
i MIR. CUSHMAN, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported resolution making certain bills
from said committee the special order OF the day for
the 18th and 10Th days Of February after o'clock.
The resolution having been read
4 Mr.. CAMBRELENG inquired if the resolution
| wa ne rel al he Commerce
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative.
4 Mr.. CAMBRELENG said that there was bust
ness enough ennmeracs; = the resolution to occupy
I the reporter could not hear how much time.
The resolution having, on motion, been again
read, "
MIR. BRONSON moved to amend the same by
adding thereto House bill No. 3il, being bill to ex
tend The privilege OF drawback and to abolish dis
tnctions in ports OF entry
Mr.. CAMBRELENG asked the yeas and nays on
the resolution, and expressed his surprise that the
friends of the Administration on this floor would
undertake to defeat the Appropriation Bills.
| MIR. CUSHMAN said he too was DESTROYS to have
the yeas and nays. .... ".-.
MIR RoBER SON moved to lay the whole sub
lect on the table. ...'..
The resolution having, on motion of MIR. NAY
LOR, been again read
The question was taken, and the motion of Mr..
Robertson was agreed TO- ~..
So the resolution and amendment were laid on the
table ,". ...- r.
Mr. SHIELDS, from the Committee on the Pub
lie Lands reported without amendment Senate bill
for the benefit of the Selma and Tennessee RAILROAD
Company .....
Mr. LYON having moved that the bill be engross-
ed
Mr. LINCOLN suggested that bills of this kind
generally gave rise to debate and that he hoped the
order OF business would not now be ntertered with.
He should object.
Mr. LYON said the bill contained but two pr o.
positions; and, although he was entirely willing its
provisions should undergo the strictes scrutiny, he
desired it should be finally acted upon during the
present session. and he therefore moved that it be
ordered 10 third reading. He would not ask that
it should be placed upon its passage forthwith; but
there was no necessity for its commi ment, and he
wished it TO retain such position before the House
as would ensure action upon it at an early period
He would not now undertake TO discuss the merits
of the BILL he knew Speech in the present Stage
o the business OF the House, would BE- fatal to al
most any measure. He hoped there would be no ne
cessty for discussion at any Stage of The bill but,
if the House would consent to order it to third
reading he would, upon its passage, if any gentle
man desired explanation, have it in his power TO
show that il ought pass.
The bill proposed to grant to the Selma and Tonnes
see Railroad Company right Of way through the pub
lie lands, and right to what would be equivalent
to each alternate section OF the public lands through
which the road might pass at the minimum price Of the
Government This arrangement, while it would DO
beneficial to the company and TO the whole country in
ieresed in the completion Of the road, would dni-
nsh the revenue Of the Government arising from the
sales of the public lands; bat, the contrary the al
ternae sections retained by the Government would by
the work proposed, be enhanced in value to
much beyond what the whole Of the public through
which the road would pass would now he worth He
knew no member could desire that the Government
should make profit by any given to the value
of the public lands by the labor and capital Of private
individuals. He said that most liberal grants Of public
lands had heretofore been made by Congress for similar
Improvements in,the West but upon terms much more
advantageous to those interested in the improvements
than any thing proposed in the present bill In the
Of Illinois, grant Of each alternate section along the
line of canal was made without requiring even the
of tho lhn lInunr