Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-07
TWENTY.sIxTH CoNGRESs---1st SESSION
From the National M,siligene
In SENATE.
Eridau. Januaru 8, 1910

Friday, January 3, 1870
Mr.. Dickson, of Rhode Island, and Mr.. GRuSDY, 0
Tennessee, appeared to-day.
THE PUBLIC LANDS
Agreeably to notice given on Tuesday last, Mr.. CAL
HOUN asked leave, and introduced bill to cede thu
public lands to the States in which they respective
iy situated The bill read by its title, and, on mo
lion of Mr.. c., referred TO the Committee on the Pub
lie Lands.
Soon after
Mr.. CLAY (of KY having given notice of his in
tenton to to introduce the copyright BILL stated
that he regretted that he was detained by nspositor
this morning, and prevented from being present when
the bill was introduced by the Senator from South Ca
rona (Nr. Calhounl for cedng the public lands to GER
tain States within which they are situated lie had
wished to suggest some other reference of it than to
the Committee on the Public Lands; but, unless some
Senator would move reconsideration of the order OF
reference to that committee he could not offer the
suggestion which he wished to make.
Mr. Southland moved the reconsideration, and Mr.
Calhoun Directing TO il without satisfactory
Mr.. CLAY went TO observe that, rs the commit
lee constituted, four of its five members Were from
the States He meant TO offer no dsrepect to
Them but he must say, that this was measure which,
disguised it may be- and colorado its provisions
were, was, effect donation of upwards of 100 mil.
lions OF acres of the common property of all the States
of this Union to particular States He did not think It
RIGHT that such measure should be committed to the
hands of Senators exclusively representing the donees
He thought that committee ought To be constituted
in which the old States should have fuller and fairer
representation We should preserve, whatever we
may do the decorum of legislation, and not violate the
decencies of justice.
Whilst up, Mr. Clay would be glad if any Senator
would inform him whether the Administration is in ia
vor of or against this measure stands neutral and
uncommitted This inquiry he should not make If the
recent relations between the Senator who introduced
this bill and the head of that Administration continued
10 exist but rumors of which the city, the circles and
the press are full that those relations entirely
changed and have within few days, been substituted
by others of an intimate friendly and confidential ma
ture And shortly after the time when this new state
of things is alleged to have taken place. the Senator
gave notice of his intention to move to introduce this
BILL Whether this motion has or has not any connex
ion with that adjustment of former differences, the
Public would he had no doubt, be glad to know At
all events it is important to know in what relation OF
support opposition neutrality, the Administration
actually stands to this momentous measure and ne
mir c. supposed that the Senator from South Caroli-
ma or some other Senator could communicate the de-
sired information.
Mr. CALHOUN said he had supposed that no man
Ind as much occasion for delcacy in referring to pot
cal compromises as the Senator from Kentucky That
Senator had referred to some transaction in the political
course Of Mr. C. which occurred some twelve or ta!.