Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-29

: Yeas-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Benton, Calhoun
Clay, OF Alabama, Fulton Hubbard Linn, LumPkin,
Soryel Pierce, Sewer, Smith, of Connecticut, Stur.
, geon, Tappan, Walker, Wall, Wrgh;-l5.
yays--Messrs. Buchanan, Clayton, Crittenden Da.
Wis, Dixon, Graham, Henderson, Huntington, King
Knight, Merrick, Mangum, Nicholas, Phelps. Porter
Prentiss, Preston, Roane, Ruggles, Smith Of indiana
Talln,adge, Webster-22.
Mr. BENTON said that his object was attained and
he would withdraw the motion for leave TO introduce
the bill.
On this point another discussion ensued which lasted
FOR some time, to the right Of the Senator 10 With
draw it. Mr.. Huntington, Mr.. Calhoun Mr. Webster,
MIR. Preston, and others, denying the right, and Mr.
Hubbard, Mr. Pierce, Mr.. Sewer, and others MAINTAIN
ing it.
the Senate to withdraw it; which being granted,
The Senate adjourned over to Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.,
Thursday Dccemter -, $40
\ The SPEAKER laid before the House the following
communication
J. From the President Of the United States in COM
!. pance with resolution Of the House Of the 18th
inst, asking "what appropriations Of money at the last
session of Congress expended by HIM; deslgnat.
ing 10 what particular objects such appropriations were
made, and the specified sums suspended. and what
sums continued 10 be suspended at the commence
ment of the present session, and their objects respec
lively"
On motion Of Mr.. FILLMORE, laid on the table
and ordered TO be printed.
= From the Secretary Of the Treasury, transmitting
report in compliance with resolution Of the House
Of the Eth insi relative To correspondence between
himself and The Treasurer Of the United States,
spect 10 the operations Of the independent Treasury
4 4 4 report from the Clerk of the House, on the sale
Of damaged and useless paper.
On motion Of Mr.. GARLAND, laid on the table
and ordered 10 be printed.
Several Senate bills severally read frst and
second time and referred to the appropriate committees
The next business IN order was the motion OF M-
REYNOLDS Of Illinois 10 refe! memorial from the Lc
pislature Of that Stale 10 the Committee on Public
I aads with the following Instructions:
ITO reporta bill TO grant prospective prescriptions
10 settlers the public lands and 10 reduce the price
10 settlers according 10 the value Of said lands
Mr.. REYNOLDS advocated his motion 81 some
length and dwelt upon the injustice done II the
States by the present land system.
Mr. PICkENS regretted exceedingly that his friend
from Illinois had thought proper a this time 70 bring
forward such a subject. We were now Al the com
mencemen OF short session, wn many otae! matters
pre ssiny Vi pom US and, his opnIon II Tie
proper period for arrtatng subject 81 the vital
interest to the mon. From what he mac heard from
the gentleman from Indiana the other day, and tom
what had been manifested from ohe! quarters q. the
House he was convinced that question II future
that might be brought up before Congress would be
more az .tating ofgreater interest than the dsPosi
ton Of these public lands For his pert VIXEN he
10 egislate on this subject he would as lie did on al
other subjects he would legslate neither for the mia
bu, would le slate for the justice and honor Of his
country. This, however, not the proper time cr
legisatinr important SUBJECT and ne could Lot
but regret is introduction this period OF short SEES
sion The proper time would ne Al the next Congress,
which would bring set OF Representatives,.
The question the adjustment Of the tarid would
be also then brought Up. wien there would Be tAe -
mature some measure winch should do Justice y aol
the individuals a. we'll all States lie confessed
thai. IN prospect OF the census he considered tie
question OF the public lands very different question
from what il was twenty years ago, when they had
TO ey.lae but fora few States, and -! small band
OF citizens who had gone forth TO seek living
the wilderness and 10 erect their ha6taons IN the
forests of the West. The subject OF the Western
lands was TO this Government our colonial system,
and his desire was, when the SUBJECT should come
up 10 place these people in 5iiierrnt situation
than thai in which they had been FOR the last Yeas
and 10 set free our colonies. He wanted sons liked
princi pie in relation these lands, not as mono;
or tariff question: but - question Of pottcs lie
was interested in the prosperity and freedom oi tie
West, and II had another compton oil, c
would prefer that II should be fixing the law ~
advance. A general prospective prs-empion law,
would be far more preferable than extending oH.y
10 three years. The latter IN his OPINION VI.
unjust and unwise legislation. This was tie reason
why he had opposed presumption and graduation las
previously introduced, because they we're made Gtr
the case had occurred, and no system could be We
-: > 49, ---i :. ~l,vintion of n'a"!.
partially tie would propose that this subjec, should
come up at the next Congress, when they might tx
some system that would DO credi, TO the Govern
ment IS well as TO the citizens concerned He would
not SAT what he might be forced 10 do but IT the pre-
dc,on Of, the gentleman Of Indiana SIR Profit should
be verified and the people Of the West came 10 IL.
msnd what they called justice, he would then consider
what justice was and do his caty to his State
well 10 them.
He would prefer that they would legi.late On some
general system, for it not right to be guided by
local interests, as IT impossible for HIM to know
what might be the principal interest 10 this that
question which might arise He desired 10 Top oil
every branch Of corrupt Executive patronage which
had crept into the land system during the last ten
fifteen years. He believed graduation system might
be necessary matter of justice 10 the rights of the
States, but he would advocate some general system,
founded on enlightened and sta,esmanlke views,
which would co honor 10 the country and not upon
this colonial system Of the last few wears
Mr. 7. concluded By expressing a hope that the
whole subject would be suffered rest until the next
Congress, and that his friend from Illinois would rot
press his motion Of instructions.
Mr. WM. COST JOHNSON moved to amend the
instructions submitted BY Mr. Reynolds, By substtu,
ing the following
''1o refer TO the Committee on Public Lands, with
instructions TO report bill TO have the proceeds Of Tie
sale of the public domain divided among the State
equitable ratio, to be used By the States for internal
Improvements, education any other purpose, may
be deemed wise by the several States receiving said
distribution
MIR. JOHNSON then advocated his amendment a;
some length: after which,
Mr.. HUBBARD took the floor to reply 10 some Of
the statements Of Mr.. Johnson and, in dong. pro-
posed TO illustrate the accuracy Of his position /;
reference 10 statistical facts, having reference tie
value Of waste lands in Alabama &c.
Mr. H. had not proceeded far, when he said that tbs
more important suhject-that the discussion bad
been sprung suddenly on the House-that lie should
like time for coHsteraton-and that II any member
would move an adjournment, he would yield the door
for that purpose.
Mr.. THOMPSON of Mississippi, then moved that
when the House adjourn, IL will adjourn over 10 Mon
day; which was agreed TO.
| An adjournment then moved, and the question
was taken BY yeas and nays, and decided in the mega
tive: yeas 80, nays oi
MIR. CAVE JOHNSON moved 10 postpone the sub.
Jcct until the second Tuesday in January which
he afterwards withdrew
And another motion vas made 10 adjourn, which PIE.
vailed And the House adjourned until Monday.