The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, July 5, ls4l.
DISTRIBUTION AND PRE-EMPTtoN BILL

DESTRUCTION AND PRE-EMPTioN BILL.
The House resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr LAWRENCE,
OF Pennsylvania, in the chair on the bill TO appropri-
ate the proceeds of the sales of the public lands and
TO grant pre- emption rights.
The question being the motion of Mr. CLIFFORD
TO strike out the enactng clause of the bill
Mr. WISE, who entitled to the floor, rose and
was about to address the committee but at the re-
quest OF Mr.. Afford, Mr. w. yielded, to enable that
gentleman TO make explanation.
And no objection having been made
Mr. Afford desired he said TO explain a mis-
understanding of his remarks on the distribution bull
by gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Brown)
The Gentleman Continued Mr.. A. makes me say;
"The gentleman from Georgia had remarked that
the people Of Georgia were opposed, at this time to
distribution of the proceeds Of the sales of the public
lands among the States and that it most iniqut
Gus to act upon the subjcct-that it monstrous
and that the people of Georgia would not submit it.
And he Mr.. 3D. further understood the gentleman
as saying, in substance, that although he differed
from many Of his political friends on some prominent
subjects, yet that he would not be driven from the
Administration party that, although they might rob
the people of their rights still he would adhere to his
party"
Now, wha, said was " cannot be driven by par
ty discipline to become slavsh to any party; can
| be induced by the applause fattery of my Demo
cratic friends, To join them
Sill in the very sentence in which declared |
would not he the slave of party the gentleman places
me in an attitude, by mlsrepresenng what did say
of the most abcct slavery and makes me say, turh
err that although the Wing party might rob the PEG
pie, still ! would adhere to them This is great in
justice to me, unntentona doubt but still II must
be corrected My political associations have been such
that thought of this robbing the people; ne
said word IN relation 10 il, in the sense impu
ted to me by the gentleman.
Again, as To the opinion of the people of Georgia
upon the distribution policy made no allusion to that
opinion but only as TO what 1t rouid be in common
with the opinion of all other honest and intelligent
people when IT was truly understood IN its bearing
upon the credit of the country and upon the tariff.
1t has not been made aquestlon Georgia heretofore
and said nothing OF what my constituents wished
believed in regard to this measure. did not rise to
make any question of veracity with the gentleman,
but only to correct his statements of what did saw
that, as they have been published and sent abroad
this may follow and place in correct attitude be-
fore my friends.
Mr.. BIDLACK said he desired simply to state the
fact that his colleague (Mr Brown was not at the
present moment In his seat.
MIR. WISE then took the floor and addressed the
committee In opposition to the bill.
Without attempting on this universal holiday to
follow Mr. w in his remarks the reporter gives the
line of argument Of that gentleman as laid down by
himself in reference TO the provisions of the pending
bill.
Mr.. w said he had heretofore discussed the gene
raj principle of distribution, and that was not his
intention again TO 90 INTO the general subject Ii
sufficient for him, upon the general principle of dis.
tbution to say that he stood precisely where he
stood four months ago, utterly dispuIing and denying
every rolnt and principle of distribution. The object
of his remarks would be more llmitcd-it was TO
oppose the details of the bill
Ills objection to il that it was unequal in its
provisions among the States themselves and es-
pecally unequal as between the new States and the
old There were in fact four striking Inequalities in
the bill, only of which had been named and the
most mon trous inequality Of all had been entirely
overlooked,
The first inequality the ten per cent, bonus
coupled with distribution under the new and last
census
The second was the recognition or revival of the
two per cent fund, upon which the Cumberland road
made chargeable when il notorious that fund
had long since expired
MIR. PROFFlr gave notice that il was his inten-
ton to move when an opportunity should present it.
self to strike out from the following proyso of the
first section all that portion which is in italics
=" Prori ied That the allowed to the said
States. respectively, shall be in no wise affected or
diminished on account of any Sums which have been
heretofore, or shall be hereafter applied to the con
struction or continuance of the Cumberland road
but that the dubursemens for n. satd road shall 70