The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-10
pIsrRlBurloN AND pRE-EMprroN BILL.


DISTRIBUTION AND PRE- EMPTIoS BILL.
On motion OF Mr. SMITH, of Indiana, several
verbal amendments OF the Committee were agreed TO-
Mi. WALKER offered amendment, providing
for the relinqushmeht OF the per cent fund 10 the
State of Mississippi arising from the sales OF The pub
lie lands within her borders since the year 1917, ana
that may hereafter arise TO I've applied TO the consiuc-
ton Of railroad from Brandon in Mississippi, to the
eastern boundary ofthe State
He briefly gave the reasons for the adoption OF the
amendment, which included bill which had four
! times passed the Senate II was great national
work for which il intended 10 apply TINS iuhu'
ana was not making new appropriation, Out Ieiey
an application of fund which was now reserved, anu
winch THIS Government was bound 10 pay over !"
Mississippi
Nh. CLAY, of Alabama briefly advocated the
amendment, ON the grounds, and should oneI an
amendment OF similar character, in relation 10 Ana
bama.
MIR. EVANS wished to know the amount proposed
to be paid To the two States
Mr.. WALKER replied, between three or four
hundred thousand dollars 10 MISSISSIPPI. -,
Mr. CLAY, of Ala said the amount due to Ala
bana was about $3.50 600
Mr.. EVANS said the probability was, Il would take
about million of dollars Of the Treasury Tor these
two States.
Mr.. WALKER said the amount was no, more
than $6500OO
Mr.. EVANS said he thought the state OF the 'liea-
suIy was not such justify il. l, was merely CIV
ing this TO the States for railroad which the usual
charges were to be made, and would be apphed TO no
public The money ought to be expended IN the
construction of roads leading TO the States de sug-
gested that IT would be proper act on this sub
ect by itself, at the regular session.
Mr. WALKER asked If the Senator supposed that
the Senate would reverse its decisions four times maue
II merely of justice TO the State, which was
pledged 10 them
This was further discussed by Messrs. WHITE,
CLAY, Of Ala, and EVANS.
Mr., SMITH, of Ia, opposed the amendment Ihe
he a
make prospective distribution, and not TO Interfere
with any state of the case now existing, and not to
settle old balances between the States and the Govern
men 1t was, therefore, improper 10 attach to this
bill the settlement of any OF this KIND " was
question standing its own basis, and to be decided
ny itself IL should not be appended TO TINS bill he
had voted for this very proposition, and might again
at the proper time
After further remarks by Messrs. WALKER,
KING, and HEN ERSON, the question was taken,
and the amendment adopted-Ye -, nays 81.
Mr. CLAY, OF Ala, moved a similar amendment,
granting the two per cent fund o the Stale OF Ala
ma, aIislng from the sales OF the public lands with
In her borders.
This rejected yeas 30, nays D.
Mr.. CALHOUN offered an amendment to add, at
the end of the second section provision that moth
ing herein contained shall be SO construed az 10 coz
vert the dlstrbullve shares assigned TO the several
States into debt 10 them, TO prevent Congress from
repeating this act whenever he public interest shall
require IT,
Mr. SMITH, Of Indiana, could not conceive any
cause for this amendment Senators held that II was
their right repeal any ret. 1t therefore unne-
cessary in tins point OF view, and also in points of
view.
Mr. CALHOUN wished to provide against any
possible idea that might in future that this TO
be permanent provision of distribution TO the several
States and that would become il not duly paid
debt to the S aies had been held BY some, with
gard to the fourth nstament Of the Deposit act
This further br fly discussed by Messrs.
WOODBRIDGE PHELPS ALLEN and SMITH,
Of Indiana, and thea rejected yeas u, nays 25.
Mr.. McROBER rs moved an amendment, to in
sert in section second, line 18th, after the word Go
lumbia the words !" and the Territories of Vision
san, Iowa. and Florida" Go include them with the
States in the dis,ribuiion
Mr. McROBERrS contended that citizens of the
Territories needed their share for schools and for the
purpose ofGqudang their debts more than the States
also strictly just if the lands were to be dIvl-
ded the people of the States, instead OF 10 the
States themselves.
Mr. SEWER hoped the amendment would be
adopted. If there was any proprety in giving grants
at ALL il to the inhabitants of the Territories
Mr HUNTINGTON said the Government paid
| all the Legislative Executive, and Judicial expenses
of the Territories which great amount; 1t had
also made appropriations for their schools, Libraries,
and public buildings. Considering these expen-
SEES, it was not just to give them share with the
States in this distribution; they would receive it
whenever they admitted into the Union. But,
in addition to this, he believed il would be found in
the ueeu OF cession tnat the anu was granted 10 the
States and this would certainly exclude the amend
ment
Mr. CLAY concurred in this view, and said when
this bill originated, the subject of including the
Territories fully considered, and decided in the
negative
The amendment was further advocated by Messrs.
McROBERTS, SEWER, WRIGHT, and AL
LEN, and opposed by Messrs HUNTINGTON,
SMITH, of Ia, and WOODBRIDGE
Mr.. BUCHANAN said under his Instructions, it
impossible for him to vote for this amendment
He should accordingly vote against it.
The question then taken, and the amendment
rejected Yeas 90, nays 26.
The Senate them at a quarter past four o'clock,
adjourned