Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-09

,,ocnss Of ,hc resolution which the chairman i'n'sel
had offered. !, ,.n
Air n then referred the first section oil the biii
which gives ten per cent, Gc., 10 Tue nine ne"
therein named in addition to the two per cent hereto
fore ovcn And he referred to tile report OF The oecre
tarv of The Treasury in 1882 10 show that those states
had already received twelve and halt million OIL acres
In addition 10 this (alr. p, said,) it appears 10 me
,b, IN. provisions Of the bill not only unJus. ~
their opera.on on the old States who lent lhe'i ue
snre and blood in the acquisition and ProttGt,.n :,
these lands hut unjust in their operation 10 rea''o" ~
these yery Western States themselves, Tor tne
section provided that four hundred thousand aeeo -
land we're IN be given 10 these States Tor purposes
:,noI ;m,rovemonts And for this four hnndfeu
thousand believe tire hundred thousand IS 10 Dc SUI
Mr. " C. JOHNSON was understood to intimate
that such was the intention OF the C0'''''''''
Mr. BIDLACK proceeded argue the injustice OF
,b nroy;s;on upon the old States and entered INTO
many details with that view tie den'ea lna' sucn .
distribution would be IN accordance WIN eq"'y
Zoo or the solemn terms of the compact lie oelleVeo
ho, Tho peope of Pennsylvania would never De con
,nted with it, and looking TO the injustice OF Tue u'
,ribution itself he thought that every iehhsy ifu"'"
Representative here, whatever might De MS opo 40
10 The principle oil distribution should oppose ts p'
~ account Of its details Let gentlemen take eilier
sde Of the question; let them say on the one hnnd
I'm, the land belonged to the States or on the olie
,ho il belonged the u S on either ground, me o's'
,rbution if made at all, should be an equal dstr'ou
ION But he denied that il belonged 10 the States.
,s Aid and if they were entitled to it at all, they
were entitled 10 it in equal shares according to ief
proportions in the general charge OF expenditure ne
denied that such distribution would be carrying ont
The terms of the compact, ana TINS, 100 even on the
rround that The land belonged TO the States
Mr. H. then entered INTO the constitutional argument
for the purpose OF showing that the land was The pro-
pcrty of the United States and not Of the Staes-n
GLIDING both the land coded and the land purchased.
But Mr. b. commended, whether It was the property Of
the United States of the States, the distribution, u
there was any, should operate on NIL alike lie tneh
proceeded TO show the incompatiby of such prn-
chile with the doctrine of State sovereignty and State
rights.
MIR b. next directed his remarks TO the proof OF the
fact which he asserted that there no excess OF the
,roceeds of the sales Of these lands beyond the cxpen
d;,ures A number of estimates, &c, were read on
Tins pont which gave rise TO some explanations from
Mr. Howard in relation TO estimates submitted by hlm
Yesterday on that point The Reporter cannot at this
time follow these estimates out.
Mr. B then conended that, If, as he believed, this
land was the property Of the U. $, Congress had no
more right distribute the proceeds OF the sales OF It
than 10 raise surplus by course OF Legislation Affect
ing the tariff and the nposts OF the country, ana ds
tribute hai. But if that were TO be done, the
principle recognised By this bill would only lead 10
scramble between the States as who should receive
the largest amount And he beseeched the gentle
men, II they going 10 recognise the doctrine
that this immense domain belonged TO the States,
and that the proceeds TO be distributed among
the States, that they would at least lay down some
neral principle which should be binding upon their
future lpgislaon: that nothing would be left ambl-
ruous or uncertain. lie would ask them to adhere to
the principles recognised by the deeds Of cesslon.-
IT, the other hand they adopted the still more start
linn doctrine that The General Government had a right
10 levy taxes for the purpose Of accommodating fund to
be afterwards returned by which the people should re-
ceivc aou, - every dollar they required
TO pay lie asked them not TO make the burden more
onerous upon any portion of the Union by cstab-
fishing the precedent that the distribution to de-
pend upon the mere will and caprice of the Legislature
inr the time being. lie asked gentlemen TO ponder
well before they acted and TO look well 10 the serious
results which must inevitably follow such course Of
legislation.
Mr. PICKENS then obtained the floor, and it being
within few minutes OF clock, moved that the COM
m,ttce rise.
Which motion prevailing the committee rose, report
ed progress, and obtained leave to sit again
Mr. w COST JOHNSON "a suspension Of the
rules having been agreed to- introduced the following
resolution
Rorsd That the Committee on The Public Lands he instructed
10 inquire into justice and c,pciiency repolig bill
land IL satisfy the unsll>ilcd military
land warrants which have been issued wheel! may hereafter b.
.s>r officers aud soldiers 81 The .Inia
t. quantity heretofore
macd hy ,nmdy acts for that purpose.
The previous question was moved and seconded
The main question: being the adoption OF The reso-
luton was ordered and being taken, the resolution
was adopted. And then the House adjourned.