Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-25
7uesday, December q.
1,isS1 INL,

IS0uM Cur0l:nidn.
Tuesday, December 81.
SENATE.
The early part of this days session was occupied IN
The nresenation OF petitions, which were received and
nnronretely REFERRED except few asking for the abo-
Gi,on Of slavery which were not received. Many
hills were also reported back from the Standing Com
mttees few bills were introduced, on leave, the
,nost mnonant among which was The following bill OF
MIR. Lph:
bn lie repeal the distribution sections ofthe act emit
tied "9n to appropriate The proceeds IF Me sales Of
the public lands, and to grant emPtioa rights ap
proved the 4th day Of September lS4l and in lieu
of the distribution of the land therein pro-
posed, TO pledge the TO the common defence of
the Union.
Belt enacted Gy the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires Of the u S. Of 4meriea IN Congress asSem6led
That the frst second third, fourth fifth, and sixth
sections Of the act aforesaid being much thereof as
provides for distribution of the public land revenue
among the States and Territories, and the District of
Columbia, shall be, and the same hereby are, re-
pealed.
ter the passing of this act the nett proceeds of the
sales of the public lands far the shall not
be needed deay the expenses or TO pay the debts OF
the General Government, shall be, and the same are
hereby pledged to the common defence OF The Union,
and shall be faithfully applied to that object from time
10 Time according the plans of defence which Con-
gress shall adopt until the S. placed in that state
Of strength and security which is due to the honor and
independence oil 10 the protection OF
the rights and interests of It's citizens And shall be
the duty of the Secretary Of the Treasury at the
mencenent of each stated session of Congress, to re-
port to each House of Congress the of the nett
proceeds of the public lands for the current year, and
which were not required TO defray the expenses 10
paw the debts of the United States and the amount
reported shall be- and the hereby Isl appropriated
to providing such MEANS and constructing such works
of public defence, by land and water then may be
in progress, which Congress shall order and direct
Sbnl1 until he do
c---o. &c No Irn;o, sl,a,l - -. ~ -
addition 10 the ordinary annual appropriations tor snch
objects.
the nature of the proposition 20 what committee 1t
should 90 The Committee on the Public Lands was
strongly committed On the subject, and he could mol
expect 10 have full hearing before it. lie thought as
the bill was merely to repeal law disposng oil Inc pro-
ceeds of the public lands, and to change the application
of such proceeds from the States to the nauona! de-
fences that it should 20 TO the Committee on Military
Affairs It struck him, without consultation with any
one that would be The proper committee
Mr. SMITH of Indiana, who is chairman OF the
Committee Public Lands, said he felt no preference
rs to what committee it should be referred The sub
ect of distribution was before the Committee on rub
lie Lands last session. He then had place on that
committee The committee took such action on it, at
that time, seemed right and proper and the concu
sions TO which it came concurred IN by the Sc
nate His mind had undergone no change, aud so lar
as his action personally concerned ne should have
daton that it should not pass. He had no wish person.
ally that should be referred TO the Committee on fuo-
lie Lands But if was referred to that committee, ne
as chairman would give the subject proper consdera-
ton although due TO candor to say SO lar as
he was personally concerned, lie would come TO the
same conclusions as last year.
The CHAIR observed that the question was not on
the reference of the bill, but on its second reading
The question then put on the reading OF The bill
by its title, which agreed 10, and it was read
Mr. LINN now made definite motion to refer the
bill to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. CALHOUN remarked that the chairman OF the
Committee on Public Lands had shown BY what he
had said, sufficient reason why the bill should not be
rscs,:ed to the Committee Public Lands. lfthere
was any parliamentary rule better established than
another it was, that bl if referred at ALL should be
referred committee OF friends TO the measure. 1t
was contrary to all usage to refer it TO an adverse COM
mittee.
Mr. SMITH of Indiana explained that he had ex
pressed no wish TO have the bill referred to the Com
mttee on Public Lands.
Mr.. CALHOUN contended that the parliamentary
rule was we'll established that bill its reference
should not be put into the hands of committee the
majority of which might be adverse to ITS prnc To
refer the bill to the Committee on Public Lands, which
had recommended the act it was intended TO repeal
would be manifest violation of the rule. lie would
suggest to his friend from Missouri the propriety in
deed necessity Of referring his bill to select commit
tee. lie would wish to the Senator himself on that
committee
n.
propose selec, committee of the friends oEthe BILL
that he did not himself wish 10 be placed on the CON-
mittee. There many why he did not wish
IT. He had vast amount OF business on his hands, TO
transact for his constituents besides much Of his
which claimed his attention. But a paramount consi-
Iteration was that he did not feel himself qualified by
education or opportunities to take the lead in measure
of such vast national Importance. lie had supposed
the Committee on Military Affairs would not be 50
loaded with business to preclude its consideration OF
the subject. The Chairman of that committee, he ap
pretended not overwhelmed with such multip-
city of business as he himself But If the Senate
wished him to take charge of the bill member OF
select committee he would endeavor TO devote all the
attention in his power to it. While he had the floor, he
would say word more the subject o. doctrine en-
tertained the other sde that the General Government
had the right make distribution of portion OF the
general for the purpose of relieving States IN
debt That had he utterly denied the doctrine could
be entertained in reference any Of the Staes could
in reference to the whole. And to what would this
lead? Look at the condition Of many States VIII not
the passage Of this repeal bill 10 keep the States
now lookcg to Congress the north star which is to
guide them through the storm May they not excaim
ST we lose you we los,: 1t seemed 10 him strange
that it should for moment be considered constitutions
al for this Government to any part of the debts
of the States And what else did the Distribution Act
amount to but that assumption? lie really asto
ni,hed TO see the course which some gentlemen had
taken on this subject. They knew that this coun
try had an immense extent of coast and territorial
border protect-that its foreign relations were IN
a preearlous situation, and that at moments warn.
pg might be prsepilatedj yet they had 'rssersa