The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-14
IN SENATE,
FRlpAy, August l3, IS4l.

TON, for the transfer Of the lightboat at Sandy
Hook, to Barett's reef in Long Island, and that at
Bartlets reef to Execution rocks, was read third
time and passed
Mr. MERRlCK, from the Committee on the Dis
trict OF Columbia, reported the bill from the House
bill, relating To the amendment of the charter OF
Georgetown.
Mr. CALHOUN presented memorial of citizens
of Portsmouth, Virginia, against this extra session,
the establishment of a National Bank, declaring its
unconsu,onaity, and the right of its repeal =
Which laid the table and ordered to be printed
The joint resolution reported by M. CLAYTON,
fol the distribution of thousand copies OF the
mnted returns of the 9Th census among the several
States, and the reservation of three thousand copies
Ia the Library Of Congress- for future disposition
taken up and after some conversation, ordered to be
engrossed for third reading
Mr. HENDERSON submitted resolution autho-
rislng the Postmaster General to draw from the files
efthe Senate the documents from the Post Office De-
partment OF the years 1924 and 1885, and which be-
came the subject OF reIot that they might be re-
placed on the files OF said Department He had re-
ceyed communication from the Postmaster General,
stating that those papers were necessary Tor the use OF
the Department The resolution lies over one day.
Theresoutlon of Mr.. SMITH of la. insrucling
the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads to in
uurc the expediency Of providing by law, at this
session 10 enable the Post Office Department TO iqui-
date as dues 10 contractors and others, was taken up
Me,srs. SEWER and LINN glad that this
subject had been brought up, and they wished the
be required for the of this Department, when the
appropriations for transportation the mails had been
reduced in their States, to their great inconvenience.
They opposed this Withholding the facilities to the
States while the increased appropriations were
made for the old States
MIR. SMITH, of Indiana, sad when he had sub
mted this resolution, he had not intended debate.
1t proper that the dues existing against this
Department should be lquilated, and it mere
resolution Of inquiry az Ia the best mode OF dong IT,
Mr.. SEW TER expressed his intention of offering an
amendment; and the resolution laid over till to.
morrow.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Indiana, on leave, reported the
bill for extending the time for issuing Virginia military
land warrants.
DESTRUCTION AND PRE- EMPTIoN BILL.
This bin taken up, the question being on the
amendment Of Mr.. ARCHER to strike out the pro-
vision IN the 9th section applying the land grants ID
the new States to objects of internal improvement
w roads, canals, bridges, improvement of water
courses. and draining saanps,
MIR CLAY, Of Ala, briefly opposed this, on the
ground OF the proprley of continuing the system
heretofore pursued in distributing the lands for spe
cltic purposes, roads, &c
The amendment was then rejected, without di-
vision
Mr. McROBERTS moved an amendment to strike
out IN the sh section, the provision granting to each
Y the States Of Ohio, Indiana Illinois Alabama
Missouri, Mississippi Louisiana, Arkansas, and
Michigan, (Which have not heretofore received 500
900 acres OF land for internal improvements , sun
sufficient with what they have already received, 10
make up that amount; and insert provision granting
10 the States OF Illinois Indiana Michigan Missouri
Arkansas, louisiana Mississippi, and Alabama, guam
titles OF land which together with that already recciv
ed exclusive OF the 10Th section OF lands appropriated
for school purposes, shall be equal to that granted Il
Ohio, viz. 10 Illinois 492 600 acres to Indiana 2Ss.
600 acres; Michigan, 100000 acres Missouri
l,0ls,0oO acres; Arkanas, 100000 acres Louis
ana, 100000 acres; Mississippi, 095 900 acres
aud to Alabama, 612 900 acres.
Mr.. McROBERTS, in offering this amendment
conicnded for the justice well well prppriey
~ adoption The vast of Ohio might be at.
trhuted to her grants of lands made by the Genera
Government IN her infancy he referred to the works
~ internal improvement in Illinois which would be
oin.antage to the great confcderacy and asked it o.
ne justice Of Congress 10 give her credit and resources
70 prosecute them to completion.
lie denied the moral and constitutional rpht of d
Nlslng these lands TO the old States and contendel
lhal thc lands within the borders of the new States
were taken possession of in the same manner as the
territory Of the old States and BELONGING To them rs
Sth'r, aud not as individuals, could with no more
lrfrey b. distributed than the soil of the Id States
neg had no more power to appropriate money for the
rcasurics the States than to aae money from those
States
MIR SMITH Of Indiana sa d the motion pendnc
was 10 equalze apparently the grant of lands 10 the
new States, with that which had been given to Ohio.
The grant of land to Ohio OF alternate sections
Rh we ~ puDllc WoTks; ana the alternate
Mons reserved being increased to value double, triple
~ tour times the amount of the minimum price it was
II tact no grant from the Treasury. The lands OF
Illinois, on the contrary, averaged the whole sales
only y - 3 ~ per acre being but eight enths of
t'n 1NaNt the minimum pncc. From the. G and other
t1i,' or1tons, as Chairman of the Committee he
'@hnnei that there was an equalization of grants
hr states II tins were not the case he should be
Y ,in4 Y correct It. lie opposed the amendment
wv LAY OF Ala, was surprised that there should
I" nl1H,l lan 10 thus amendment from any quarter es-
r,ihN tom the senator from Indiana whose State
Wa - IT, benefited hy it Its object was To place
IVY new States on an equal footing which was not az
'hshed ~ the present torm of the bill He then at
" "ngih, advocated the amendment as doing the
N.Y.. ln,titr y Alabama and other States as had al.
.r1.tS , ga done To Ohio
w CALHOUN should vote fir the amendment
'- y Thought Il the bill passed right; but for
Altn higher reason that he would much rather give
0t Whole N The land to the States in which II Law
'ho ~ distribute It rs proposed Ivy this bill The bl
N'. .n9st unconstitutional measure. The proceeds
W. lAnds belonged 10 The Treasury and if they
N.f NY ppropra,ed to this purpose, then the new
w., h'i he best right TO th They belonged to
"@NA'r mon, and on this condition The new States
'''f'd NE compact if this were violated, the land
'NA2hi bark to It's original condition, and became
!" t9lery OF the States in which il hes Viewed
(" thN hsht, both constitutional and otherwise this
wv " himi the most odlQus measure that could be
it'.cmcl
VIZ hoH Nc said there was q view Of this subject
H'i mol as yet, been taken This distribution
Nmation OF the compact with the new States
WV was, that the proceeds Of the lands should 90 ID
y" rca~ury II this was done, and thus the com
y lated the right which had been given up by
e'nplcI should he exercised, viz ottaxng the