The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-14


In his State, at tax Of three cents acre, would
amount 10 the sum Of $40, 900 annually. \. n
Mr. WHITE explained the cause fine grant that
had been made to his State, and conended thai the
peculiar grants to some States should not alone be
sdered but the benefits arising thence those States
and to The General Government. Indiana had finish
ed canals of 200 miles in length and Ohio twice that
amount by the aid Of those grants The righteousness
of the settlement OF those States, in comparison with
their more favored younger sisters should also be Ia
ken into consideration. He was disposed to vote for
the amendment, as at present advised, believing it
would not prejudice the passage Of the bill. rt .
Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama, contended that the appro-
priations of lands to Alabama had been udicousy
and benefcally improved as of Ohio or Indiana. He
contended that justice to the States entitled them
to the lands within their borders in the same
the old States held their territory. IT. however
equal justice could be done to the old and new
States the new States at eyents ought 70 be placed
on an equal footing with each other. s..,...,s s.
Some further remarks were made by Messrs.
WALKER and SMITH, of la. 'ra...
Mr. BENTON offered an amendment to the
amendment to add the words Sand similar quantities
with that granted TO Ohio, shall be granted to each
Of such States as may hereafter become members Of
the Federal Union"
He commented on the injustice of this bill being
plumber Of the Treasury and repeated his advice
to the Representatives of the States to set their
claims higher than ten per centum-to twenty-five or
thirty per cent? and they could get it, the passage Of
the bill depended on their votes He claimed the pa
terniy of the provision for the appropriation of the five
hundred thousand acres 10 the new States; and de-
clared were he friend to the BILL he should make
large demand for appropriation TO his State and would
make them pay it. He had offered this amendment to
provide for the Territories as they became States.
Mr. PORTER held that the public domain belong
ed to the Federal Government; and although there
something attractive in the amendment the State
of Michigan, in justice, would not attempt TO claim
the right of soil within her limits. She would hold
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE believed the proceeds of the
lands were never designed to constitute public fund
He in favor of the amendment as il was designed
to place the new States on equal footing The ex-
penses of the Construction of roads the public lands
which increased their value to the Union should be
in part sustained by the Government, by grants of
land, which had proved of much benefit to Ohio.
Mr.. TAPPAN concurred with the Senator from
South Carolina, Mr.. Calhoun that this was a most
unconstitutional and odous measure. III
The amendment of Mr.. McRoBERTs as modified
by Mr.. BENTON, was then rejected by the following
vote:
YEAS-Messrs Allen, Barrow, Benton, Calhoun
Clay, of Ala, Fulton, Henderson, King Linn Nc
Roberts, Mouton, Porter Sewer, Smith, of CON-
Tallmadge, Tappan Walker, White, Woodbridge
.-l9, H.. E@ g#".,. .a. ~ !
NAYS-Messrs. Archer, Bates, Bayard, Berrien
Buchanan, Choate, Clay, of KY, Clayton, Cuthbert,
Dixon, Evans, Graham, Huntington, Kerr, Mangum
Merrick, Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Prentiss, Sim
mons, Smith,of Ind, Southland, Sturgeon, Wright
.-25. .. ... '
Mr. WALKER moved to add an additional section,
providing that the public lands now remaining unsold
in Tennessee are hereby ceded to said State; and
when each of the other States shall have been as long
in the Union as Tennessee has been the public lands
remaining unsold in their borders shall be ceded
them, from time to time, respectively provided that
this shall only operate REIMBURSEMENT of such
property on the part of the United States reserving
all sites OF forts, ornaments, &c, that have been
lected by Congress.
This was debated by Messrs. SMITH, of Alaba-
ma, WALKER, KING, WHITE, and NICHOL-
SON, which latter gentleman suggested modfca-
ton, which was accepted to insert provision that
the lands of Tennessee should be subject to the claims
of South Carolina and Georgia against them.
The amendment was then rejected by the following
vote:
YEAS-Messrs Allen, Benton, Clay, of Ala,
Fulton, King, Linn, McRoberts, Mouton Nicholson
Sewer, Tappan, Walker, Woodbridge, Young-l4.
NAYS-Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Berrien, Buchanan, Choate, Clay, of KY, Clayton,
Dixon, Evans, Graham, Huntington, Kerr, Man
gum, Merrick, Miller, Morehead, Porter, Prentiss,
Rives Simmons, Smith, of Ind, Southard Sturgeon,
Tallmadge, White, Williams-2S. ii =. =
Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama offered an amendment to
strike out in the 10th section the provision excluding
all from presumption hts under this act who may
heretofore have had the benefit of presumption under
any other act. "S ''' ...
Is After brief remarks by Messrs CLAY, Of AIaba-
ma, SMITH, of Indiana and BENTON, this was
aaopted-yeas %, nays 20.
Mr.. SEWER moved that when the Senate adjourn.
they adjourn to Monday next
Mr.. BERRlEN hoped the motion would not pre-
vail. They had long been here, and hoped soon to
bring the session to close. And independently of
the ordinary duties of legislation the Senate had much
peculiar business before it, which it could not con-
sstenty postpone till next session. The House were
many days in advance of them.
Mr.. SEWER had moved the adjournment with
view to visiting the ship Delaware, at Annapolis for
which to- morrow had been set apart, and for which
the other House had adjourned to Monday
Mr. BUCHANAN would vote against the adjourn
ment. They had long been here, and he wished to
complete their business and return. He had expect
ed the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Clay) would, be-
fore this, have brought in resolution for adjournment
by Monday week He (Mr. b. thought they could
adjourn before that and in favor of the des-
patch of business. He hoped the Senator would not
press the motion.
Mr.. SEWER then withdrew the notion
And the Senate adjourned.