The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-28
CONGRESS-.

In the Senate on Tuesday, a message was received
from the House of Representatives stating that they
Army Appropriation bill except the ninth and twelfth
and motion of Mr.. Evans the bill referred to
| the Committee on Finance.
Mr. CliOATE proscrser tlIaes memorials from
observation-disclosures of themiWaying for the abolition
of the drawback on domestic spirits and the others
making contrary request
Reports were then made from several of the stand
ing committees.
| Mr.. YOUNG submitted the following resolution,
which was read for information, viz:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be
directed to communicate to the Senate statement in
condensed form, as faI as the be DONE ex-
hibiting-
lst The estimated quantity of land in each State
and Territory.
I'd. The quantity of public land in each State and
Territory to which the Indian title has been extn
guished, and the quantity to which the Indian title
has not been extnguished
3D. The quantity of surveyed, and unsurveyed
land in each State and Territory.
4th. The number of acres of The public lands sold
from the earliest period Of the sales up the present
PERIOD and the amount of money received from such
sales during the same time
5lh. The quantity of land set apart for Indian
tribes up to the present period, designating the name
of each tribe and the separate quantity set apart for
each.
9th. The amount of money, as near as can be as
certained, which has been paid by the United States
in the extingushment of Indian titles up to the pre-
sent period.
It'll The several amounts of money secured to be
paid to any of the Indian tribes annuties, and the
duration of such annuities respectively.
9Th. The amount invested in stocks by the United
States Indian account the names of the tribes for
which such investments made the nature of the
stocks the conditions upon which they were pur-
chased and the times and manner in which the IN
erest accruing upon such stocks is paid to the tribes
entitled 10 the same
9th. The amount paid for surveying the public
lands, and the total amount paid for selling the same
far as can be ascertaned up to the present period,
including the expenses of the General Land Offices.
10th. The amounts paid in the purchase of Louis
lana and Florida, stated separately, with the interest
paid the purchase money in each case-and the
estimated quantity of land acquired by SAID purchases
respectively.
18th The amounts paid to any Of the States in
sequence of sale or cession Of their waste lands
to the United States and the amount paid In the eX-
tngushmen of private claims to the lands thus sold
coded.
10Th The States and Territories, or parts of States
and Territories, comprehended by the purchases of
Louisiana and Florida.
With such notes of explanation as may be deemed
necessary to proper understanding of the same.
MIR. YOUNG remarked that great deal of the
information called for by his resolution might be OBJ
tanned by looking intothe public documents, but few
reports only on the subject had been brought down
to the present period. With regard to our inter-
course with the Indians there was much in the dark
concerning which Congress should have some infor
nation. The subject of the public lands, as all
knew was of great interest to the several States
and it was proper, therefore, that the public should
have all the information which could be obtained, so
that they might really judge for themselves how the
matter stood. In relation to the cessions Of the pub
lie lands, opinion prevailed among portion of the
people, and newspapers took the same ground, that
the public lands now held by the Government were
obtained by the cessons of the States, when they
(Congress) knew that large portion OF them had
been acquired by the purchase of Louisiana and Flo
rida There have also been large sums paid for the
extnguishment of Indian titles and the amounts
could not be ascertaned without reference to the
public documents His object was to bring all these
facts before the public in condensed form, and to
include every thing relating to the public ands-how
much had been paid for the eXtlnguishment OF the
Indian title the purchase OF the lands, what
charges in consequence OF Indian annuitles,
etc considerable amount had been IN
vested in State stocks for the benefit OF the
Indians amounting totwo or three millions OF dollars,
All this information could be embraced in fifteen or
twenty pages; and he anxious that it should be
brought forward for the of Congress and the peo
pie. He was not disposed to press the consideration
of the resolution at this time, hut willing to let
!, lie on the table until tomorrow,