The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-04-25
CONGRESS.

CONGRESS.
We find the following proceedings of the
House of Representatives on the 10Th inst,
in the Globe. They refer TO the grant of
lands asked for, for the completion of the Wa
bash and Ohio Canal.
The SPEAKER called for reports from the
Committee on Public Lands.
Mr.. McCLERNAND, from that committe re-
ported back TO the House a variety of me-
MORALS on the subject ofthe enlargement of
the Wabash and Erie canal, from whose con-
sideration he moved that the committee be
discharged, and that they be laid upon the
table.
Mr.. HoUsToN requested the gentleman to
allow them TO go TO the Committee of the
Whole, having in charge a bill on that sub
ject.
Mr.. OWEN moved their reference to a Sc
lect Committee of five members.
Some conversation and explanations en-
sued, inwhichM Mr.. SEMPLE,M Mr.. McCLERNAND
Mr.. OWEN, Mr.. J. w. WRIGHT, and Others
took part.
MIR. McCLERNAND al length intimated that
he was willing to withdraw the motion to lay
on the table at the request of Mr.. SAMPLE, to
give that gentleman an opportunity TO make
some statemen mis- on this subject, on condition
that he would renew it.
Mr.. HoAKlNs rose 10 a question of order.
The gentleman had made his motion as part
of his report from the Committee on Public
Lands, and therefore he had no control Of
it.
Mr.. ADAMS called fora division of the ques-
ton; and, being divided, the question was
first taken on discharging the committee from
the further consideration of the memorials.
Upon the next branch of the resolution,
viz: to lay the memorials upon the table, a
division was called, and the votes being count
ed by the Speaker, there were 81 in the af
firmative, and 81 in the negative-no quo
rum voting.
Tellers were then demanded and ordered,
Messrs. Grinnel and c. Johnson were appoint
ed, who reported 81 yeas and 40 nays-be-
ing less than a quorum.
A second count was demanded, and there
were yeas so, nays Sc.
The motion to lay on the table was neg
atiyed.
Mr.. OWEN moved that so many of the
memorials reported back from the Commit
tee on Public Lands as referred to a grant
oflands for the extension ofthe Wabash and
Erie canal to Evansville, be referred 10 Sc
lect committee OF FIVE.
Mr.. O said he would not, on this occa-
sion, detain the House over five minutes
He knew well, that on local matters such as
this, and especially on a mere question o.
reference, the House would be impatient IN
der any lenghthened remarks. Yet this be
would say that the subject embraced in the
memorials which he had moved to have re-
ferred to a select committee, was one OF
very deep interest to a large portion of the
State of Indiana, and which formed the sub
iect ofa joint resolution ofthat State at the
last session of her Legislature. The object
was to obtain a grant of lands in aid of the
completion of the Wabash and Erie canal to
Evansville. But, in regard to this matter
there were two nterests-two rival interest
in the State; the one in favor of complet-
ing the national t~horoughfare from the can
al to the Ohio, by way of the river Wabash
the other in favor of completing it by way
of the canal, as in these memorials proposed
OF these two interests, the one (the river
INTEREST," had a bill in the House; the other