The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1848-03-04
Remarks of Mr.. Ford.
VI tAEF y
On The Blu proUtding for the sale Of The five hua.
dred thousand acres of land.


On The Bill proriding for the sale Of The five han
l dred. thousand acres of land.
The Bill providing for the sale Of the 500,
600 acres of land donated by Congress to thu
State Of Mississippi, Tor internal purposes, be
ing under consideration, Mr.. Hines moved tina
the main question be now put."-Mr, Ford re-
quested the gentleman to withdraw his mo.
ton, to allow an amendment to be sent to the
clerks table to be read Mr.. II. refused ia
withdraw his motion-several members called
for the reading OF the amendment for informa-
ton, to which Mr., F.. objected, unless ii
should meet with the ordinary courtesy OF
being received andfroad as an amendment to the
bill. Mr.. F. then addressed the House Mr..
Speaker, as | now understand it to be a "fxed
fact" by the determination of the majority
on this floor, that no further amendment shall
be offered to the bill under cons Iteration
beg leave to address myself, in a few words to
the main question. Sir, | should not have said
one word on this bill, if the amendment which
! sent up had received the ordinary courtesy Of
being received and read at the clerks table. |
expected no better fate for it than to be voted
down instantly, and had not intended Offering
any argument to sustain il. In presenting the
amendment, designed to supply a very mate
rial omission, as conceive in the original bill.
Yes, sir, anomission which p|osterity will be as
founded to observation-disclosures | foar-unable to
supply,
neither design nor wish to argue the main
question, after the discussion it has already UNI
dergono. Such a course would be highly cen
surable in me sir, at this time. This House is
in no humor to listen to argument; and if felt
inclined to argue the principle and results in
volved in the main question, | should wish it
distinctly understood, that in what | SAID |
should hope not-mean not-and expect not.
to have any influenza within these walls. Sir.
| see the dumb eloquence OF numbers too for
chilly arrayed, in solid phalanx. on this floor for
argument--however convincing-to have any
effect. Under these circumstances, it would be
an insult to the majority on this foor-untime
ly and truitless for the minority-(with whom
| actI--and of no public utility-for mo to ex-
tend this discussion.
1t will only say sir, in addition to what has
been said on the part of the minority of this
House, that wish to enter my solemn protest
against the passage Of this bill, because | be-
lleve it will be a pOlpable and unwarrontable
Of a trust fund, which we should
regard as sacred, and preserve i~nviolate
for the purposes Specified in the grant; and be-
cause the generations to come after us, who
have a joint interest in the fund with ourselves
will never be able to discover or enjoy their por-
tion OF it.
The object Of TIL amendment which ! pro.
posed to introduce, was to inform posterily
aehere their interest in this fund might be found
and hOp they could render it available when
discovered. This bill, sir, is deficient in these
two important points. There are two facts
however; of which it affords them the %clearest
demonstration; First: That we have appro-
priated the whole OF a partnership fund-in
which they were equally interested with us
to the payment of our own individual debts
contracted long prior to the reception or the
fund. Secondly: That if they desire to avail
themselves of the benefit of this muniicent do
nation, they must tao themselves to raise the
means. These sir, are the facts of which they
will be advised by this bill.
Gentlemen seem 10 have relied much upon
the fact, that the fund to be derived from the
sale Of these lands, or a large portion Of it, viz;
so much as may be received in the Planters
Bank Bonds, would exist in I'M 7gi1attaon alone.
in the Treasury, and would therefore be safe
from embezzlement. On this argu which
IS certainly most U~erGcious. have framed the
amendment which ! have sent up. That a
mendment, sir, repeat, l regard as essential to
the rights OF all parties interested in this fund,
because without it, those Of the copartnership
VINO occupy our places twenty years hence,
will notsbe able to discover and realize their
interest in II; and they may very Justly
charge US with iafdehty to a sacred trust. Butt
sir will desist, and permit the question to be
taken, the result Of which | must say in con-
%clusiou, | deplore."
The following is the amendment proposed nv
Mr.. Ford:
Amendment By aoay Of R,der-sEc--Be II
further enacted. That whereas, a large portion
Of the fund to be derived from the sale of said
lands, under the provision Of this act, will ex-