The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1848-03-04
Remarks of Mr.. Ford.
On he Bill proriding for he sale Of The fire hun
dred thousand acres Of land.

Remarks of Mr.. Ford.
. On he Bill proriding for The sale Of The fire han
dred thousand acres Of land.
/ The Bill providing for the sale of the 800,
COO acres of land donated by Congress to the
State of Mississippi, for internal purposes, be-
ing under consideration, Mr.. Hines moved tha
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 il
should meet with tho ordinary courtesy OF
being received andiread as an amendment to the
BILL Mr. F. then addressed the House MIR.
Speaker, as | now understand it to be "iixed
fact" by the determination Of the majority
on this floor, that no further amendment shall
be offered to the bill under cons; deraton
beg leave TO address my self, 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
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 very mate
rial omission, ms conceive in the original bill
Yes, sir, an omission which posterty will be as
founded to obserye--and--us fear-unable to
supply.
neither design nor wish to argue the main
question, after thedscussion il has already un-
dergoNe. Such a course would be highly cen
esir, a, this time. This House is
in ndHumor to listen to argument; and il 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 influence within these walls. Sir,
! see the dumb eloquence OF numbers too for
chilly anayed in solid phalanx, on this floor for
argument-howeve convinclng-to have any
effect. Under these circumstances, it would be
an insult to the majority on this hoor-untme
ly and iruiiless for the minorty-(with whom
act and of no public utlity-for me to ox-
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-
lieve it will be palpable and unwarrantable
diversion Of a trust fund, which we should
regard as sacred, and. preserve inviolatc
for the purposes specified in the grant; and be-
cause the generations to come after us, who
have joint interest in the fund with ourselves
will never be able to discouer or enjoy their Dor-
lion it.
The object OF tn amendment which pro-
posed to introduce, was to inform postoriry
tOhere their interest in this fund might be found
and hOW they could render ii araiiabie when
discovered. This bill, sir, is deficient in these
two important points. There are two facts
however; Of which it affords them the clearcst
demonstration; First: That we have appro-
priated the whole,o 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 of the
fund. Secondly: That if they desire to ava |
themselves Of the benefit Of this munifcent do |
uaton, they must tar hemseipes to raise the |
means. These sir, are the facts Of which thoy |
will be advised by this bill.
Gentlemen seem to have relied much upon
the fact, that the fund to be derived from the
sale Of these lands, or large portion Of 1t, viz
so much as may be received in the Planters
Bank Bonds, would exist in Imagination alone,
in the Treasury, and would therefore be safe
from embezzlement On this nrgu ment, which
is certainly nloh peracious. have framed the
amendment which have sent up. That a
sir, repeat, | regard as essentiai to
the rights Of all parties interested in this fund,
because without it, those Of the copartnership
who occupy our places twenty years hence'
will noble able to discover and realize their
interest in IL; and they may very justly
charge us with iafde6ty 10 a ,aered trust. But
sir I will desisi, and permit the question to be
taken, the result Of which | must say in con-
clusiou, I dsPlOre."
The following is the amendment, proposed by
Mr.. Fordi
a.4uendnlenf BY tray Of Rider-SEc.--Be IL
further enacted. That whereas. large portion
Of the fund to be derived from the sale OF said
lands, under the provision Of this act, will ex-