The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-02
IN CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.

Mr. BlRDSALL called up his motion to reconsider the
of Saturday, by which the House agreed to term,
day He stated that he had made this motion 10 give
himself opportunity to make personal explain alton
with reference to certain allegations made against hum by
OF his colleagues, Mr. CoLLINs,l when the Oregon
bill was last under consideration.
Objection being made,
The SPEAKER stated that the gentleman could only
proceed with personal explanation by unanimous con-
Mr. BIRDSALL then withdrew his motion to recon
sder and moved suspension OF the rules to enable him
to make personal explanation.
ALABAMA, FLORIDA, AND GEORGIA RAILROAD
Mr.. ASHMUN inquired whether there was not now
pending motion to suspend the rules.
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative, and directed
the Clerk to report the motion.
The Clerk then reported motion filed by Mr.. KING of
Georgia, Monday of last week, TO suspend the rules
for the purpose OF enabling him to offer motion to with
draw from the Committee of the Whole the state OF
the Union, and make special order OF the bill granting
10 the Alabama Florida, and Georgia Railroad Company
alternate sections of the public lands along said railroad
line, upon certain conditions
And the yeas and nays being demanded ordered, and
taken thereon, resulted-yeas Ill, nays So
So, twothrds voting the affirmative, the bill was
brought before the House and read by the Clerk the
question being concurring in certain amendments
ported from the Committee on Public Lands
Mr. KING of Georgia desired to express his intention
TO the previous question. The bill had already
been considered BY two standing committees OF the
House. 1t was bill of great national importance, and
exception to all former OF grants OF pubic lands
for purposes OF internal improvement lie did not make
this remark however by way of evlnclng any feeling
his part in opposition to the principle OF making such
MIR. vINToN, Mr.. FEATHERSToN, Mr.. HoUS.
TON of Alabama, each in his turn desired the demand
for the previous question to be withheld for explanation
and amendment.
Mr. KING stated that he would comply with the re-
quest Is gentlemen with the greatest pleasure but he
was pledged to the friends OF the BILL he must insist up
on the demand.
The question, "Is there seconds' was then taken,
and decided in the negative by report of teersafrma
Mr. VINTON desired to inquire of the chairman Of
the Committee Public Lands, whether grants OF land
were M MADE t. pIyaae oopoIadGns tho r.vvs
Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama, (Mr. VINToN giving
way,) proposed amendment, which ruled to be
out OF ORDER upon being read for information, follows
And be it further enacted, That the balance of pub
lie lands in the State of Alabama after the alternate
tons Aforesaid, be, and the hereby given and do
direction of Legislature of said State The proceeds
thereof shall be applied to system of common schools in
Mr. COLLAMER then added that Congress had made
grants to charitable institutions, schools, &c.
Mr.. VlNION was aware of that. He was willing
to give public lands for public enterprises but objected
uncompromisingy to this principle of making grants
corporations and private enterprises
Mr. KING proposed to amend the bill SO as to meet the
views OF the gentleman from Ohio-it was to make the
grant to the States of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. for
the use of the company; but he was informed by the
Chair that there were already pending some SIX
amendments reported from the Committee on Public
Lands.
Mr.. VINTON did not know but that such modica-
ton might meet his views. But the moment the princi-
pie admitted allowing grants of land to be made in
this way to corporations, companies would be
formed. and the country would be chseled and humbug
MIR. STEPHENS submitted few words in support of
the bill.
Mr.. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania regarded this bill
as most extraordinary proposition to away the pub
lie lands and the session far advanced to ad
init OF time for the discussions which due consideration
OF the subject would require, he would TO lay
the bill ON the table.
The yeas and nays being demanded ordered and taken
upon this motion, i was negativedyeas SO, nays o.
SO the House refused to lay the bill on the table
Mr.. KING OF Georgia said whenever it might be in
order, ne would submit mis- proposition amendment
to the last amendment from the Committee Public
Lands
MIR. EVANS of Maryland and Mr. HAMMONS sub
mtted inquiries as to the amount of land proposed be
appropriated, and the extent of the road.
Mr. KING could not answer with respect to the amount
OF land But the appropriation was by alternate
tons; and the sections retained were to be held in the
market at double price These lands, he said had been
withdrawn from sale for thirty years. and the
ton of the road would give them value. He did know
how much land was embraced in the grant; but the ex
tent OF the road, embracing all the branches, not
Mr.. FlCKLlN desired the gentleman from Georgia
lMr. KINGl to agree to modification of the grant BY
which might be applied under the control of the State
Mr. KING then proposed to make brief statement,
which he would have done before but for Discrimination
70 consume sM ume Ihere was no communication from
attention OF the Congress had been repeatedly called to
this matter for several years past by the chief of the
bureau having charge of these public works The land
proposed to be appropriated unsaeabe had been
so for many years. and he repeated that would acquire
value BY the construction of the road.
Mr.. STEWART of Pennsylvania explained that this
road of only two links to be constructed in or
der to complete continuous line of railroad from Port
land, in Maine, to Pensacola on the Gulf of Mexico
MIR. ROOI gave his views against the bill-submitting
similar to those of Mr. VINToN and adding his
opposition to any legislation that would favor the schemes
OF land Spectators, which the greatest bighs and
curses which generally rested upon every new country
Mr.. FEATHERSTON then desired to amend the bill by
proposition to grant the State of Mississippi all the
public lands bordering the Mississippi river in said
State Tor the purpose OF constructing evee along the
bank OF said river which ruled to be out of order
On motion by Mr. FEATHERSTON, the said bill and
amendments were then recommtted to the Committee on
Public Lands.
REPORTING FOR THE
MI ASHMuN proposed the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That, in order a more full impartial
ana prompt Pubcation OF the debates and proceedings Of
this House, tho Clerk be directed enter into
with the poPretors of each of daily papers in this
cy the National lnegencer and the Union to take efec,
rom ts day. and TO continue until otherwise ordered by
to be reported at the fullest length without excenton The
proceedings and debates of the House
ana the same to publish in the National Inegencer and
IN he Union iorthwith, following snch as desire
10 revise the reports OF their speeches before being
publlshed,) and TO publish also speeches
this session which have not been heretofore inserted in
er columns as well as any committee reports public
documents which be directed nv House be
pubished and furnish COPIES of each pa ne, ron
ihng The same to each member the House OF Repre
"'ves upon the following TERMS wit: At the rat of
rs and nifty cents to each Of said papers the
uay OF Congress small plea document pa ge for eyery
c1NPeanc Oh reporting,