Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-01-24
The Public DOsnain..Highly lnl'
pOriant TO Iowa.

The Public DOmain..Highly Inn
pOriant TO Iowa.
We clip the following highly important action Of
Congress from the House proceedings Of Dec ssth.
There has been great deal said in national leg
slatiye halls about doing Justice to western pion-
GERS, through reasonable regulations concerning the
disposal of the public domain to those whose laors
have given sa!ss1 look as ir Congress was
The foao wing up to the justice ofwesern demands
and to the true interests Of the government:
Mr.. Collamer, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported bill to grant The sight OF way
across The public lands, and to dispose }5f said
lands in aid of the several States in the construc
ton Of railroads and canals; which was read
twice, and committed 10 the Whole House on the
state OF the Union. ard ordered 10 be printed.
Mr.. Coiamer, from the same committee, TO
which was referred The bill granting lands TO
construction ofrcaas aud canals and the improve
ment Of thcif rivers reported The same bacl TO
The House without amendment.
The first section provides, that there shall be
granted to each OF the States oil Michigan, Wis
cousin, Illinois. Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, LOU
isana, Alabama, and Florida, for the purpose o.!
! aiding said states respectively in making roads,
| canals, and improving The navigation OF rivers
within their respective limits, quantity OF pub
| lie land equal in amount TO the several grants
made by Congress to the State of Ohio; The lands
to be selected by each Of said states, under The
authority and by direction OF the Governor
thereof, from ally lands belonging 10 the United
States sul; ject 10 private entry at the minimum
price, ia quantities OF rot less than one section;
the lands to be seleSt,d within two years from
the passaae OF the act and the selection to be re-
ported to The register Of the district In which the
land lies; the selection to be confirmed ty the
ecre!aiv Of the Treasury.
The second section provides, that any land
heretofore granted 10 either Of the above named
states 70 aid such state in the construction Of
roads canals. and the improvement Of rivers,
whether appropriated 10 that purpose or by con
sent OF Congress appropriated TO any other use,
shall be deemed as a part of the grant made to
said state by preceding section; and such state
shall select, by vrtne of this act .such quantity
Of land only as will, with lands hei etolore grant
ed amount in sua,iiiy 10 the lands granted 10 TIE
State oEOhio.
The third section provides that the lands
granted shall be subject to be disposed Of by the
Legislatures Of TIE said states, for the purposes
before mentioned, aud for no other use whatever,
at price not less than the minimum price OF the
public lands subject to private entry; and that
the said states shall have power to grant titles in
fee simple to purchasers Of said lands
Mr.. Col.amer, under the instructions OF the
Committee on Public Lands, moved to Gay the
bill on the table.
Mr. Wentworth called for the reading Of the
bill; which was lead.
He inquired if the bill had ever Eeen prime;
and receiving neyativerepIy, appealed to the
gentleman from vermon MIR. CoLLAMER TO
withdraw the motion toiay on the table, let the
bill be prin ed, and referred to the Commute OF
the Whole on the state Of the Union.
Dir. Co!!amer insisted upon the motion.
Mr.. McCIelland desired TO ask the Chairman
OF the Committee on Public Lands, who introlu-
ced that bill!
Mr.. CoIlamer. The gentlemen from Ohio,
+ Mr.. VINroN
Mir. Vinton said, he had introduced the biz.
1t VS. bill simply proposing ogive 10 the new
states oil the Unicn the same quantities Of land
wh.ch had been given to Ohio. 1T did not pro-
pose to give the State Of Ohio anything. He was
not anxious about the disposition OF the bill al
though he should be glad to have il go TO the Com
inilee Of The Whole on the state OF the Union,
aud rot he laid on the table.
Mr.. McClernana suggested 10 the chairman OF
the Committee on Public Lands, 'lla, the bill be
allowed to be printed, and laid on the table in
formally.
Mr.. Collamer Inquired, in case debate arose
if the bill did not lie over?
The Speaker replied. that The mott on 10 lay Oh
the table was not dehatable question.
Mr.. Collamer said, he did not know that de-
bate would be allowed, as il was til. report Of a
committee.
The Speaker stated. that If the committee had
simply reported recommendation that the bill
be rejected, that motion would have been open
10 debate The motion 10 lay OH The table, made
by the chairman OF commii;e, however, like
any other motion 10 lay on the table. was not de-
batable.
Mr.. Thompson, of Pennsylvania, inquired OF
the chairman of the Committee on Public Lands,
Mr.. CoLLAMfR, or CT the gentleman who had
mt, oduced the bill, Mr.. vINro.',] whether the
states which were 10 be benefited had made APP
plication Tor these lands?
ko reply 10 this intcrrogatory was heard.
The yeas and nays having been taken and or
dered. the question was taken and decided IN
the acknowledgements, Rays l7--as follows:
-GE.- IA YLoR AND LOUIS NAPoLroS.-The re-
cent election Of Louis Napoleon to the Presidency
Of the French republic has called forth from the Pa
risian press some comparisons between the two,
which are Gar from being fattering to ,ither, ac-
companied with sundry reflections upon the militia
ry tendencies Of the two greatest republics upon the
globe, (as Swallowed forth in their election which
may well excite approximations in the minds of true
republicans. No doubt can be entertained but that
blind idol worship of the sword and the epaulet
were alone at the bottom Of the elevation of both
these men-by their countrymen, while it is equally
clear that neither of them is acquainted with
the science Of government, in any way better fit
ted to wied the destities of their respective ma
tons, than monkey is fit to teach dancing school,
PLASK RoAp.--M preliminary meeting held in
Burlington, the 18th inst, ii was determined to
hold a mass meeting Of the citizens Of Desmoines
and Henry counties, at New London, on Friday
next, to take steps to secure the construction OF
plank road from Burlington to NJ. Pleasant. A law
granting the right Of way for such road pass
ed at the late session of the Gen. Assembly,
%. We have on hand circular from the SupeIin-
tendent OF Public Instruction, explanatory Of the du-
ties Of school officers under the new law, which we
had hoped to be able to publish simultaneously with
the law, but compelled for want Of room to de-
fer its publication until next week.
DEATH OF Mr.. SEvIER.-Our exchanges notice
the death At his residence Of the Hon. A.. ii. Sewer,
late Minister to Mexico and senatorfrom Arkansas,