Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-08-31
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, AUGUST q, 1850.

Tn mouon OF Mr. UNDEhWOOD, the senate PROCEEDED
to consider, as in Committee Of the Whole the bill for the
relief of the Orange and Alexandra Railroad Company.
This bill proposes to pay TO this company, assgness OF
tho State of Virginia. $3.50 0O0 for money advanced by the
State of Virginia to the United States for erecting public
buildings in the District of Columbia
Mr.. HAMLIN. desire to inquire if the State OF Virginia
herself has memorazsd for the amount which this bill pro-
poses to pay to this company.
Mr.. MASON. If the Senator will give his attention lew
moments will explain this matter. AT the last session Of
the General Assembly of Virginia law was passed transfer
ring to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company the
claim which the State of Virginia had to the money which
this bill proposes pay. The memorial for the payment OF
the claim comes therefore, from the Orange and Alexandra
Railroad Company the assgnees of the State OF Virginia 1t
is nevertheless understand debt due by the General
Government to the of Virginia. The State of Virginia
have transferred their claim to this railroad company who
are, therefore, the petitioners for its payment
In the year 1890 the Congress of the United States passed
an establishing the temporary and permanent seat OF gov
enment of the United States That law located the perma-
men seat Of government within the State of Maryland and
comprised within the District of Columbia part of the ter
rtory Virginia The 4th section of that law provided that
for deayng the expenses of public buildings, the President
the United States should be authorized and directed to
cep grants money Prior the passage of that act how
ever December 1889, the Legislature Of Virginia passed
resolutions decarngthat if the Congress Of the United States
would fix the seat of anywhere within the States
of Maryland Virginia. the Potomac river, the State Of
Virginia would advance the General Government the
of $4,000 in aid of the erection of the necessary public
buildings. Afterwards when in 1890 the Congress of the
United States did locate the Of government upon the Po-
tomac river and within the State of Maryland, the State oil
Virginia. by the law to which have REFEREED recognised her
obligation advance this money, although the District of Co
lumba then located altogether within the State Of Ma
ryland.
The President then was authorized to accept grants of
money derayng the expenses of the public buildings and
the State Of Virginia, prior that, had declared its willing
ness the of government established the Poto
river, TO advance sum OF money. When the seat OF
thus located on the Potomac river and the
President authorized accept grants money the state
Of Virginia. the 9th of December $780, passed law en-
titled act concerning advance OF money TO the Gov
eminent of the United States" Under that law the sum
of $4,000 advanced the Government of the United
States.
Now the State of Virginia. considering this advance
of money and not gift has transferred the claim, as
have said the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company
which company petitions for its payment presume the
only question before the Senate can be- this loan in the
form Of advance, it gift, in the fern Of grant
loan, take it for granted no one can deny the
rightfulness of the claim.
It will appear forth in the report Of the committee,
and by journals of the House Of Delegates Of the State Of
Virginia, that the Gath Of December 1870, bill in
oduced for granting the President Of the United States
the of $780, 900 for erecting public buildings the Po
river, agreeaby resolution Of the last Assembly
This bill passed through the usual parliamentary forms Of
proceeding, and the 9th Of December, $780, passed
But its title, its passage, amended by substituting for
the words quoted above the following can act concerning
an advance of money the President Of the United States
public buildings This is contained in the Virginia
statutes at large. The terms of the ment
ssWhereas the General Assembly Maryland have acced
ed to proposition of the General Assembly of this Common
wealth. contained in their resolution of the tenth day OF De-
cember $780, concerning advance OF money to the General
Government be applied towards erecting public buildings
the permanent the government the United States
should the Congress deem expedient fix the bank
the Potomac and whereas Congress have for
establishing the said of Government the Potomac Be
ii enacted by the General assembly, That 900 shall be
payable three equal yearly payments and to be applied
wards erecting public buildings at the seat of the
Government United States the bank of the Potomac
And the auditor OF public accounts hereby directed to issue
his the the amount Of 0oo
able in the herenbeore directed the order Of the
President OF the United States"
The history them this transaction shows that the State
Of Virginia. presume in order to induce the Government Of
the United States locate the seat Of the Po
tomac river, proposed that if the General Government would
locate the seat of government on the Potomac river would
advance the of 900 towards the erection of public
buildings The General Government passed law establishing
of the Potomac and by the law
authorized the President of the United States accept grants
Of money for the purpose Of erecting public buildings The
State Virginia. the faith of its previous resolution sub
sequent to the law of Congress- passed law not grant the
money the Government of the United States org
nay proposed, but to advance it. The terms OF the law
merely state that the purpose "to advance the money
submit therefore, that it is the duty of the Government Of
the United States to refund the money.
Mr.. BRADBURY. should like to be informed by the
Senator from Virginia whether the State Of Virginia has
previous to this time made any claim to have the
amount money refunded whchis asked tor by this b
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Never.
Mr. MASON. / am not aware that the State of Virginia
has asked that this money should be refunded reco
ct that four FIVE years ago, after much Of the
District of Columbia within the limits Of Virginia
retroceded member Of the General Assembly Of Virginia
toduced resolution declaring that this Of money haG
been advanced DUE and subject to reclamation,
that then proper to be reclaimed when Virginia
longer possessed territory in the District of Columbia but
action taken will state that, though the State
Virginia has certainly advanced the claim by assignment ye
that of her representatives have received
instructions from the State the subject whatever Never
theIess Virginia has recognised the claim by the asgnmen
to this railroad company and Of her representatives
have deemed my duty to support it and to ask that be
paid.
Mr.. BRADBURY. To induce the location Of the seat
Virginia proposed to advance Sl200 to the General Gov
The right to reclaim it, suppose, would depend
upon the terms Of the grant advancement Now, sir,
should inquire what the intention Of the Commonwealth Of
Virginia At the time of making this proposition did
she understand that she merely making loan to the
General Government, was it bona tide proposion-no
depending upon the technical terms which the proposition
was couched-but bona de proposition grant that
OF the location of the of government
on the Potomac river The conduct Of Virginia for
SIXTY years. in declining to make any reclamation Of the fund
would seem show plainly acts show, that the
dersandng Of Virginia that she made il grant-as
donation TO secure this location. And after this lapse Of time
think not little remarkable that this company should pre-
sent an application Of this kind and expect that the appa
ton would be granted.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. rise to state to the Senate III,