Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-10

citizens against the same; Mr.. RoBrRTsoN-The me-
mortal OF the committee OF convention Of delegates
t. ON Grayson, Carroll Patrick, Henry and Pittsylva-
mia, held at Patrick Z. H., en- November 26th 1850 for
graded road hom Danville to Wytheville Mr. STuBBs
of DIR. G. w. Cowdery, of Norfolk City, asking
compensation as Superintendent of quarantine for that
port from Sth January to Goth June, lS49; Mr. HAM
MoND-A petition and remonsrance from the German
Reformed Congregation OF Martnsburg, opposing the
sale OF the PIesbyterm Church tere, and other pa
peis referring thereto; Mr.. WuTE-Ot Anna Voolfolk
for divorce from her husband, B. B. Voolfolk; Mr.
VANoRsDALN-Ol Elias Smith and 1873 others, for
graded road from Boomery Gapin Hampshire to He'd
ers for road from the Hampshire and Morgan Turn
pike by way OF Oakland and Bath to the Potomac ri
yer opposite Hancock in Morgan.
Mr.. LEWIS, OF Harrison, offered resolution that,
the Senate concurring, this House will proceed on
Tuesday the 18th, to elect by joint vote, First and
Second Auditor, Treasurer, Register of the Land
Office, Superintendent of the Penitentary and a
General Agent and Storekeeper OF the Penitentiary.
Mr. SToyALL moved TO lay the resolution for the pre-
sent the table, for the that it customary
and proper to receive the reports OF the committees APP
pointed to examine the respective offices before going
into the elections.
Mr.. LEWIS concurred, and the motion was agree d
to.
l sEECIAT ORDER.
On motion Of Mr.. FERGUSON, the House took up the
special ORDER being the solutions offered by Mr. Sc
GAR with the amendment thereto submitted by Mr..
BURwELT.
Mr. FERGUSON rose to address the House He said he
should take somewhat a different ground from that
generally taken by his party. He protested, however
that he true Democrat as ever. He argued
at some length that Congress had the constitutions
power to distribute the proceeds of the public lands
amongst the States and cited the deed of cession by
Virginia to show that the lands subject in
the hands of Congress as a trustee. No man OF any
prominence ever doubted the power before Gen. Jack
son's land Veto But gentlemen contended tina
Congress had no such power, without giving single
reason why wherefore. and simply because was
lesson they had learned to repeat. The reason fol
u,b;o tho IcV q
distribution was that to the extent the proceeds OF the
sales were withdrawn from the Treasury, it would be
necessary to raise the Thrift But that reason had
ed He read from Mr. Benons late speech in the Senate
quoting Mr.. Suart's report, TO show that the public
lands would produce no revenue for 16 years. Mr..
presented statistics Of the quantity ofpubc lands alrea
by idly and see them thus Filtered away. In concu
sion he called especially upon the antnternal i'm
provement party OF the House to vote for this PROPOSE
tion as it imposed tax upon their constituents fol
making improvements. Mr.. F. closed his remarks
saying that he had exhausted himself but his sub
ect If no other gentleman wished TO speak, he woulc
that the subject Tor the present be laid on the Ia
Mr.. MONTAGUE expressed his desire to give his rea.
for opposing both the of resolutions before
the House, but would readily acquiesce if the House
preferred to postpone the subject for the present
! The motion TO lay on the table was Withdrawn, anc
Mr. LEWIS OF Harrison took the floor to state some
objections which he had 10 the resolutions and which
he should be glad to have answered. He thought il
would be grossly inconsistent in the proud and re.
nowned State OF Virginia. after long refusing to be
bought and sold with the land money, to alter hel
course, and ask Tor portion of it.
Mr.. FERGUSON asked Mr.. L. if the proud State O
> Virginia did not take her quota OF land money unde
Gen. Jackson's administration?
) Mr.. LEWIS said he not aware of the fact
Friends around him said thatwas loan, vet to be re
paid by the State. Mr. FERGUSON, in his seat, said
no human being expected cent of it to be paid back.
Mr. L. objected further, that the resolutions seemed t.
involve an assumption that the Union had not long tt
last and that Virginia ought, therefore, to lose no tim
in improving her resources He had no doubt tn
Southern Press at Washington, paper with which h
had no sympathy whatever, would hail the determine
ton of Virginia to alter her past policy proof tina
she was looking disunion. He urged also, that if
were true that the lands had ceased to be source
revenue, they would be OF material benefit to Viz
r ginia.
On motion Of Mr.. MONTAGUE, the Houe adjourne