The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-09
CONGRESS- LAST WEEK.

be construed as to prevent the sale or transea. g
any Of the certificates or warrants prior 20 ~.
location OF the same, or the issue of The O.,.-.
thereon, was carried by vote of l3l to 80.
Under the operation of the Previous q uss,;,.
moved by Mr.. Caliwsll, this resolution wa.
dered to be engrossed for a third reading NH.
Mr.. Vinton moved reconsideration, and mado
few remarks, showing that the effect of tho ada.
ton Of Mr.. Caldwelps resolution would bo :.
throw sl5O,oOo,0OO worth Of the public lands D,o
the hands of few grasping spectators. who
would obtain the warrants for mere SONG :,
stead of benefting the persons for whom mi,
Government bounty was intended. Mr. Win
toms motion was los., and the resolution rae
adopted, as follows:
qEAs-Messrs AlezdadeT, Alstoa, AqJ,su,
Ashe, Averett, Bayly, Bocock, BoorH Bowdop'
Bowlin, Boyd, Breck, Briggs, Buel Balil,d Burt
Butler, G A. Caldwell, J. p Cal4,rsH Cartier
Cleveland, Cobb Corwu, CrOr.H, Danner, Dim.
mick, Disney Edmundson, Ewing. Featherston
Fuller, Gen'ry, Gerry. GIDprNGs, Gilmore. GooI,
mon, Got, Gould, Hall, Hamilton, Hqmptoa / G
Harris, s. w. Harris, Raymond Hbbard, HI.
hard Hoagland. Houstoa Howard, HowE, Huh
bard lnge, J. w. Jackson, W. T. Joeks9n, Jones
Kaufman, La Sere, Litteield, II. Mann, ]. Mann
Marshall, Mason, McClernand, Mcdowell. Ne
GdUghey, McKgsoek, McLanahan. McLans. M.
Ian, McMullen, McQueen, McWiIie. Meqchqm.
Morehead, Morris, Morrison, Ogls Olds. Orr
Parker, Peaslee, Penn, Pbmon. Potter, Robinson
Savage Sawtelle, Sheppeyd, SdUestcr, Spaldiag,
Sprdsue, F. p Stanton, r. II. Stanton, T. Steurs
Stetson, J. Thompson, j. B Thompson, 76omJs
Walden, Waldo, Wallace Watkins, Wentworth
Whittlesey Williams, Wn.MoT, Young-lOS.
NAYs-Messrs. Albertson, Beale Bennett. b.
CLARKE Cole, COnger, derry Doty, D,,sr, Dug
BEE, ~ Epdns, Fomls1, Gilbert, German, Hgno.
may, Hamilton, Harlan, Hay, HsJard Hs1ry,
Hunter, Julian, Kerr, j. G. Kng J. A. King. P.
King, Matteson, J. X. Miller, d. F. Miller, Olis
Peck, Putnsm sRsed ,.t,o., nvra,eeff, Roort
Seheack, Jacob Thompson, Tuck, UAderhiH I'm
ton, White, Wright--4s
ABSENT OR NOT VorINe -Messrs ALLEN Ash.
num- Baker, Bay, Bingham, Bssell, Bore Brooks
A. G. Brown, Cdbell, CalrH, Casey, Cinsman
Colcock, Daniel, Diekey, DIXON, Duncan, Dulham
Eliot, A. Exams, Fitch, Freddy, Green, Grianell
Hackett, Harlan, T. L. Harris, Holiday, HOMES
A. Johnson, j. L. Johnson, R. w. Johnson, 6. G.
King, Letter, Lepm, Mcdonald, Meade, Moor,
Phelps, PhGair, Reynolds, RiSley, Robbins, Rose
Ross, Rumsey, SaeEet, Schermeyhorn, SchoOlcraJt
Seldom, &anly, 4. II. SepheHs, Strong, Sweetzer
Taylor, Thomas, Thurman, Van Dixie, Venable
Wellborn, Wildrick, WOodward-7l.
Wings in Halics; Free-Soilers in SMALL Cars;
Opposition in Roman
The Bounty Land bill consummated one series
of wasteful appropriations of the public lands
and this vote perfected the iniquity of the bill
by facilitating the transfer of the Peoples pa;ri.
mony to the hands of spectators.
Several bills were introduced during the same
day, granting the right of way to railroads, and
appropriating portions of the public )spds to aid
in their construction. We learn that there are,
now no fewer than eighty or ninety such bills
before Congress; each sustained by strong local
interest, which is willing, by sustaining every
other, to secure support in return. Thus, by
one vast, complicate system of log-roling legisla
ton, the public lands, which ought to be held for
the benefit of the landless men of the country
are to be delivered over to spectators and soul
less monopolies. We hope MIR. Johnson will neg
lect no opportunity of urging his bill, as .he
only preventive of this prohigate species Of le
gislstion.
The Postage bill was taken up the next day in
Committee of the Whole on the state Of the
Union, and Mr. Potter declared his intention to
obtain vote upon it, if possible, the Monday
following Various topics were discussed, such
as the proposition to exempt newspapers from
postage within a range of thirty miles from the
place of publication, the reduction of postage on
magazines, prepayment on newspapers, &c.
Mr.. Fowler made a strong speech in favor Of
the two cent rate, and the abolition of the frank
ing privilege, which we shall notice more at length
hereafter. Mr.. Otis urged speedy action, and
was also earnest in favor of two cents, prepaid
The House then adjourned over till Friday
Friday, after an unsuccessful attempt by Mr.
Potter, to get up the subject of cheap postage
the House resolved itself into Committee Of the
Whole on the Private Calendar, and really
showed disposition to do something Eighteen
bills were laid aside, with the Recommendation
that they pass Several were amended sixteen
bills were objected to, and went over till next FRI
day. The Committee rose, the House concurred
in its action, and adjourned The next day, Sat
urday,) the Cheap Postage bill was considered in
Committee of the Whole on the state of The
Union. Mr.. Gerry of Maine made good speech
in favor of low postage Mr. Watkins Of Ten
nessee was apprehensve that the reduction of the
rates would curtail mail facilities. Mr. Root
contended for the abolition of the franking priv
lege; the printing abuse, he said, had grown ont
of the franking privileges members print, be-
cause they can frank, and frank, because they
can print.
Mr.. Sweetzer Of Ohio signalized himself by the
Of wonderful discovery. lie
found, on close examination, that the numerous
petitions on the subject were precisely alike in
form, and had evidently emanated from one
source! Sagacious Mr.. Sweetz,rl We thought
all the world knew that there was an association
in New York city, for the purpose of pushing
forward the cause of Cheap Postage, and that
had been most dilgent in its efforts to enlighten
the members Of Congress by valuable documents,
and to produce concerted action among the people
everywhere, appealing to them 10 circulate pen-
tions in favor of Postage Reform. We supposeH
is quite immaterial who draws up or who prints
the form Of petition, so that the People sanction
it with their names We know something oil sne
character and intelligence Of the People OF oniO'
and we know that MIR. Sweetzer is Infinitely DC
hind them in his views of Postage Reform me-
be will find ont to his cost, II the SUBJECT W
thrown over. All his camor about burdenlng 'H'
Treasury Department, and high Tarih Is in'i'
stuff He holds that low duties are more is''''
BILE to revenue than high. Why is not the Sa"'
principle applicable to low postage ,,~ a,
member opposed as he is to reducing 'n' - ,hs
the Peoples correspondence, should 0aDs ,.,or
Privilegs-in other wora'' &c - n.,;,.
of taxing the People to pay his private ana pv. M,
ical correspond enoe-is not at all surprising M
60 a., N. proposed reduction will