The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY. June 10 1852

The journal Of yesterday having been read
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill If the House granting the right OF wnv ana
portion of the public lands 10 the States OF Florida
and Alabama for the construction OF certain rail-
road in g. id States.
Mr.. ORR proposed to offer substitute for the
bill as reported from the Committee on Public
Lands. The varat on between IT and the original
bi was very slight. In he first section OF the
substitute the branch Of the road proposed to be
run from Pensacola hay to Montgomery, IN the
direction of the Chattahochee river was stricken
out, and another branch substituted, to run in the
direction of Mobile bay TO connect with the ter
minus of the Gerard read. BY this substitute the
amount of lands wou d he less, and the commerce
Of that entire country would be better subserved.
The substitute contained another proviso grant
ing the Legrrnd ROAD the right Of way across this
ad and equal share of the public lands within
six miles.
!. Mr.. MARTIN submitted a few remarks against
railroad grants, and complained that the Com
mittee on Public Lands monopolized the time OF
the House.
Mr. ORR contended that the arguments in favor
of these grants of alternate sections for railroad
purposes had never been met | y those opposed to
them. 1t had been charged upou those who
formed these measures that they proposed to We
away the public lands, to squander them. II was
true that they proposed to give away the public
lands, but it would not impnverish the govern
ment farthing. The treasury was just as
rich after as before the donation. After these do
nations should be made and the railroads con-
structed, money would come into the treasury
from public lands which would have remained UNI
sold and unen,ertd for fifty years to come. He
then stated the advantages which would accrue
from the construction Of the roads proposed in the
bill, in conclusion demanding the previous ques-
ton.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, moved to lay the
y hill upOn the table. which WAS agreed tO--vepa
80. nays 50.
Mr.. ORR m we'd to reconsdered the vote by
which the bill was laid upon the table.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee. moved TO lay the
motion to reconsider on the table; pending this,
Mr.. HAMILTON moved to take up the Penn
sylvana contested election case, which wac not
agreed to--veas SO, nays o.
Mr.. HOUSTON moved to close all debate on
the lndan appropriation bill this afternoon at
o'clock.
On motion of Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas,
the resoluti laid on the table.
On motion Of Mr. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania
the House then went Into Committee OF the Whole
on the State of the Union, (Mr. RICHARDSON, of
Illinois, in the chair) and resumed the reconsid-
eratis offhe Indian appropriation bill
Mr.. MEACHAM concluded the remarks which
he commenced yesterday in reply to MIR. RAN
roUL on the tariff question.
Mr.. OUTLAW stated the questions which he
thought settled by the adoption OF the COM
promise measures, not believing that the fugitive
slave law was the only one Of these measures in
which the South felt an interest, important as he
regarded it. He believed that by the act provid-
ing for the territorial governments Of New Mexico
and Utah, a great. vital, and fundamen al princi-
pie, which laid at the foundation of our govern
ment, was setiIed-tha, territories shall be admit
ted In this Union, with or without slavery, as the
people, in the fundamental law which they might
make, should determine for themselves If, here
after, this course should not be pursued, the ex-
element which prevailed during the last session,
would be renewed. He also commended that I'M
der these measures the Wilmot prov,so should
not he imposed ar on the territories. He consd-
cred these principles more important to the
peace, quietude, and welfare Of this Union, than
any party issues which now divided d e country.
He then sustained his course in the W hig caucus,
in contending that the compromise resolutions were
in order, and declared that he would vote for no
man wko was not pied. ed to the compromise.
he expressed a preference for MIR. Fillmore, and
spoke in high terms Of his admnstrat on. He
then spoke sgainst the propriety Of nominating
Gen. Scott, AZ that distinguished gentleman had
not endorsed the compromise, and referring TO his
military exploits in high terms Of praise.
The committee then rose,
And the House adjourned.