The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
BILLS REAp TWICE


BILLS REAp TWICE.
On motion Of Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York,
Senate bills amending the act of February %,
l847 regulating the carriage Of passengers IN mer-
chant vessels, aud the act Of May II, lS4S, pro-
viding for The ventilation Of passenger SHIPS were
taken up, read twice and referred to the Commit
tee on Commerce.
LANDS FOR RAILROADS.
The House took up the bill granting the right
of way and public lands to the State of Alabama
in aid of the Selma and Gunter's Landing railroad
which was reported on Thursday last, from the
Committee on Public Lands, with an amendment.
Mr.. COBB, Of Alabama, resumed the remarks
which he commenced some days since, IN favor of
tie bill. He hoped that it might now be put on
it's passage.
Mr.. CLINGMAN moved an amendment, the
effect of which 10 remit the duties on the iron
used blythe Selma and Gun,er 5 Landing railroad
He was DESTROYS test the views OF members in
relation to this subject, and in favor of similar
provision for the benefit Of all railroads now in
process of construction.
The SPEAKER decided the amendment to be
out of order, on the ground of irrelevancy.
Mr.. ORR appealed from the decision
, Mr.. HALL moved to lay the appeal on the TIA
BILE, which was decided in the affirmative, 81 to 80.
Mr.. WHITE, of Alabama, spoke an hour in
favor OF the bill. He believed thai it was policy
for the government TO grant lands for railroads as
they would tend to bind together the various sec
tons Of the Union, and thus contribute towards
it's preservation and perpetuaton. They would
thus prove great national benefit.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL-MIssIssIPPI AND MAssA-
cHUsETTs POLITICS.
The House went into Committee of the Whole
on the state of Union, Mr. HiBBARD in the chair
The Chairman announced that the subject be-
fore the committee the bill granting 100 acres
of land to actual settlers thereon, on conditions
defining the time of their occupancy, entitled can
act for the benefit Of agriculture" &c.
Mr.. WILCOX, of Mississippi, who was ent-
tied to the floor, spoke an hour in relation to the
present position of political parties in that State
He said that he appeared here Jackson Union
Democrat as contra distinguished from secession
Democrats. He had acquiesced in the compromise
measures, and gave his reasons for abiding by
them. The admission of New Mexico, Cali
fornia and Utah, as part of those measures was
satisfactory to him. In the bill admitting Cali
fornia, he could see infraction OF the Constitu
ton HI believed in the doctrine proclaimed by
the Georgia Democratic convention, of allowing
each State to make slavery part OF its cons,itu-
tonal compact, or not, as it pleased He agreed
also with the principle proclaimed by Virginia
convention, that Congress has no power to dIvest
any citizen of his proT erty. 1t was a glorious
doctrine. His democracy having been questioned,
he desired to give brief history Of political
parueS IN MS own otate, WHICH, ne COI,tenueu,
Mr. Calhoun had endeavored to take under his
peculiar charge and dictate to. An attempt had
been made to bring Mississippi over to the doc
trines of South Carolina These, he asserted
were in favor OF disunion-to show which, he
read from paper published at Fairfield, Is. C. }
aud the Wilmington, IN. CO. Herald. He allud-
ed to Mr.. VENABLE of North Carolina, whom he
would not charge with aspiring to the Presidency
Of Southern republic. Mississippi was not the
State to take the lead in dsunion. He condemned
the crusades of Mr.. GDDMGs and his supporters,
in their attempts to subvert the government of our
fathers, and avowed his intention to stand by Mis-
sissippi in asserting State Rights doctrines or go
down with her in the attempt. After Mr.. Wncox
had concluded,
Mr.. RANTOUL, of Massachusetts, obtained
the floor and made rejoinder to the remarks of
his colleague, Mr. DAVIS, on Saturday last. He
defended the coalition in Massachusetts, and al
lodged that Mr.. d. was elected under pledge to
go for the repeal of the law for the reclamation of
fugitive slaves as 'an odious measure" it having
been so declared by the resolution of the conven-
ton which placed him in nomination
The House adjourned at a quarter past 3.