The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-05
GRANTS OF LAND.

>
Introduced bill, Of which previous notice
had b en- given. granting the right Of way
ani naking n donation of public lands to
aid N the construction of 8 railroad from
the "a q of the 81. Louis river to ST. Paul,
"a the Mississippi river; which was read a
i.rst nd second time by IT'S title.
slr :. moved its reference TO the Com
miuee on Territories; which was agreed to.
sir HALL moved the reconsideration Of
The vote by which the bill was referred to
che Committee on Territories, and that the
L3.i ne referred to the Committee on Public
fae.is He had tried tn get the ear Of the
Speaker before the question was taken upon
ihe ference, but failed.
- SIBLEY. Is that motion debata-
h.-2
rhs SPEAKER replied that il was.
~. SIBLEY. do not wish TO detain
tas House at this period with remarks OF
ssy irag,h, on the motion just made by the
rhssTnan Of the Committee on Public
Lands to refer this bill TO that committee.
We have standing committee Of this
EeEse. whose business it Is to attend par
iicsiariy to the legislation for the Terrific
Ties. Now, has bill is proposed TO be TAX
IN from the committee 10 which | believe
It properly belongs, and TO be referred to
u
= csrtainry, it will he served exactly a. bills
referred To that committee at The last ses-
sion Territorial bills always come in At
ils bel Of the session, for the reason that
tie osGtes have the preference. We have
r. stasdiag committee with special reference
% territorial Legislation, anJ | hope this
House will not. under any circumstances,
agree "a the motion just submitted by the
chairman Of the Committee on Public
Lands and trust that they will adhere to
lheir iecisiou that this bill go TO the Com
ruiitsv on Territories.
Ar HALL. I, is very true there is
corr .niIter of this House whose duty it is to
sdminister the public domain. The Com
mitiee on Public Lands is the one. believe
that his bill proposes to make grant of
public lands for the purpose Of aiding in
t5F obstruction Of railroads. Bills making
grams for such works, aud other internal
improvements, have uniformly gone to that
committee. We have before that commit
tee nsw a great many bills upon this subject
coming from all parts of the country
and ihe committee are endeavoring To
III upon some principle which shall guide
ineir action upon all Of them. | think
u matter of great importance, in order
thar Justice may be done to every portion
ihsse hiiis-the granting of public land to
sid 10 The construction OF works Of internal
impro ssnent-that all Of them should be
referred 10 the same committee. If it be
believed by this House that ths Committee
OF Public Lands is not competent to dis
charge its duties, trust the bills upon this
sU'. sct will be taken from them and referred
- ne Committee on Territories. Now,
"a 90 The remark of the gentleman from
" .Hussota, Mr.. SiRLEv;] that this bill if
referred To the Committee on Public Lands
VII lever he heard Of, is entirely gratui-
toUs. ! believe that that committee are |
iIsposed-nay more. dete rmined, in regard
"a has and all other subjects that may he
referred TO them, to report for or against. |
Now, The gentlen,an's bill, he may rest as
ssred, will be reported upon lime enough |
to- The action Of this Congress. go
Mr.. SlBLEY. beg to say to the gem |
fsmau, ] had not the least idea Of ilnput-
ing any neglect of duty, or any want Of at
tenti5:. by the Committee on Public Lands,
. The business that may come before them. !
1 he practice Of this House has uniformly |
saown, that whenever territorial questions !
we're referred to committees, they had &c
yield 10 those from States. In all questions
thaf come before then--rhe Committee on |
Public Lasds, As well as the other Com
m.tsss-the States have the preference.
Mr.. HALL. ! Cannot understand the |
'orcs II The objection made by the gentle !
mar from Minnesota, Mr.. SiBLEV.] He !
says that his experience IS, that all commit |
tee nave given the preference to subjects |
from states over those from the Territories. |
Well, suppose if this matter goes to the
Committee on Territories, it will be treat |
ed just as il would he by the Committee on
Public Lands. will assure the gentle
man that he need not be afraid of the nOn-
action Of the Committee OH Public Lands |
sfa certain that IL will act at the earliest |
practieal period in regard TO this matter ,asd |
81 si'nlar bills that may be committed to it.
Ny desire is, thar all these bills may 20 to |
shs same committee, as they involve the |
same principle. They may be considered
together and reported to the House, SO that
ike action may be had in regard 20 all Of
them There is another thing the gentle
fnan knows well: thar ii is the practice of
The House Of Representatives 20 set aside
three days of each session for the consider
ation e territorial business. He need not
be uneasy that this or the other territorial
bills y u be neglected, as they will come up
a. territorial business, and then will be de-
teTminsd upon by the House.
Er. RICHARDSON obtained the floor.
bot gave way TO
Mr. SiBLEY. wis, to ask question
OF toe chairman Of the Committee on Public
Lands-whether, last Congress-, a bill pro-
EidinE for donation Of public lands TO the
Territory of Minnesota did not come into
re House on the da. set apart FOR territori-
al busi less, and under the rules Of the House
vas aot acted upon, because il was not con-
So sEei strictly territorial business!
hr. HALL. ] do rot remember tn. case.
The Gecision Of The House then was right.
The g not strictly Of a territorial character,
and light not to 60 To the Committee on
I erfltores; and If IL is not territorial in its
charseter, the mot .on cf the gentleman 10
improper.
Mr. SlBLEY. The question was not
decided by the Eonse, but by The chairman
q the whole, AMI rs ! believe Improperly.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. understand the
question before the House is the reference
% I'LL granting donation Of land 20 the
Territory Of Minnesota TO aid in the con-
siruciion re railroad. believe, according