Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUOE Of hEFhESENIAIlNE S.
Mr.. HASCALL, by unanimous consent presented two
petitions, from citizens of Albany and from ct-
of Genesee county, New York. praying that
may be passed to protect patentees against nfngers
patents from Canada which he moved refer to the Com
mittee Patents, with instructions to report bill in
pursuance of the prayer of the petitioners
The instructions being objected to, the petitions were
referred to the Committee on Patents.
MIR. JONES' of Tennessee moved that the House re-
solve itself into Committee of the Whole the of
the Union; which motion was agreed to: Yeas l08,
nays A.
HOMESTEAD BILL-THE WING CAUCUS.
And the House accordingly went into Committee of the
Whole the state of the Union AIr HIBBARD of New
Hampshire in the chair and resumed the consideration
of the bill to encourage agriculture commerce, manuac
lures and all other branches Of industry, by granting
every who is the head Of family and citizen Of the
United States homestead of one hundred and sixty
Of land out Of the public domain upon condition Of
pancy and cultivation of the for the period Of five
years.
Mr. BROWN, of Mississippi, claimed to be among the
earliest and steadfast friends of the wise and hui
policy Of providing homes for the homeless. This
Government the largest landed proprietor in the
world Its Of uncultivated soil numbered by
hundreds of Millions and Of the embraced within the
limits of the United States only about onethird in
the hands of private owners nearly twothrds belonging
to being subject to the disposition of the Federal Gov
eminent He then referred to the modes Of posng of the
public domain which had adopted Congress and
ceived the sanction of President and said that this
tied the question Of the power Of Congress over the public
lands 1t idle to dispute the plenary power Of the Gov
eminent to dispose Of these lands and give them to actual
settlers proposed in the bill under consideration
No could doubt his disposition construe the powers
Of the Government strictly and to confnc it within the
sphere Of its delegated powers but when he looked at
the power given to Congress by the Constitution dis
pose Of the territory, he free to confess that his mind
only clear but free from any shadow Of doubt
to the power of Congress over the public lands II
given in express terms and nothing wasef to implication
He al tho b;cb
would result to the country by the adoption Of
similar to the under consideration and in conclusion
explaining and advocating substitute which heretofore he
offered
Mr. PARKER, Of Indiana, remarked that yesterday he
had no thought OF saying word to the committee in
reference to any other subject than the one before the
committee but the remarks made by the gentleman from
Georgia MR. STEpHESs) yesterday and article which
appeared in the Republic Of this morning had caused him
somewhat to change his intention He knew it bad
examples but it that had almost become gray in
the practice Of the committee He felt himself so con-
nected with these things that he could not well avoid at
this time suggesting few matters in reference to SUBJ
ects which not legitimate to the business Of the COM
mttee sa gnEs
lie presumed there was no one thing that public
desired than that his record should be always kept
ceanthat he might not be misunderstood by his people
He thought that there was nothing which every gentle
coveted much he did the idea that ms course
had been straight one and that he had Tor the
he had pursued He here from district that
his constituents he had good to believe, had conf
dence that he would not misrepresent them
On the matter which discussed yesterday by the
gentleman from Georgia. and the matter which had brought
the manifesto before the people Of the United States in the
Republic Of this morning he thought he was understood
He believed he would be understood and his only anxiety
now was that the idea should not 60 out to the
nifty that he had placed himself in false position. He
had some anxiety over and above this and that the
harmony Of the country and the perpetuty Of the Con-
sttuton, Eel BEE
He found in the paper to which he had allnded docu-
ment signed BY some twelve respectable gentlemen
who had taken upon themselves among other things to
yndicate the position Of those who met in private
ing in this Capitol few evenings ago, in reference
great question about which the American people felt
deep interest He wished TO present his protest in refer
ence their deductions, so far he concerned His
name stood the document in connexon with the
Of other gentlemen and he willing that descrp
ton of principles should be given to him that he did not
not willing TO be placed in false light
He would direct the attention Of the committee TO
few lines Of the article in this mornings Republic
as follows: efssayetf gst4e rs ae
Regarding the, vote on Gentry's amendment
phac declaration by the meeting that the
NAMED unccmnited to their support Of the adjustment
that they refused to establish any such test Of
remained consistent with conviction Of duty and
Of serespect but withdraw formally from the
ng and to retain the position we designed to take.