The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUEDsAY, March 8, 1852.
BILLS READ TWICE .

BILLS READ TWICE.
On motion Of Mr.. SEYMOUR, of New York,
Senate bills amending the act Of February %,
l847. regulating the carriage of passengers in er-
chant vessels, and the act of May IL, lS48, pro-
yiding 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
its passage
Mr.. CIINGMAN moved an amendment, the
effect of which was to remit the duties on the iron
used by the Selma and Gunter' 8 Landing railroad.
He was DESTROYS to test the views or members m
relation 10 this subject, and i'm favor Of u similar
proyision 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 ia
BILE, which was decided in the affirmative, 81 to 81.
Mr.. WHITE, of Alabama, spoke an hour IN
favor OF the bill. He believed that it was policy
for the government to grant lands for railroads as
thew would tend to bind together the various sec
tons of the Union, and thus contribute towards
its preservation and perpetuation. They would
thus prove great national beneht
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 was the bill granting l60 acres
of land tn actual settlers thereon, on conditions
Joc, Of HI entitled Can
act for the benefit of agriculture, +" &c.
Mr. WILCOX, Of Mississippi, who was enti-
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 no infracton OF the Constitu-
ton. He believed in the doctrine proclaimed by
the Georgia Democratic convention, of allowing
each State to make slavery part Of its consttu-
tional 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 property Ii was a glorious
doctrine. Hisdemocracy having been questioned,
| he desired to give brief history Of political
parties in his own State, which, he contended,
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 disunon-to show which, he
read from paper published at Fairfield, Is. G }
aud the Wilmington, On. CO. Herald. He allud
ed to Mr.. VENABLE of North Carolina, whom he
would not charge with aspiring to the Presidency
OF a Southern republic. mississippi was not tn,
State to take the lead in disunion. He condemned
the crusades Of Mr.. GiDDNGs end his supporters
in their attempts to subvert the government Of ou
fathers, and avowed his intention TO stand by Mis-
sissippi in asserting State Rights doctrines, g
down with her in the attempt. Aher Mr.. WILco,
| had concluded,
Mr.. RANTOUL, Of Massachusetts, obtained
the floor and made a rejoinder TO the remarks o
his colleague, Nr DAVIS, on Saturday last. HI
defended the coalition in Massachusetts, and al
lodged that Mr.. ID. was elected under pledge t.
go for the repeal OF the law for the reclamation o
| fugitive slaves as San odious measure" il having
been so declared by the resolution Of the conven
ton which placed him in nomination.
! The House adjourned at a quarter past 3.