The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-21
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, Feb. 10, 1852.

eLAss,rIcATIos OF THE SUPREME COURT DOCKET.
Mr.. ORR, of South Carolina, by leave, intro
duced bill TO facilitate the attendance Of counsel
residing at a distance from Washington by CLASSIC
fying the Supreme Court docket, which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on the Judi
ciary.
OREGON MEMORIAL.
Mr.. LANE; of Oregon, presented memorial
from c. Lancaster and w. L. Mattock, late pres
ident of the council and speaker Of the house Of
representatives Of that territory, praying that the
number of the counc may be increased from
nine 10 fifteen Also that the territory may be fur
nished with arms and munitions; that Congress
make appropriations for military road for he inn
nroyement the Willamette river, &c. Laid on the
table and ordered TO be printed.
RAILROADS. TN MrssoURI-THE TARIFF, &c.
The House resumed the consideration OF the
bill granting the right Of way and public lands 10
the State Of Missouri for two railroads, with an
amendment proposed by Mr.. HALL, Of Missouri,
providing that the State, and mott the corporations,
shall control said lends.
The immediate question: pending was motion
of MIR. JOKES to refer the whole subject TO the
Committee OF the Whole on the state Of the Union.
Mr.. MILLER, Of Missouri, took the floor and
occupied an hour in supporting the bill. He con-
tended that, by its passage, Congress would only
he placing Missouri on similar footing with other
States, to which similar grants had been made.
Mr.. HARRIS, Of Tennessee, believed that the
House was as well prepared to vote now on the
sub;ect as at any time. lie therefore moved the
preyious question but it was not seconded.
Mr.. HOUSTON, Of Alabama, moved that the
subject be postponed, and that the House proceed
to consider the business on the Speakers table,
which was not agreed TO.
Mr.. Jones, OF Tennessee, said that while this
subject was before the House, il was evident that
the committees could not be called FOR reports.
He boped that il might be postponed SO as to al
H. Had nd take mr. va en-
the turn Of the Committee on Public Lands came.
Mr.. HALL Of Missouri, would not object to
n postponement, provided II was made TO q day
certain, SO that the bill should not be placed on
the Speaker table, where il could not again be
reached.
not carry the bill upon the Speaker table.
The Speaker decided that the proposition could
only be entertained by unanimous consent, and
Mr.. ORR, Of South Carolina, objected.
Mr.. RANTOUL, of Massachusetts, spoke at
length in favor of the bill He said that the
whole country was interested in the disposition Of
the public domain which was proposed to be
made. Agriculture was the great interest Of the
western States--commerce and manufactures Of
the eastern and northeastern: avenues of commu-
nication were necessary to deyeIope these inter-
ests bring them together, and cause the one to
promote the other. Mr.. r.. went on to argue
that for the good Of the whole country, foreign
an well as domestic commsrce should be made TO
pvosper. If this was desirable, then let these
avenues Of communication be opened. He who
onposed it, was an enemy to the interests OF his
country. Mr.. r. cited statistics to show the
increase of the commerce Of the United States,
the progress Of agriculture, &c. He contended
tbat The interests Of the country had been pro-
,po,ed nv reduction Of the tariff Of 1916. In
twenty lone years our commerce has trebed. No
longer ago than 1876, the tonnage Of Great Bril-
tain exceeded ours by about 100000 tons;
now il exceeds Il by only about 100000
tons. He showed that, N loJU, the aggre-
es,s vaIue Of our imports and exports was sl44,-
6OO 900; in 1851 il was S433, 100000. In 1880.