The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, April ..
prnIIc IANns m AprANsln-

PUBLIC LANDS IN ARKANSAS.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bib yesterday reported from the Committee on
Public Lands by Mr. ORR, to release from reser.
vaton and restore to the Of public lands Ger.
tain lands in the State Of Arkansss.
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Arkansas, briefly explained
the bill, when
1t was slightly amended and passed
POSTAGE MODIFICATION.
Mr. CABLE asked consent TO move TO dis
charge the Committee Of the Whole on the state
of the Union from the further consideration Of the
bill to amend the act TO reduce ard modify the
rates Of postage IN the United States.
Objection was made.
TIM PENNSYLVANIA cogTEsTED ELECTION.
MIR. ASHE, from the Committee or Elections,
made report on the memorial Of UESpRIcE b.
WHCHT cOntesting the right Of HESRY NJ FuL-
LER, Of Pennsylvania, 10 his seat IN Congress.
The report Is accompanied by a resolution, de-
clanng the scat Of Mr.. FULLER vacant, on the
ground that the election was Illegal, and the COM
mitse ash for new election.
The subject was informally passed over.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
The SrEhEER then proceeded to call for reports
from committees.
Mr.. FREEMAN, from the Committee on Pub.
lie Lands, reported back the House bill authoriz
ing the State Of Mississippi to sell the lsnd here
tofore appropriated for the use Of schools in that
State, and to ratify and approve the sales already
made.
Mr. F. explained the biz, and moved that il be
put on its passage.
Mr. BROWN, Of Mississippi, also urged the
immediate passage ofthe bill
II was then read the third time and passed.
Mr.. FREEMAN, from the Committee on Pub
lic Lands, reported back House bill TO protect
octua settlers upon the lands lying on the Chica.
go and Mobile railroad by granting them pre-
emption rights.
Mr. FREEMAN made few remarks in sun
port Of the bill, stating 1t was necessary that il
should he Immediately passed
Before any final action on the bill. however
HOMESTEAD BILL.
. On motion Of Mr. SraSLr, the House went in.
n Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Union, lMr. HBBARD, Of New Hampshire, in
the chair,l and resumed the consideration Of the
homestead bill.
Mr.. MOLONY spoke Of the approaching Pres
dential contest as one Of the most important cleo
tons since the foundation Of the government, one
involving the best interests Of the American peo-
pie. When gentlemen went so far in behalf Of
their special candidates rs to assert that upon
their selection Of the standard bearer Of the party
hung the triumph Of the principle Of the party in
the pending contest, he thought they acted impru-
IDENTIFY, and in his opinion such statement was
not in accordance with the facts Of the case, so
far as the Democratic party was concerned lie
believed that the Wing party had ever depended
upon the availability Of individuals for its tri-
umph, while on the other hand the Democratic
party had ever been signalizsd as party Of prin-
ciples, relying upon its principles not upon candi
dates for its triumphs lie believed there was
no man named in coneXion with the Presidency
who, If nominated, for that Office by the Bslti-
timore convention, would not be elected. He at
tributed the prosperity Of the country to the Dem
ocratc party, and did not believe the Wings had
any hope Of success in the coming election.
He thought that the bill under consideration
appealed to every section Of the country and TO
agriculture, commerce and manufactures. AS
such, this bill appealed to the representatives Of
these interests with tremendous force, which he
hoped would be felt upon the final action on the
bill. This was measure which was near the
hearts Of the laboring people Of the country, and
| they would follow it up until Congress should
decide in its favor
: MIR. SUTHERLAND then spoke against the