Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-17

| new powdel Durham Eastman, Bdqsrton. Fdmundsop.
Elliott, Ellison Ewing Faulkner Fuller Gddngs, GoOds,
Hubbard Hiyer Houston, Ingersol, Johnson Daniel 7.
Jones, George W. Jones, kdwe, Kredge Lamb Latham,
Macy, Maxwell Mayal, Morrison, Nichols Orr Peokham
Phelps Philips, Powell, Pratt, Rchardson Thomas Rtchey
Eufn SaPp seymour shannon shaw Shower, Singleton,
Snodgras SoerS Frederick p Stanton Stratton Andrew
Stuart, David Stuart John Taylor Thurston yansaut
Wade walsh Westbrook, We, Daniel d. Wright, and Hen
NAYs--Messrs. Aiken Willis Allen Appetop. Ball Ben
son. Bliss Bagg Lewis D. Campbell, Carpenter caruthers
Chamberlain, Chandler, Chase, Chasan Chrisman Clark
Cook, Corwin Crocker Culom Cumming Curtis Cutting
John G. Davis, Dent Dickinson, Drum Dunbar Eddy Ed
mands English Etherdge, Everhart Farley Fenon Plsge
Florence franklin Gamble Greenwood, Aaron Harlan, An
drew J. Harlan, Harrison, Hendricks HEM Hester Ill.,
howe, hughes Hunt Kerr Knox, Kurz. Lane, Lilly, Nc
Culloch, Matteson May, Meacham, Mddeswarth John g.
Miller Smith Miller, Morgan, Murray Norton ods Andrew
Oliver, Mordecai Oliver, Parker Peck Pennington Bishop
Perkins John Perkins, Pringle, Puryear Ready Reese
Dayd Richie, RUSSELL Sabn Sage Seward simmons Rich
ard H. Stanton Hestor l.. Stevens Sraub John H. Taylor
Tracy, Trout, Tweed Upham, Vail Walker Warren, Eihu
u Washburne, Israel Washburn, Wells, John Wentworth
Tappan Wentworth, Wheeler Yates and ZollicoFer-lO3
so the motion lay upon the table was not agreed TO-
Mr. SAGE then withdrew his motion to refer the
luton 70 the committee OF Ways and Means and moved
that it be referred select committee for the reason
that majority of the members of the Committee of Ways
and Means voted in favor Of laying upon the table very
much (as he said to his surprise and disappointment
Mr. HOUSTON moved that the resolution be referred
to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
Mr. JONES thought it should be referred to the Com
mttee on Public Lands
Mr.. BAYLY moved to refer il to the Committee IN Nj
litary Affairs and said he knew of no authority in this
Government to buy land except for dockyards arsena
and the like purposes and unless the Mount Vernon pro-
perry was to be applied in that manner he did know
how they could purchase it.
Mr. CAMPBELL of Ohio inquired of Mr.. BAYLY whe-
Their ne did not report and for bill in favor Of pay
ing the expenses of the flbusers bring them here
from Spain and where if he could not find the power in
chagp his land afn fhn
to pay those expenses
Mr.. BAYLY referred the gentleman to the Congress
sional Globe.
Mr. BISSELL proposed that the resolution be discuss
ed before being passed The proposition direct
the Secretary of the Interior purchase the Mount Yer
non estate and to take the money from the Treasury to
pay for It, Of how many did that estate consist?
Ihere were not ten members in the House who could tell
Formerly it consisted of six thousand acres
and he did not know but that it consisted of many
now. WHAT were they going to do with six seven
thousand acres of land the Potomac if purchased
der this resolution? Who TO take of it What
disposition was to be made of it Under whose control
was to be? the thing be done-and he did not
know that the American people to the pur
chase Of the ground in which repose the remains of Wash
Dgton-et it be done regularly Let them understand
what they about; let them know how many acres
they we're purchasing; more than that, let them know
how much they to pay for it. lie opposed to
the resolution IN aoto; and if it to be referred he
hoped that it would go that committee which would be
the least likely to carry out the intention Of the
MIR. BAYLf Tin reply to INQUIRY said that he would
answer for Virginia with great confidence that she would
not cede her jurisdiction any part of her soil the
General Government except for those purposes provided
for in the Constitution He stood with great confidence
the declaration that she heretofore refused and that
she will continue to refuse surrender that jurisdiction
Mr. CHURCHWELL, in view Of this information
thought it unnecessary to legsate the subject
Mr.. CAMPBELL, OF Ohio, doubted very much whether
Mr. BAYLY authorized 10 speak for the State Of Vr
ginia. But if it were true, the gentleman had said
that Virginia would cede her rights the property in
question, there could be harm in passing the resou
ton, because without that right there authority
given by the resolution to make the purchase.
Mr. BAYLY admitted that he had light to speak for
Virginia But he asked if her united delegation had not
the right speak for herr And they had spoken for her.
by voting every Of th lay that resolution on
the table.
Mr. CAMPBELL said he could not admit the position
of the gentleman that the united delegation Of Virginia
in that House could control the question. 1t struck him
that the State vested that power in her legislature and
he doubted very much whether she transferred to
her entire delegation any authority the subject Ex
cept the gentleman would produce resolutions from his
State Legislature nsructing the delegation to oppose
any proposition of this kind he could not admit the po
ston he had assumed.
Mr. LETCHER said that if the delegation from Vir-
gna that floor not authorized TO speak for her.
certainly her Legislature and that Legislature had
repeatedly said in most decided terms that size would
not cede her jurisdiction for such purpose.
Mr. CAMPBELL, referring to the provisions of the
solution said that if it true that the State Of Vir
matter Of course difficulty could arise Of the pas
sage Of the resolution. But nasmuch it matter
Of complaint the world that the tomb of Washington
neglected that the very ground he once beautfed
with his own hand is growing up with brambles and
bushes it seemed to him that that fact itself appeal
the State Of Virginia and the National Legislature in
favor Of taking some steps for the purpose Of having it
preserved
Mr. YATES moved to amend the resolution, before be-
ing referred committee by striking the words
that the consent of Virginia be obtained" This
Che said is public property but private Let buy
the property first tshoud belong to the Union The fame
OF Washington belongs to his country Let buy
perty first and then pay Virginia for her jurisdiction
When have purchased the property, and it ours
there is too much patriotism in the " Old Dominion to
refuse to cede jurisdiction to the United States want
TO see Mount Vernon spot where every American can
make pilgrimage and pay his devotion to the charac
ter and services Of the usrous Father Of his Country
do not agree with my colleague, MIR. BfssELL do
not whether there is thousand, four thousand,
million Of would have the money Of the peo
pie poured out lavshy and freely to such boon
to the American people.
Mr. RICHARDSON said he was opposed to the resolu-
ton and no amendment could place it in such shape
that he could give it his consent 1t said that they
should buy Mount Vernon that American citizens might
make pilgrimage there-thst it might become Govern
ment property. Suppose il bought, did not the
same exist for buying the sites Of the battefeds
upon which our liberties wony Was there not the
same for buying the residences Of the Presidents
Of the United States whose memories deeply cherish
cd by the American people,
Mr. CAMPBELL OF Ohio, desired to ask respectfully
Of Mr. RICHARDSON whether he did not vote for the ap
preparation Of money to pay for the equestrian statue Of
Gen. Jackson?
Mr. RICHARDSON said he did not remember.
Mr.. CAMPBELL thought he did. Laughter.
Mr.. RICHARDSON said he did not the point Of the
inquiry. He not discussing the question Of const
tuonal power, but the question Of expedency; and he