Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-05
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

Prayer by the Rev. PETER De FOREST.
Mr. STAPLES offered the following preamble
and resolutions:
Whereas, The public lands were original,
coded to the United States, for the purpose of 90
neral harmony, and as trust fund to meet the
expense OF the Revolutionary war; aad whereas
in the deeds OF cesson made by the States of Mas
sachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Virginia
North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, i
was expressly provided that ''as soon as the wal
debt should be paid Off the public lands should be
bona fide disposed of for the use and benefit Of
such OF the United States have become, OF
should become. members of their existing copfs
Iteration. and for no other use or purpose wlliits
ever; and whereas, the object for which thew were
thus coded having been long since accomplished
they may now be considered rs relieved from
that pledge; and whereas, millions of acres OF
public lands have been since acquired by the Joint
blood and treasure of all the States of the Union,
and have thereby become the coinnon property
of all the States; and whereas, it is evident from
the past action of Congress in granting away
large quantities OF these lands to the States in
which they lie thus perpetrating wrong and iu-
justice on the old States, the original owners
thereby that the public lands will either be
given away to the States in which they are
situated, or SO disposed of as to cease to be
source of revenue to the General Govern
ment; and whereas, the Constitution confers upon
Congress power to dispose of the territory or
other property ofthe United States, and in the
language of the late President Jackson, sit is in
the discretion of Congress to dispose of them as
best to conduce to the quiet, harmony and gene
raj interest of the American people;' and where
as, bill known rs "Bennett's B,n providing
for the distribution of land warrants among all
the States, passed the lower house of Congress at
its last session, and is now pending in the SEN
ate, which bill, if itshould become law, would
"conduce to the quiet, harmony aud general in
terest of the American peoples" therefore,
Resolved by the General Assembly, That our
Senators in Congress be instructed and our Rep
resentatives be requested to use all proper exer-
tions to secure final passage by Congress of
''Bsnnett's Bill" orany similar measure.
Resolved, That the Governor of Virginia be
requested to transmit copy of the foregoing pre-
nmble and resolution to each of our Senators and
Representatives in Congress.
On motion of Mr.. STAPLES, these resolutions
were laid on the table and ordered to be printed
PETITION.
By Mr.. GRIFFIN--From C.. II. Burlington and
265 other citizens of Henrico county, among them
80 butchers, protesting against the effort now
being made to extend the corporate limits of the
city of Rich moad
Mr.. LEWIS from the committee on Roads, pre-
senteda bill to constructa railroad from Phlippi
in Barbour county to the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad or the Northwestern Railroad.
On motion of Mr.. STEVENS, Resolved, That
the Committee on Banks enquire into the expe-
diency of authorizing the Exchange Bank Oh
some other bank in this State to establish IL
branch in the town Of Harrisonburg,
By Mr.. ToMLIN-That the Committee on
Banks enquire into the expediency of requiring
the Banks of this commonwealth to pay specie at
their counters whether of the mother or branch
banks, which they receive in payment of dues, or
on deposite; and to provide that the said banks
hal publish annually what notes they will re-
ceive aforesaid.
JAMES RIVER AND KANAwHA COMPANY,
The bill making appropriations for paying the
interest on the Bonds of this company, was taken
up and discussed Mt length; and without disposing
of it the House adjourned,