The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MIR. HOUSTON oasred resolution that, unit
other wise ordered, the daily hour of the meeting
the Houee be eleven tinstead oftwelve) O'Clock.
MIR. SEYMOUR, of New York. moved an amend.
ment-that tho hour of meeting be ten O'Clock
hut this was not agreed to.
MT. CAMPBELL, Of Illinois, suggested ar
amendment, (which Mr.. HoUsToH accepted,) re-
pealing the order passed week ago. for evening
sessions, and which was designed to facilitate the
making of reports from the standing committees
And in this form the resolution was adopted.
SWAMP LANDS.
Mr. DAVIS, of Indiana, under suspension oil
the rules, reported bill for the adjustment of sales
and locations conflicting with swamp lands seec
tons. Itprovided for refunding to the States in
terested, on conditions, the each received by the
General Government from the sale of certain
swamp lands within their borders; and the Com
mittee on Public Lands offered substitute, that,
instead of money, the States shall be permitted
to select other lands, acre for acre.
Messrs DAVIS, of Indiana, HALL, JOHNSON,
OF Arkansas, and others, respectively made expla
nations, from which it appeared that by an act OF
1850 certain swamp lands were granted to several
OF the States The title was vested in them; but,
before the land officers we're made acquainted with
the fact some of the lands were sold by those Co
vernment agents. Hence difficulties have arisen
Mr.. TOOMBS said the Secretary of the Interior,
by most unwarrantable decision, had given to
those States lands never intended to be Included
COntem-
plated the grant only of the swamp and overlooked
lands unfit for cultivation; and opposed the BILL
MIR. DAVIS, of Indiana, asked the gentleman
what he would do with the purchasers
Mr.. TOOMBS replied their title was good against
the General Government and the States.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Indiana, said the General Gov
eminent kept the land offices open and sold some
of those lands. Would the gentleman turn the
settlers off and keep their money?
Mr.. TOOMBS replied in the negative, and re-
peated that they have good title against the Gov
eminent and States
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, responded to the
remarks Of the gentleman last mentioned.
Mr.. ORR said that the bill did not meet with the
concurrence of all the members of the Committee
on Public Lands. The fact that the lands were
entered was conclusive evidence that they are not
overlooked.
Mr. MOORE, of Louisiana, showed that some of
the lands granted to that State had been drained;
and, ssa consequence, the Government lands were
brought into market, which otherwise would not
have been the case Lands are often entered on the
Mississippi merely for the sake of the timber; and
after thisi cut the land ia deserted it not being fit
for human habitation
Other gentlemen participated in the debate
Mr.. CLEVELAND among them; and who. in
conclusion, moved that the bill be laid upon the
table.
The question was decided in the affirmative
yeas ll6, nays so.
Mr.. FICKLIN moved that the House adjourn
but the motion was not agreed TO.
Swamp Land bill was rejected be reconsidered,
and that the motion be laid upon the table. This
was agreed to-yeas ll5, nays Sd.
PRIVATE BILLS.
On motion of Mr.. STANLY, the House took up
and passed Senate bill directing the proper ac-
counting officers to pay to the legal guardian of
Joseph Morehead formerly passed midshipman
and now confirmed lunatic) furlough pay for his
support.
The Househkewise passed the Senate bill for the
relief OF Rosannah Somers, of Ohio. [According
to the statement Of Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia, the
son of this old lady, her only support, was pressed
into the military service. He was not of lawful
age He fell at the battle of Monterey, leaving his
mother utterly destitute.]
NAVY BILL.
Mr.. BOCOCK asked the House to take up the
bill for the reorganization of the navy, with a
view of making it the special order of the day for
Friday next; pending which motion
The House adjourned.