Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-25
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. WHEELER asked consent to present the proceed
ings Of meeting held in New York city Saturday even
ing last in regard to the proposed repeal Of the Missouri
compromise for the purpose of having them referred to
the appropriate committee.
Mr. TAYLOR, Of Ohio, objected not seeing the pro-
prety of presenting in open House the proceedings OF
private meeting Of citizens Of New York. the proceed
ngs of any similar meeting held in any part of the coun
try They could be presented and referred under the
rule.
The SPEAKER laid before the House communication
from the War Department transmitting transcript Of
the official army register for the year ending the Both OF
June, 1853 showing the annual pay % each ocer OF the
army the amount paid him for rations, servants anu
forage, and the gross amount paid allowed bin in all
respects for and his account for and during the pre-
ceding fiscal year. Laid the table and ordered TO be
printed
Mr.. WARREN, from the Committee on Public Lands,
made adverse report the memorial OF citizens OF
Adams county Pennsylvania praying for the passage Of
law granting hundred and sixty Of bounty
land to the soldiers of the Of 1872 and il laid
on the table
Also from the same committee to which was referred
House bill granting the right Of way and making grant
of land to the State OF Arkansas aid in the
ton of railroad from point the southwest bound
airy of the State Of Missouri line from Springfield
Missouri to Bentonve, Arkansas via Bentonville Fay
etteyile, Van Buren,, and Fort Smith, to the south
boundary of the State north of the Red river raft to be
denomnated the Western Border Railroad reported the
same back with substitute and the bill and amendment
were committed ..
Mr.. STEVENS, of Michigan, from the same commit
tee reported bill establishing land Office in the lower
peninsula Of Michigan; which read twice.
MIR. S. briefly explained the BILL and asked that it be
acted on.
Mr.. LETCHER moved that it be referred to the Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the Union,
brief debate ensued, when the motion Of Mr. LITcHs
Err disagreed to- and the bill read the third time and
passed.
rp
Mr.. DISNEY, from the Committee Public Lands, to
which referred Senate bill granting portion of the
public lands to the State Of Wisconsin aid in the
struction Of railroad and branch road in said State
reported the same back with amendment.
Mr.. D. asked that the bill be now put on its passage
He explained its provisions, stating that it proposed to
grant two millions and half Of the public domain
to the State Of Wisconsin for railroad purposes He
briefly examined the constitutonaty of these grants
aud declared that Mr.. Calhoun satisfied to their
consttutionaity Blu. there constitutional ques
ton involved here it merely practical one which
would result in benefit to the Government well to
the people.
Mr.. LETCHER understood that there were some two
hundred bills of this character before the Senate
and House. under consideration in their committees,
which proposed to donate from FIVE hundred thousand
two OF three meSs of acres Of the public lands for the
benefit of various railroaas Now he wished to inquire
Of the chairman e the Committee Public Lads why
these bills could not all be reported at time and
dered to be printed that every member could have
opportunity Of investigating them and day fired
for their consideration, when their merits could be fully
discussed?
Mr.. DISNEE replied that similar suggestion IN re-
gard to these bills considered by the Committee on
Public Lands; but, bills Of this kind continually
coming before them they found that it would be npossi
BILE to pursue such
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, said that this bill from the
Senate had just been reported from the Committee on
Public Lads, with amendment; it new for the
first time laid upon their tables and they asked at
once to act definitely upon it He would ask the House
If they prepared act integiby upon it In the
name Of common sense, would this House, composed of
the representatives Of the people, act upon this impor
tant question: Involving such serious principles without
knowing what they were doing? He trssted not but
hoped that the bill would be committed SO that all could
have an opportunity of examining it. III conclusion he
moved to refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union.
Mr.. D0WDELL said that he was friend of the rail-
road system but if it the intention to force this
bill to vote ut this time he should be compelled to 20
agsnst 1t. He wished this matter investigated and
therefore favor of its reference to the
Of the Whole. This mode of distributing the public lands
was at best unequal in its operation They had been ac
qgred by the common treasure of the whole Union and
he would be unwilling to give his support to any policy
which would operate unjusy to the old States He was
for the Democratic doctrine of equality and expressed
himself in favor Of granting alternate sections Of the pub
nc lands for railroad purposes provided the remaining
sections would be enhanced thereby and the treasury Of
the Union would receive no detriment.
Mr. COBB opposed the reference of the BILL contend
ing that if it should be sent to the Committee of the
Whole the state of the Union it would never be resur
rected.
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, could not see any i'm
propriety in putting this bill its passage as its prn
cipes were well understood If it should be committed
IT would be thrown into vortex from which it never
could be recovered.
Mr.. DISNEY explained that the'terms and provisions
Of the bill were framed on model which had received
the acquiescence Of the Committee on Public Lands of
the House and the Committee on Public Lands of the
Senate
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee urged the reference Of tho
BILL 1t involved millions of dollars worth of propertv
and principles Of the very highest importance and every
member should have an opportunity of examining the
subject.
Mr. SHELTON was opposed to the bill re saa i
proposed to give lands for internal improvement pur
poses-ands more valuable than money, because money
when exhausted, could be replenished but the lands
when once given away, could never be recovered He
objected to the policy of the bill as unjust to the old
States and still more the new States in which these
lands were located.
He thought this to be Of the most Objectionable
TENS OF internal Improvement devised by the Gov
ernment and declared that this policy was budino nm
the most gigantic corporations which were not only un
JUST unequal and unconstitutional but in m extreme
degree unwise Concentrated wealth was ALWAYS DANCER
Gus to the liberties of the people,
Mr.. BlSSELL then obtained the floor, when
Mr. DEAN moved that the House 90 into Committee of
the Whole the state of the Union upon which motion
no quorum voted-ayes 63, noes 35
Mr.. DEWITT moved to adjourn which motion was de-
cided in the negative-yeas SO, nays 80.
The question was then again put the motion Of Mr.
DEAN, and no quorum voted.
Mr.. ORR moved call Of the House. Pending which
The House adjourned.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1854.