Washington sentinel., 1854-02-25
ExEcUTIvE CONCENTRATIONS.

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EXECUTIVE CONVERSATIONS.
The SPEAKER laid before the House COM
munication from the Secretary of the Treasury,
conveying information relative 10 the amounts ex-
pended for certain custom. houses.
Also from the Secretary of War, transmitting
a list Of clerks in that department; information
relative TO the survey of Twelve Mile Creek; and
list Of contracts made during the year 1888.
Also from the Secretary Of the Navy, trans
mitting three hundred copies Of the Navy Re-
gister.
The communications were severally laid on the
table, and ordered 10 be printed.
WISCONSIN LAND BILL.
On motion the further consideration Of the Wis
consin railroad bill was postponed until Tuesday
next
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. TAYLOR, Of Ohio, asked leave 10 offer
resolution 10 the effect-that the select committee
heretofore appointed to inquire into the propriety
Of an amendment 10 the Constitution OF the United
States, relative 10 the mode of electing the Presi-
dent and Vice President, be instructed further to
INQUIRE into the expediency Of limiting the term
of service Of the President TO one term, and ma
king him thereafter ineligible.
Mr.. DAVIS Of Indiana, objected to the intro
ducton Of the resolution.
SCHOOL LANDS.
Mr.. DISNEY, from the Committee on Public
Lands reported bill contirmatory Of certain
school selections the object he explained, being
10 secure TO certain States the sixteenth sections
of which they are now deprived, for school pur-
poses or to select lands in lieu thereof in ccrtain
cases. There are sixteen or twenty cases now
pending, and this measure was designed TO pro-
Vide a remedy. He had been instructed to move
that the bill be put on its passage
Mr. LETCHER opposed the motion, and al
luded to the fact that, during the first session Of
the last Congress, the Committee on Public Lands,
had, by insisting putting bills on their passage
directly they were reported, damned. up the other
business Of the House, TO the detriment Of the
other committees. He trusted the House would
not tolerate such proceedings now, nor give the
Committee on Public Lands preference over
other committees. The bill ought 10 be referred
10 the Committee Of the Whole on the state Of
the Union, and he made that motion accordingly.
Mr.. DEAN said that the bill proposed TO dispose
of onlytwo thousand acres Of land for school pur-
poses but still he thought the House should,
in selEdefence, considering the course pursued by
the committee heretofore. send the bill 70 the Com
mi,tee ofthe Whole on he state of the Union.
Mr.. DISNEY, in reply TO Mr. LETcHER, asked
whether the attention TO business by the Com
mittee on Public Lands was so utterly volatlve
of the rule ofthe House for business, and so great
a departure from his own usage and practice,
that he must object to the reports made by that
committee in obedience to the order OF the House
Was 1.-THE contrast furnished by the committee
which treads on the toes Of the gentleman! The
gentleman from New York Mr.. DEAN took up
the song and re-echoed the strain. He talked
about no business being done, because the Com
mittee oil Public Lands had occupied the attention
Of the House What did the gentleman call busi-
ness? Was il a discussion between the hards
and the softs Was that business The Com
rnittee on Public Lands had endeavored, and
would continue 10 endeavor, 10 discharge their
duties inIelligently Did the gentleman from vir-
ginia want the old rule Of fifteen days noice. or
were the facts so simple that he could not under
stand them The bill only relates 10 fractional
townships, and involves but two thousand acres
of land for the use Of the northwestern States. II
il should not be passed, the costs OF litigation Will
amount 10 more than all the land is worth.
Mr.. LETCHER replied TO Mr.. DISNEY. lie
took il for granted that his attention to business in
committee and in the Hoise would compare fa-
vorably with that Of the gentleman himself
Mr. DISNEY. am glad TO hear it
Mr.. LETCHER resumed. Look at the matter
as it was presented during the first session of tho
last Congress, and let us see whether the Com
mttee on Public Lands are entitled TO compli-
ments. The House were engaged for months
considering matters of this sort, and now, then,
al the latter end of February, they are beginning
10 act on bills directly after they are reported,
without giving the House opportunity for ex-
animation. Why are not the reports from that
committee brought in and presented as reports
from other committees are, and referred for inves
tigation? Acourse similar 10 that now urged was
heretofore pressed and resulted in the passage OF
the Arkansas and Missouri railroad bills. II this
course shall be carried out where will il end
Yesterday, the same gentleman reported bill
giving lands TO Wisconsin for railroad purposes.
This now lies over until Tuesday; but this morn
ing the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Disney came
forward with school land bill, and an hour has
already been consumed upon that subject and
more time will be occupied tomorrow. And the
gentleman from Alabama, (Mr. CoBB,) ofthe same
committee, will come forward with an armful OF
similar measures. [Laughter.l
Mr.. COBB said that, on an examination the
calendar, it would be found that more bills had
been referred to the Committee Of the Whole on
She state of the Union from the Committee on
Public Lands, that from any other committee Of
the House.
Mr.. LETCHER replied that the Committee on
Public Lands has no right superior TO that eccord-
cd 10 the other committees. ssa "a
Mr. COBB said he spoke Of bills referred.
Mr.. LETCHER remarked that members of the
COMMITTEES on Public Lands, one after another,
get the floor, and make their reports. Going up
stairs, yesterday. TO see how many applications
for railroads there were, he discovered that one
hundred and seven for this purpose are entered
on the docket. Suppose one Of these bills shall
come in every morning, in the name of God, when
will the matter end
Mr. HEM said that great many of these ap-
plications were for the same road. He had him.
self presented twenty of them for one road.
Mr. LETCHER remarked that his friend from
Alabama (Mr. CoBB) had acknowledged the
corn 10 FIVE Of those bills. How many other gen.
tlcmen have, he did not know.
Mr.. COBB. have reported five, and have more
yet. fLaughies]
Mr. WENTWORTH said that Illinois had not
applied for any grants for railroads, and would
ask none.
Mr.. LETCHER replied that Illinois ought not
10 ask for any, considering she got two millions
and a half acres year ago. [Laughter.] All he
asked was that all the committees shall be placed
on the same footing.
The bill was then referred to the Committee Of
ahe Whole on the State Of the Union.
PRIVATE BILLS.
The House resolved itself into Commttee OF
the Whole on the private calendar--Mr. MIDDLE.
swARTH in the chair--and when the committee
rose four Senate and ten House bills were passed.
MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
Mr.. APPLETON presented tha resolution. !,
the Legislature Of Massachusetts, aganst the re.
peal Of the Missouri compromise. Laid on the
table and ordered 10 be printed.
DEATH OF GENERAL ARMSTRONG.
Mr.. CHURCHWELL said II was melancho.
ly duty 10 the death OF any one, but more