Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

sgned by about three thousand legal voters oil
New Hampshire and another signed by ninety citizens
of Londonderry, Rockingham county, in the same State
against the repeal of the Missouri compromise as pro-
posed in the Nebraska bill.
Mr. RICHARDSON objected, remarking that the peti-
tons could be presented under the rules.
SEIZURE OF THE BLACK WARRIOR
Mr.. DEAN asked consent to introduce resolution for
the purpose of having referred but it was objected
The following is the resolution which Mr. DEAN wish
ed to submit: WITS ~.
Resolped That be referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs to inquire into the recent ouages by the
Spanish authorities at Havana the property
American citizens and report what by Congress
what action by the Government necessary to procure in
demaiy and security against their future repetition
ought not to be repealed or suspended
TERRITORIAL BUSINESS
On motion of Mr.. RICHARDSON the House went into
Committee of the Whole the state of the Union (Sr
PHELPS, Of Missouri in the chair and resumed the
sderaon of the bill of the Senate aid the Territory of
Minnesota in constructing railroad for military postal
and other purposes.
Several amendments were offered and discussed among
them by Mr. KERR, to add to the third section the
following proviso:
Provided oioerer That the money arising from the sale
of the reserved sections shall be paid to those States
which have received grants of the public lands for internal
improvements according to their federal representation in
Congress- s@
Mr.. RICHARDSON raised the question of order that
the amendment not being germane to the subject under
consideration, out OF order.
The CHAIRMAN sustained the point Of order, ruling
that the amendment germane and in accord
with the order of the House that the committee
should proceed to the exclusive consideration Of local
Territorial business relating to the organized Territories
Mr.. CLINGMAN appealed from this decision.
Mr.. LErCHER said that the bill provided for the dis
position of alternate sections of the public land and yet
the Chair decided that amendment was not in order
proposing to dispose Of the reserved sectionsi
The question then taken when the decision Of the
Chair was overrued--ayes SO, noes "a.
Mr.. KERR then advocated his amendment. If gentle
had any disposition to do justice to the old States of
had been told again and again that this system Of grant
ing alternate sections of the public land beneficial
the whole country and that it not partial in its ope
ration. This WIS the first opportunity that had been
presented to test the question Ii in fact this sys
tenn by which alternate sections doubled in value then
satisfy the country of it, and give to that portion Of
the country which not interested in these local plans
of improvement the benefit of the reserved sections and
there would be controversy in Congress in regard
to the matter all sections of the country would be uni
ted in voting for such works they might deem to be Of
benefit to the country. E.s
Mr.. DEAN opposed the amendment for the that
it proposition to distribute the proceeds Of the sales
of the public lands which had been held by the Demo-
cratic party and the country be violation Of the Con-
stitution He opposed to it upon another ground
the which stated for its being oereithat the
old States needed this help Now the old States of this
Confederacy not here asking aims of the General
Government; they did not need them. II they could not
support themselves by their resources then they
ought to 60 into bankruptcy The State Of New York did
ask this aid and he trusted that of the Eastern
States would here and ask that the proceeds of
the sales of the public lands shoulabe divided among
them. u .s..
Mr.. TAYLOR, of Ohio, moved to amend the amendment
of Mr.. KERR as to make it read: ... I.
That the money arising from the sales of the reserved
sections shall paid to all the States respectively pur
poses Of internal improvement and education according
their federal representation in Congress- III
Mr. T. said that the only objection he had to the amend
ment of the gentleman from North Carolina that it
seemed to be rather partial in the distribution of this
common fund.- The amount received by the sales of the
alternate sections of land upon the line of railroads
went into the general treasury and redounded to the ben
eft Of all the States in proportion to their federal
sentaon; and for one he had objection to make it
rebound 1t was carrying out, he free to admit,
portion Of that great Wing policy advocated SO ably by the
eminent statesman from Kentucky years ago, and
adopted portion Of the Wing credible distribution
OF the proceeds of the sales of the public lands among the
various States in proportion to their federal representa-
ton in Congress- for the great purposes Of internal i'm
provement and educationand which partially
ried out very much to the benefit Of the country.
1t the amendment Of the gentleman from North Carolina
should be adopted would be partial legislation it would
be dividing common fund among portion OF the States
and therefore he had submitted his amendment for the
purpose of doing justice to all the States.
Mr.. CLINGMAN objected to the Limitation contained
in the amendment that the money arising from the sales
of these reserved sections should be expended for the
purposes of internal Improvement and education. He
to control the States make Of them agents for
education or internal improvement. He had no doubt
the donation would be used for those purposes and he
desired that the States should in that way but he
hoped the gentleman from Ohio would modify his amend
msnt 80 as simply to make this money divsibe among
oil the States according to their federal population He
would vote for his amendment in that but he OBJ
ected to designating how this money should be expend
| ed by the States. ~,
The question then taken on the amendment of Mr.
| TAYLOR, and il was rejected.
| Mr.. OLDS moved to amend the amendment Of Mr.
KERR by adding thereto the words to be divided pc,
| capita among the inhabitants of said States"
Mr. 0. said that he opposed to the system propos
ed by his colleague (r TAYLoR) of dividing the pro
ceeds of these lands among the States for the purpose
internal improvement II these proceeds were be di
vided OF ALL they should be divided among the inhabitants
of the States, for he held that much en-
titled to them another. II they were TO be appro
prated to pay the interest State debts or for works
internal improvement they would not then be divided
per capita among the people, but in proportion to their
wealth or the taxes they paid The very system pro
posed by his colleague one of that kind that ever,
should receive the proceeds Of the public lands pro
portion to his wealth. He (Mr o. was opposed to th,
whole question Of dividing the proceeds of the land
among the States but If they were to be divided eacf
inhabant should receive his due proportion the poor
4 well the rich.
| Mr. SMITH, Of Virginia Did not the gentleman yot
for the homestead bill the other day.
Mr.. 0LDS. i am very glad to inform the gent, emal
| / did.
Mr.. SMITH. Exactly. You voted to give the ricl
man the same benefit as the poor man.
1 Mr.. 0LDS did; and propose to do go now
4 Mr. SMITH, of Virginia, said that the proposition
the gentleman from North Carolina was one which h
hoped those who in favor of fair play would give ii
mover opportunity of carrying out by voting dow
oil amendments, and thus see whether the House wa
prepared to stand to the amendment he had submitted