Washington sentinel., 1854-03-09
House of Representatives.
THE TARIFF.

THE TARIFF.
The SPEAKER laid before the House com
mnnicaton from the Secretary Of the Treasury. in
reply to a resolution Of the Both uIiimo. fu rni>hing
a copy of the circular addressed TO him to persons
engaged in manufacturing and commercial pur-
suits, asking them for information as 10 the best
mode Of bringing the tariff within the bon nds of
revenue standard; together with numerous letters
received in response to the circular.
Referred 10 the Committee Of Ways aad Means,
and ordered 10 he printed.
sEABoARD IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. STRATTON presented the joint resolu-
tions Of the legislature Of New Jersey, fnstrucling
the senators and requesting the representatives
from that State 10 use their efforts procure an
appropriation of 100000 for the improvement of
the navigation and protection of the seaboard
along Sandy Hook and Cape May
Referred TO the Committee on Commerce.
COMMITTEE CLERKS.
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, offered a reso-
tion, authorizing the Committee on the Judiciary
TO employ a clerk. whose compensation shall be
the same that Of the clerks employed by the
other standing committees. He remarked that
the investigation devolved upon the Committee
on the Judiciary day before yesterday relative 10
the Gardiner claim, rendered il absolutely neces-
| sary that clerk shall be employed.
! Mr.. STANTON, Of Kentucky, offered an
amendment TO the resolution likewise ,,uthoriz-
| ing the select committee heretofore appointed 10
ents over civil works 10 employ clerk.
| Mr.. FUALKNER said the committee had been
empowered TO send for persons and papers. there
by involving great amount Of labor. Without a
| clerk il would be utterly impossible TO proceed
with the business before them. The House might
| as well discharge the committee al once as TO
deny them clerk.
The original resolution, as thus amended, was
| passed.
Several territorial bills were adopted and re-
ferrcd to the Committee Of the Whole on the state
Of the Union
MINNESOTA LAND BILL.
| The House resolved itself into a Committee OF
the Whole on the state of The Union, Mr.. PHELPS
in the chair, and resumed the consideration of the
bill granting lands to Minnesota to aid in the
s,ruclion of a railroad in that territory.
| Mr.. BAGLY, OF Virginia, remarked that he
would not have opened his lips to-day but for the
! attack of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. CAMPBELL
yesterday, on the Virginia delegation, and on him
self particularly. The gentleman charged on them
that. in voting 10 cede the swamp and overilowed
lands 10 the State in which they lie and 10 give
lands TO the soldiers who have served in our differ
ent wars, they have conceded TO Congress the full
authority 10 dispose Of the public lands in any
manner which their unrestrained discretion may
seem 10 point out.
| The Constitution confers on Congress authority
TO make all needful rules and regulations in respect
10 the territory and other property OF the United
the Constitution gives TO Congress the exclusive
control Of the public lands and other property Of
the United States, but he utterly denied that il
confers on Congress unlimited control of the sub
ject.
The public lands, whether acquired by cession,
by purchase or by conquest, in either case are
| held by this government in trust In the case OF
cession the trust is defined in the deed OF cession;
in that Of purchase conquest, the trust results
from the character the transaction and in the
latter two cases. no less certain than in the first
| in either case, whether by grent. where the trust
| is defined in the deed, or by acquisition or pur.
| chase, where the trust is resulting one, il re-
bounds to the common benefit ofthe whole. There
| FORE while he admitted the power ofthe general
government TO make all needfu rules and regnla.
tions. they bound to do il in subordination TO
the trust They have no right TO make them in
disregard 10 the disposition Of the trust.
| Hethen proceeded to justify the voting away
Of the swamp lands 10 the States in which they
lie. They were in a condition OF nature, which
not only rendered them yalneless to the United
States, but impaired the value of other property
in their vicinity. In this condition OF affairs, the
question which presented itself was this: will we
undertake 10 recover those lands by ditching and
| other means. or will we permit others 10 do so;
| the government thus bencftting by such opera
tons. He also defended the policy Of granting
bounty lands 10 soldiers; and alluded 10 other mat
ters in connexion with those SUBJECTS.
Mr.. KERR did not agree with either the gentle.
| man from Ohio Mr.. CAMpBELL,] or the gentleman
/ from Virginia. tMr. BAYLY.] tie differed in toto
| from the latter He believed that the government
has power TO make appropriations Of either land
or money for purposes Of internal improvements.
with view TO develope the resources of the
country and TO promote the general prosperity.
| He belonged 10 party which has ever insisted
on this policy. lie thought, however, that there
was gross violation Of the trust involved in this
| policy, now and for some time past pursued.
He opposed the bill under consideration. and
the granting OF alernsie sections 10 preferred
States for railroad purposes, con,ending that,
thereby, Notwithstanding assertions TO the con-
trary, the general government was not benedtted
| ny an increased amount Of revenue He advo.
Gated sheer justice 10 VII the States and insisted
that they all entitled 10 participate equally In
the lands; and 10 conclusion he gave notice OF the
following amendment, which he proposed 10 offer
10 the bill. as follows:
provided, however that the money received from the
s Of the reserved sections Of land shall be paid to those