Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-04-21
ruIRTY-THIRD coNGREss--Isr SESSION
WEDSEspAY, APRIL 10, 1854.
SENATE.

SENATE.
The Homestead bill was taken up.
MIR. Wade offered an amendment BY striking OUT .a'
wi ich limits the benefit of il 10 those who OF Inc VI Ito
passage are residents OF tho United States territories. -
Mr. Adams, OF bliss was opposed 10 the Dill ana W 'e
amendment, because he was opposed TO taxing
order 10 give homes 10 foreigners. He regarded me mn.
,nce of foreigners in this country ns alarming, ana 'nousn'
Congress should not offer further inducements for thelr emil
grafton. He favored the principle of graduating inc P'e'
Of The public lands.
Mr.. Thompson, of KY, opposed the bill as proposing TO
give land TO all The vagabonds, paupcrs and criminals OF Eu-
RODE who might be driven from their own country, IS "ei'u .
TO the lazy and worthless OF The United States. he regard
ed The public lands as pledged to The payment of the public
debt and therefore could not thus be given away. he also
regarded the bill as highly unjust 10 the old States. -,
Mr. Brown.gavc notice of a substitute for the whole DILL
making presumption rights permanent.
The bill was then postponed, and after Executive session
Il HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Oils, from the committee on pos, offices, reportco
hack the Senate resolution authorising the extension vi Inc
contract for carrying the mails between Montgomery and
alobile.
The Senate bill a7portionlng lands for the benefit OF The
INDECENT insane in the several States, was taken up, MIR. Bis.
sclI desiring TO put it on its passage.
Mr.. Boyce moved to lay ii on The table. Negatived, yeas
AZ, nays 81.
enemies Of the bill. The House refused 10 send the oml 10
the committee Of the whole. Yeas SO, nays 81. The bill was
ordered 10 BE- read the third time.
Mf. Clingman moved to reconsider the vote. he uesHeu
TO know whether the bill did not cOnt1in certain llmltations
on the States with regard TO the mode of distributing the
money! In other words. whether il did not require The States
to eSpend the money in a particular wsy7 The general GOV
eminent has no jurisdiction over lunatics. negroes, lhe poor,
or all, other class in North Carolina. i belongs 10 each
municipality or Stale. The bill requires the States 10 take
care of The lunatics, instead OF the federal affairs, thus deiega,
ting the States 10 do the will OF the Government. lie he1o
this was unconstitutional.
Mir. Bissell rose 10 reply.
MIR. Taylor OF Ohio, expressed the hope that the gentle
man from Illinois would move 10 lay MIR. Clingmans Mo.
ton on The table, SO that the House might pass tho bill al
once without further debate.
Mr.. Bissell acquicsced, and the motion was laid on the
table.
The bill was passed, yeas 81, maya SO.
The bill grants 10 the several States for the beneht oil ih-
digcnt insane persons, ten millions Of acres oil land 10 Do
appurtioned under the direction OF the United States, IN the
compound ratio Of the geographical area and representation
of said States in thu House of representatives according
to The last ccssus. The amount TO each is 10 be invested,
and the interest TO be applied 10 The support o.! The iusane'-
Adjourned.