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

Mr.. PHILLIPS, from the Committee on the Terrific
ries reported bill for the construction Of certain roads
in the Territory of New Mexico; which read twice
and committed
! Mr.. RICHARDSON, from the same committee, to
which referred Senate bill to aid the Territory Of
Minnesota in constructing railroad for military postal
and other purposes, reported the back without
/ amendment, and it committed.
! Mr. FARLEY, from the same committee to which was
referred the bill of the House making further appropra
tons for continuing the construction Of roads in the Ter
rtory of Minnesota In accordance with the estimates
made by the War Department reported the back
with an amendment in the nature Of substitute; and
| the bill and amendment we're committed.
! Mr.. HEM, from the Committee on Public Lands to
which referred House bill to establish additional
land districts in the Territory of Minnesota reported
the same back with an amendment in the nature Of a
substitute; and the bill and amendment were committed
Mr. ORR from the Committee on Indian Affairs, re-
ported bill authorizing the appointment of addition
al number of Indian agents. which was read twice and
committed.
Also from the committee, reported bill to pro-
vide for the extnguishment of the title of the Chippewa
Indians to the lands owned and claimed by them in the
Territory Of Minnesota and State of Wisconsin and for
their domescation and civilization; which was read
twice and committed
message was here received from the Senate ANNOUNCE
the passage by that body Of the bill to organize the
Territories of Nebraska and Kansas
MIR. COBB said that there was special order pend
Ing being the bill to graduate and reduce the price Of
the public lands As he did not wish this bill to inter
fere with Territorial business which requr
cd immediate action he would that its further con-
sideraton be postponed until Tuesday the 4th of April
next
Mr. COBB and Mr.. HARRIS, Of Mississippi each gave
notice that they intended offer substitutes for the bill
and asked the consent of the House have them print
Cd to which no objection was made.
On motion Of Mr. RICHARDSON, the House went into
Committee of the Whole the state of the Union MIR
PHELPS, of Missouri in the char and proceeded to con-
slider bills relating to the organized Territories.
The first bill considered the for the construc
ton of certain roads in the Territory of New Mexico
which appropriated SS2 900 for that purpose.
After brief debate the bill laid aside to be re-
ported to the House with the recommendation that it do
pass
The committee then proceeded to consider the bill to
establish four additional land districts in the Territory
Of Minnesota the question being on the substitute
ported therefor from the Committee on Public Lands
brief debate ensued when the bill laid aside to
be reported to the House with favorable recommen
dation.
The bill aid the Territory of Minnesota in construct
ing railroad for military postal, and other purposes
was then taken up
Mr.. RICHARDSON explained that this bill proposed
grant to Minnesota between five hundred thousand and
six hundred thousand Of land aid in the con-
structon Of railroad from Lake Superior ST. Paurs
on the Mississippi river distance Of over two hundred
miles The Secretary of War had recommended this road
and he hoped there would be objection to the BILL
most important portion of the road through section Of
country whefe it would cost but little more to build n
railroad than it would to make common road It ran
through what was called in that country .Tamarac
swamps" and common road such one as the Govern
ment could transport its troops munitions and mails
upon would have be thrown up such height that
the only difference in cost between it and railroad
would be the mere expense Of laying down the rails
After desultory debate
Mr.: TAYLOR, Of Ohio, advocated the principle Of
granting lands to aid in the construction Of railroads for
important national purposes He belonged to that class
of persons who believed that the Government had the
power to construct works Of internal improvement Of
national character and looked upon the road embraced
in this bill as one eminently national
Mr. SMITH, Of New York, opposed the bill, holding
that the Government had right make the contem
plated use Of the public lands He held that these lands
belonged to the landless and that both and
igon policy and principle required them to surrender
these lands to that class When he asserted that these
lands belonged to the landess the andess
OF certain complexion, but al the lsndess Believing
as he did, that all the varieties of the human family
equally dear to the great heart Of common Maker,