The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-17
Correspondence Of the Chronicle.
WASHINGTON CITY.

In the House the deficiency bill, as it is
called which had been prepared by the labors
of the committee of ways and means, and
amended after several days labor and dis.
cussion, in the House has been lost by vote
OF 80 yeas to 80 nays. 1t was the cause Of
much excitement, and well it might be. This
bill is to authorise the payment of money tc
meet demands upon the treasury not provided
for by the geaeral appropriation bills of the
last session. Without it the public service
must be embarrassed, and the action of the
govehment in many instances arrested
There has, very certainly been great wrong
somewhere. The bill should not have been
introduced If il was not necessary. Beinn
introduced it should not have been loaded
down with Objectionable amendments. The
practice, much too c0pmon, of loading down
bills which must pass, with amendments
which could not pass amy where else is most
essentially wrong.
The indications are favorable to passage,
once more OF the French spoation bill. A
bill providing for these claims was passed,
while Mr.. Polk was President and by him
vetoed. The probability that Gen. Pierce
VII! have like bill to sign or veto during
this session. venture to guess he will sign
il.
Bills granting public lands to Rail Road
purposes, multiply, and if all pass hundreds
OF millions OF acres will be monopolised by
these corporations. These grants, which
take the land out of the market, to be held
ny these companies at high prices, are made
ny men who are herrifed at what they regard
as undemocratc corporations; who are court
ing popular favor by talking in favor of land
to the landless. They deny thu Government
can aid in internal improvements, but, in this
way, have heretofore, and propose hereafter
TO give millions 10 that forbidden object. Ii
Congress will give the public lands 10 these
uses, they should adopt Mr.. Greely's pro-
position Prohibit the sale in large tracts,
aud compel the offer Of the lands, at limited
periods, ut public auction to the highest
bidder, This would prevent many of the
evils which must otherwise become very
serious, md odious.
The Nebraska bill is still undergoing de.
bate IN the Senate. The friends of the
clause repeating the Missouri compromise
see. seem nd'sposed to participate in the debate.
ihey have some difficulty in selecting words
to express what they wish to say about the
operation Of the compromises OF 1850, upon
The Missouri compromise. The reason is
very obous. They have undertaken to falsiCy
history to palliate the contemplated outrage
and any word at all appropriate, will be un-
savory.
How palpably wrong to claim that COM
promise means more than is expressed by its
terms. The acts of 1850, referred to are said
to be compromise. They import conces.
sions by adversary interests. Ii the parties
can claim from them what is not expressly
conceded, why cali il a compromise, a com.
PROMISE, is u settlement. The deed, or com
pact, or law containing the compromise neith.
er gives, or takes what is not expressed. If
1t does who can say it is compromise.