Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-03-15


5Iysof Public Lands is forcing it.
nippon the attention Of all parts Of the coun.
try. and the propriety aud justice Of doing
something for the old States. in relation to
them cannot be evaded. Whilst the bill grant
ing land for the construction Of railroads il
the territory Of Minnesota, was under discus
sion in the House Of Representatives,. or
Thursday, two very important amendments
were adopted The first, offered by Mr.. Kerr
Of North Carolina, provides that the money
received from the sale Of the reserved Sec
tions Of land shall be paid tic those States
which have received no grants Of the public
lands for internal improvements, according to
their federal representation in Congress -
This proposition, the National Intell;gencer
says, received the support Of many gentlemen
who have heretofore opposed oil divisions Of
the proceeds of4he public domain. They no
doubt plainly see that there is to be dispo-
sal Of the public lands in wholesale, and they
now find it necessary to lay aside their scru-
pies, ifthey expect to get any benefit from
the common fund.-" according to the terms
Of the cession by the old States. This vote,
though close, indicates new policy on the
part Of The Southern members The vote
was 81 to CT. With regard to the other
amendment, the National Intelligeneer says:
'Tbe second amendment of importance was
proposed by Mr.. Orr, of South Carolina, (who
adopted the suggestion of Mr. Cutting. J aud
provides that fhe titles to the lands granted
to Minnesota shall remain With the United
States until twenty miles of the Railroad shall
be first constructed. and SO on for each con
secutive twenty miles. The grant thus made
dor each section Of the road amounts to rs.
600 ceres of land This was adopted with
but slight opposition. and will no doubt form
precedent for future action
We have the following account of the pro-
ceedings of the House after the Minnesota
bill, as thus amended, was reported rom the
Committee of the whole to the House
Mr.. Hamilton moved to lay it on the table.
Not carried-ayes 6s, nays 1OI.
Under the operation of the previous ques-
uon, MT herr's amendment for doing Justice
to the old States by paying the money derived
from the sales of the reserved sections Of land
to those States which have received no grant
of lands for internal improvements, according
to their federal representations in Congress-
was eoncurred Images So noes 81. TMr. !
smith, OF Va the representative from this |
district, voted in the affirmative
Extravagant joy was expressed by the afir
NATIVE side Of the question, ana amid the !
confusion Mr. Kerr moved to reconsider the
vote just bad, and lay that motion on the ia.
bic.
Mr. Richardson moved that the House ad !
journ- negativcd
The foes of Mr.. Kerr's amendment wished
to stave Oft the clinehing vote on it, and there
lore made numerous motions with that view
which were determined in the neeat i've
These motions continued to bo made. amid
the greatest confusion, until six o'clock. when
there beng no quorum voting the Speaker
announced that the House stood adjourned"
We viii subjoin, in connection with this
subject the following comment upon the
course of one of the Representatives from this
state, which, indeed, may be applied to 9th.
ers, not only from Virginia. but from other
Southern States. If party" we're not too
strong, we might appeal to them, to cast off
Its trammels, acknowledge their error, and re-
solve to act for :heir country alone. The
remarks to which we refer. are from the Rich.
mond Wing
The Representative from the Tenth Te.
gion--AIr. Letcher-has raised his voice IN
solemn protest against the practical operations
now gong on IN Congress upon the public
lands, for building great railroads throughout
the Northwest. On the Wisconsin Railroad
Grant. Mr. u. made an opposition speech
We are indebted to his speech Cor statement
Of the quantity of G Government lands the State
of Wisconsin alone has already received for
internal Improvement purposes 1t amounts
to the snug sum Of 900, 600 and odd acres.
But that is only an entering wedge The
bill under consideration embraces one million
, * hundred tborsand acres Another bill
y. ; been agreed upon in committee donating
ann Tor road Madison to Prairie du Chen
n A.. amount OF 800, 900 Lands havs been
on,t. TO Wisconsin for schools, universities,
I'd sol "' "u,a ~ 70 near m,ihon and
half ACT T.. ~ ~. 81, 'ne state WIN nave re-
ived nes tbo n o, IN; n'n n.;m Oh toe paohe
main, ana ",o,rS " S,, s'iIt DC '9f MORE
lie Reprsse na - az" ~ yll'n legion DE,
VIZ. aoiai 'ool of politicians, points bis
roosr s,aia sci rem of the Northwest. to the
ol,,; sretl by the Democratic State
,yep,;nn aIoptoc Richmond, March 1852
chat r. ucia 10 is no power to appropri-
direo,l, '"gress h tly the proceeds of tho
= Of az " indirse >, or to grant, directly
asireotI,p ao'e iana lands, to the purpt Sc
,.e,poj In, 'ne public On that platform
), Improvement. ION with the Dem
neafs 70 stand in com, Aud thnra 10 Ia