Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-01-13


e.A114l.41- ..l11...I11
don was the amendment recommended by
the committee on public lands 10 the origi.
nal bill.
Mr.. Wsshbarne, Of lllisois. believe
the question before the House siands IN
this manner: First, the original bill Va,
introduced and referred to the Comuaittee
on Public Lands. That comm ittee 81
ported back the sill WITH the ameudmen
which hes been just read. To the Who'll,
bill | offered 40 amendment. which was I,
striks out .h after the cnacsing clause, ans
to insert what has heretofore been read I,
the House. The gentleman from Virgin
Ia Mr.. Leteher1 has now offered substi
tute--whether in order or not On no
prepared to say-wAieh hes also beef
read.
Mr.. Washbsrne ssased that he aece pied
the amendment Of NJ. Lstcher.
Mt. Jones, Of Louisiana. moved to strike
out peftba Of the anendment He
said |:
ia regard 10 the substitute offered BY
the gentleman from Virginia, can the Con-
gress Of the United States judicially de-
clare what ere are the rights Of parties.
under this oct. granting the swamp and
overdowsd lands to the Slatess Suppose
that i should tarn out that the Supreme
Court Of the United States should have =
difference with Congress aud the gentle
nan from Virgins on the subject
Mt. Letcher. In answer to my friend
from Leuisiana, would say a single word
How does he propose TO adjust this contro.
vsrsya
[Hese the hanmer fell.]
Mr.. Jones. I propose to adjust it BY
passing the bill which is now before ths
committee, without amendment " hatever
Mr.. Letcher. As understand the gen.
tlemsn. he wants the amendment offered
by the Committee on Public Lands, and
CD the ground that the Congress Of the
Unlted States has no right 10 express any
opinion in regard to this gift made By
her--that il 10 question for Louisiana and
everv other State claiming under this at
She il 10 take whatever she considers thai
grant confers.
Mr.. Jones. say that II 10 quessior
for the courts, and not for Congress.
Mr.. Letcher. What courts are to de.
eide it, Aud sven il the courts are to de-
eide II, hew does the intessere OF aGxc
the natter3 Is his aci be unconstihssisn.
81, The geal6eass ca get the cent to ssy
-. lit u not uoeesslitutional, then i
probably ssstass the queseiee. Il 10 mani
fess lhsl ths question must Be settled some
wsy. IinaGiae, II Congress, BY legisla
tive act, sn1ersakss TO ssttle it, tAat i
will probably BE- nese land warrants. th.
parties catering them shall be allowed tt
enter other laads in lieu thereof, acre foI
acre. s.,isls-.t .srl,
Mr.. Jones. 1ecss be done BY the con-
ssnt Of the States.
Mr.. Letcher. Well, sir, I take il for
grated that when the States interested in
this hing come forward and ask what shall
be done-when il is to be done by the aid
Of the Representatives from these. Stases
asd We have reason to believe that the
States themselves desire it--they will &C.
code to the law, il we pass it.
Mr.. Jones. Does the gentleman from
Virginia mean 10 say that the action OF the
Representatives Of Stale in Congress !.
binding upon that State
Mr.. Leicher. No, cir, do not mean
to say any such thing. What / mean Il
say 10, that when the representatives OF 4
State come here and ask for certain action
upon the part Of Congress, that il is to be
presumed they speak the voice Of the PEG.
pie in that State; and that when, in &C.
cordance with their request, We pass on
acs to relieve them Of the evils Of which
they complain. they will accede to il.
Now it does seen, to me that IL any body
understands this thing, the CommIssisnrr
Of the General Land Ofjce ought to under.
stand Il. It il hn business. His whole
attentioa 10 placed upon II; aud yet he has
arrived At shsse Conclusions, end recon-
meaded the course ] propose to pursue to
scceopii'h the object.
The question was then taken upon Mr..
Jones amendment to the amendmen t; and
Il WAS sos agreed to.
Mr. Stanton, Of Tennessee. l desire to
know. from the Chair, the precise state OIL
the questioa before the House,
The Chairman. The question is upon
the adephsn Of the substitute proposed by
the gentlemaa from Virginia.
M. Stanton. ] move to strike out all
sltor the 9th line.
Mr.. Chairman, make this motion for
the purpose Of submitting 4 single ebser.
vat,on in reference to some Of the questions
which have been presented and discussed
BY the gentleman from Virginia. mir,
Letchsv, and the gentleman from I.ouisi.
ana, lMr. Jones.] conceive it to be per.
fectly clear. that BY the first section Of the
act Of 1850, the Government of the United
States placed itself under obligations to con-
yey, By patent, to the State Of Arkansas,
every foot Of overfowed land in that State.
for the purpose Of accomplishing q great
public work.
BIZ the second section Of that oct, the
Government bound itself, Il the prepes
time, when the nxesssary informatien wal
acquired, 10 issus patent Tor every soot o.
oyerllowed, a. described In the act itself
M. Lescher. We have had some rsrs
law laid down here to-day. Laughter.
The esuelsman from Ohio, C0r. Disney.
laws 4 down ~ sstsled law Of the country.
thata grant o. gin il to be construed strict.
u sssinse the gsantss. New. ] should
kke g know Wherr The gentleman got hia
nav ftons lshosh Nike TO know where
he eves cav sueh lsw written in any law
book ] should like to know another
thiae, shesld like 10 understand tins
conivsioa ahsul tsrns. which seems 10 be
running thresgh bis head. aud thu ouS !.
The head Of my friend from Tennessee,
flar. 0tnotea. about legal. equitable title,
e M ealh il. Nov. what SOFT OF Q title