Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-27
rnInrY.FrfrH coNaREss-Fir.t se'''o''
FRIDAY, APRIL u, 1853

md referred to the committee on puolc iahus:
The deficiency bill was taken up ou' 10 ac''oh wa
arrived at.
Mr.. Green made a report from the conference com
ui,tee ON the Kansas hills, which Was made tho srr-
rial order for Monday. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE Els.
Mr.. j. Clancy Jones asked the unanimous cai'tht
Of the House to print, for the use of the Commute. "i
,rsys and means the Indian appropriation and Indian
deficiency bills, in order TO forward INC puonc ""s'
meas.
Mr.. George Taylor objected:
Mr.. Jones said he wished TO nave 'nls noteo.
pension bill, but the House went into COM
mittee on the private calendar.
At one o'clock, on motion Of Mr.. English, the com'
mittee rose. ~
Mr.. English.-Mr. Speaker, l am Instructed by The
committee of conference appointed upon tne alss.
TO the Senate bill entitled "A bill ior tns ADMISSION
of the State Of Kansas into the Union,' TO make a
report.
The Clerk then read the report, which was publish
ed in yesterdays Enquirer.
Mr.. English said Mr.. Speaker, in view Of The
state of the public business at this advanced PERIOD
of the session, and In view of the fact that TINS sub
iect has already been more thoroughly discussed man
perhsps any other ever before Congress-, l 40 NOT
propose to make any extended remarks put am
authorized by the majority of the no OIL con
ference on the part Of the House to submit some OF
the views which they entertain 10 relation to the
pending question, and which in part nave lnnuenced
their action. They assumed the duties entrusted 10
them by the House deeply impressed with the view
of the responsibility resting upon them. A great
question perhaps the greatest of the age-one when
has sgitated and engrossed the public mind for the
past four years, he's at last come to q Crisis, and lts
probable solution is brought directly to the decision
of the representatives of the States and the people.
Whilst adhering 10 what they believed to be a correct
principle, the committee endeavored to discard that
spirit which would endanger The passage OF the
great measure, and probably hazard the peace
of the country, for the sake OF an impor.
tant point or an unmeaning word. The amend
mept proposed as q substitute is the very best
that the COMMITTEES were able TO agree upon, in
view of the embarrassing circumstances surrounding
the question. 1t is true that 1t proposes the admission
of the State on a condition, but 10 this respect It does
not differ from either the Senate bill or the House
amendment. Both of those measures proposed ad.
mission on conditions following 10 their character and
objects, nor does it differ from several prece
dents in other cases, such as those OF Michl'
gan and Iowa. The reason and proprieiy. u
NOT the necessity, for q condition in the cise
of Kansas, grows out Of the peculiar nature OF the
application. This is fully eIemplified in the Senate
bill, for the admission in il, is on an express condition,
which, however, makes no provision for the settle
ment by the people of Kansas Of The terms therein
prescribed. What might be the effect of this omis.
sion is not altogether clear. The ordinance adopted
by the Convention at Lecompton, and submitted with
the Constitution, asserts that "lhe State ot Kansas
will possess the undoubted right to tax such LANDS
belonging TO the Government Of the United States
for the support of her State government, or for other
proper and legitimate purposes connected with her
existence az a State" And this asserted right che
proposes on admission to surrender 10 consideration
that th- Congress of the United States will make her
the following grants:
.iSec. l. That sections numbered eight, sixteen,
twenty-four and thirty six, in every township in the
State, or in case either of said numbered sections lie or
shall be otherwise disposed OF, that other lands equal
thereto in value, and "a contiguous as may be, shall
be granted TO The State, to be applied exclusively 10
the support Of common schools.
'Sec. 2. That all salt springs, and gold, silver, cop
per, lead, or other valuable mines, together with the
lands necessary for their full occupation and nae, shall
be granted TO laid State for the use and benefit of said
State, and The came shall BIZ used or disposed of under
such terms and conditions and regulations az the LIE
e~islature Of said State shall direct.
"Seo 3. Thai five per centum Of the proceeds Of the
sales of all public lands sold, or held 10 trust, or 9th
erwise lying within the said State, whether sold be
fore or after the admission Of the State into the Union,
shall be paid to the said State of Kansas, for the pur
poses following, TO wit Two 6fths to be disburseo
under the direction OF The Legislature Of this State fol
the purpose of aiding in the construction OF rallroad'
within said State, and the residue for the support o
common schools.
"Sec. 4. That seventy two e%eotions, or two entire
townships, shall be designated by the President o
the United States, which shall be reserved for the
use of a seminary OF learning, and appropriated by
the Legislature of said State solely to the use OF sait
seminary.
sec. S That each alternate section of land now
owned, or which may hereafter be acquired by the
| United States. for twelve miles on each side Of a lint
| of rail road to be established or located from some
point on the northern boundary Of the State, leading
aoutherly through said State, ID the direction OF TIT
Gulf of Mexico, and on each side OF a line Of rel
road m he located and ".s-Liehad from sorna polo
o GG" ne m ia river, ws.twsrdly through said State
in the direction of the Pacific ocean, shall be reserved
and conveyed to eaid State Of Kansas for the purpose
of aiding in the construction of ssid rail roads; and I
shsll be the duty OF the Congrasa of the United States
in conjunction with the proper authorities OF ihii
State, 10 adopt immediate measures for carrying ths
| several provisions herein contained into full effect.
The proposition made to Congress, by this ordinance
10 Of the moot extraordinary character, and wholly in
admissible. A carefully prepared estimate, made a
the General Land Office, at the request OF the com
| mittee, ehows that Kansas would receive. under thin
| ordinance, an aggregate in lands OF .j,592. Ib0 acres
worth at the minimum Government prices S29, 400 2OO
| And this, cir, is exclusive of other benefits claimed
and what she might receive for lands containing minet
of gold and other preciou. metals. The amendment
| agreed 10 by the committee, and which ia to be sub
| mitted to the people of Kansas. proposes to give hel
the usual grants which have been made TO most o
the new States. Under this amendment she would
would receive under her ordinance. making a differ
ence in favor of the United States of $25, 00O 900, esti
mating the lands at the usual prices. The amend
ment agreed upon may not he perfect, but in thii
matter it ia fair to be presumed that all available par
liameutsry expedients will be exhausted rather than
| allow The question 10 he still left open to further ex
cite sectional prejudices and animositiee, and endsn
ger the peace and prosperity ct the country. Ii the
bill az proposed PAGES, the Kansas question passes a,
once from the halls of Congress, it is to be hoped
never to return. but if it should ever return il will be
al some future period, and when Il will be deprived
If all power of doing any further injury. The ship OF
State will then have passed the breakers and glldeo
into the smooth and open sea. where there ia reason
to hope It will not be sgitsted by any sectional storm
for years to come. ,u
The committee cannot zee or behave that the bill
will prove to be otherwise than beneficial to the, peo'
pe OF Kansas, while they feel entirely certain that II
will promote the best ~interests OF the country at large,
Il Ia one of those cases where much 10 to be gained
and nothing lost. So far as the result ls concerned
should The substitute we propose be defeated and the
question left open, the Tear taat me conee.
ouences would he unfortunate for the country, and
that angry and threatening clouds would soon obscurt
our desriny. Thu probabilities are that IN That even,
the sectional agitation would continue IN its moat ma
,ignant form, tending still further to separated the North
and the South, and no man could foresee the hnal re,
suit. The tendency would be TO spread universal
alarm throughout the country, parahzlng BUSINESS ~
%juriously affecting private property, CONFUSING lnt
whole Union, and endangering the kepuolc itseit II
will indeed be a fearful responsibility for us, If for &C
alight q cause We bring about q dissolution OF the
Union. Sir, there are in the history Of nations certain
great occasions, which, if wisely and OPPORTUNITY EN-
braced, may be made to exert q sslutary influence fo'
ages, but II neglected they tend to preciPit8te the
country into ruin, and there can be no relief from the
evil consequences. Such an occasion is now preaent
ed to ua. in the judgment of the committee ane
having discbared their duties to the best of their aoil
ity, under these convictions, they leave il to others tc
act likewise.
MIR. Howard of Michigan, said he desired to occu
~p n~na G,n Fntnnfoo at thu nrnnprf 1ma III RIOTeeF
The rpasons for his dissent from the report.
The Speaker said Mr.. Howard could not proceed l
objection wac made
Mr.. Marshall. I object.
Mr.. Howard would simply ask, az q matter OF ceur'
tesy, that he be allowed five minutes to explain.
Several Voices. "Order, ORDER"
Mr.. English. Then / move that the bill be printed
and postponed until to morrow at one o'clock. II
can be printed Immediately, and may bs put upon
the decks of members before We adjourn to day.
Mr.. Hill of Georgia. By the permission OF the
gentleman from Michigan. l move as an amendment
to postpone the bill for this month, and l will state