Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-27
rvRrY.rrrfH coNGREss-ist Session.
THUaspAY. APRIL ~, 1853.

~
The only business Of interest transacted during the
morning hour was the presentation by Mr.. Seward of
the answer made by Peter Cooper, and Wilson 5
Hunt, Of the American Telegraph Company OF New
YORK. TO the memorial of Amos Kendall and others
nst;iiopipp Congress TO compel the Atlantic Telegraph
Company to give their business at the frontier to all
tha lines entering the United States, on terms oil per
feet equality. The answer shows that Inc etect OF
such legislation would be to injure the interests OF the
nublic by dividing the responsibility or rendering IL
uncertain by subiecting messages to delay or repeti.
tion ON the frontiers by submitting them ior TRANSMITS,
sion by greatly inferior lines, and at no dlmlnuiIon oil
cost, ss 10 An equal division there couid Dc DO com.
n.tition-tbus seriously embarrassing our intercourse
with Europe. Aside from public interests, IL Woula
he wantoply trespassipg upon the Individual rights OF
compsnies 10 make contracts with whom they please
which right is claimed by telegraph companies
Throughout the Union; has been recognized oy inc
several State Legislatures. and is maintaineo oy Tue
mamorialists themselves IN their exclusive connec'
tions with each other and other companies, which IN
mere than one instance, mentioned. have oeen aoso
| lu,ely injurious to the public interests.
II ia shown that the sole object of the memoriallsts
il 10 reap an equal share of the fruits OF the Atlanuc
telegraph enterprise, in the immense hazard ana eH
nenditure Of which they have borne no part, and
rrhich. though often invited to participate In. they
have unreleDtingly opposed in every step of its pro
gress. The remonsirants oppose the enactment as
special Legislation, equally applicable TO lines passing
from one State to another, or to railroad, steamboat
or transportation companies.
Mr. Mason's resolution, respecting the drhcuty
with Paraguay, was taken up and discussed until the
expiration of the morning hour when the Deficiency
bill was taken up. 81 Ii, - .o.d
tw;ca, to secure the prompt construction OF q line OF
telegraph acrossthe continent between San FRANCISCO
and 81, Louis, and referred to the committee on mil
itary affairs. ,
The Deficiency bill was then taken up and discuss.
cd for some three hours without acting on various
amendments which are still pending Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House proceeded 10 the consideration OF tne
bill, presented by Mr.. Morrill,. donating lands 10 me
several States for the benefit Of agriculture and the
mechanic arts.
The House refused to table the bill-yeas 81, nays
l09.
Mr.. Cobb made a speech against The bill and az
ter further proceedings the bill was passed-yess
l04 nays l0l.
The bin grants al. millions, three hundred and for
ty thousand acres of land, to be spportioned to each
State-equsl to 2O,OB0 scres for each Senator and
Representative in Congress, to which Inc States are
now respectively entitled. The prooeeds OF the SAFES
of the lands to be invested in stocka OF the United
States, or of the States, or some other safe stocks, the
money go invested to constitute a perpetual tund. the
interest Of which stall be iuviolsbly appropriated by
each state 10 the endowment support and mamie
nance OF al lesst one college, where the leading Cd
i.ct shall be, without excluding other scientific or
classical studies, to teach such branches of learning
as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in
such manner "a the Legislatures OF the States may
prescribe, in order TO promote the liberal and practi
cal education Of the industrial classes IN the several
pursuits and professions Of life.
The House went into q committee of the whole on
the State OF the Union, and proceeded TO the con
sideration of the bill granting pensions TO the oiicsrs
and soldiers OF the war with Great Britain OF lol>
and those engaged in the Indian war during that pc
Rod.
No definite action had been taken at the time of the
adjournment of the House.