Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1859-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL AND WASHINGTON
ITEMS.

Homestead Bill was passed. by a vote of 100 10 rs.
This bill proposes to give TO every citizen, who is
at the head of family, and to such as have de-
cared their intention to become citizens, the right
to enter quarter section of land the location to
be on lands subject to entry, O: one dollar and a
quarter per acre. We believe all the members from
Virginia, without hesitation, would vote against
this bill.
AGRICULTURAL CoLLEGE.-A bill has passed both
Houses of Congress, making donations of public
lands the several States for the purchase of found
ing Agricultural Colleges In the Senate there was
considerable discussion on 1t. In the Affirmative,
says the National Intellgencer, it was maintained
that Congress had full power to dispose of the pub
lie lands for the purpose indicated, which, by fos
tering agricultural education would tend to devel
Cd the resources and promote the prosperity of the
country The agriculturalsts were interested in
the diffusion OF useful knowledge the subject OF
their vocation, and it was time that Congress while
legislating for other branches OF industry, should
pay some attention to the claims preferred by the
most numerous and the most important of all. On
the other hand, the bill was opposed both in its
principles and details; on the former ground be-
cause of an alleged want of power on the part of
Congress make the grants to the several States.
which it was urged, would fail to derive any SUBJ
stantial feneft from such donations, as because OF
the defective provisions of the BILL they would en-
ure almost solely to the advantage of land specu-
lators, besides squandering large portion of the
public domain.
The Washington Republic says a petition to Con-
gress is in circulation in the of free coIored
persons presiding IN the District Columbia pray.
ing for the establishment of colony of their class
{ upon some sparsely settled Southern portion of
our own continent where they may be under the
protection OF the Government of their native coun-
try aud have It's fostering care &c.
This move is the work of Abolitionists in and
out of Congress- rather than of those whose names
may be signed to it, who in permitting themselves
to be thus used, are lnjuring their status here.
The Committee on Military Affairs of the House
of Representatives have referred the Oregon and
Washington war debt claims to the Auditor of the
Treasury, to compute them on the same basis that
the government paid for supplies for the regulars
during the Indian hostilitez in 1855 and SO, and
20 report the amounts to the next Congress.
The Washington Union lays down the law,
with regard to the present state of affairs and
says:
1T is clear that either the duties levied on i'm
ports must be increased above the present rate of
nineteen per cent, or that the present system of
legislation calling for expenditure of upwards
of $50, 900 must be changed. Either the gar
ments must made to fit the man or the man dwarf
ed to fit the garments. 1t would seem to be too
late in the session for the The second alternative
and it follows that Congress is bound, on the basis
importations above the average rate of nineteen
cent. to standard more nearly that of a revenue
standard, to adopt the maxim that public debt
is public blessing and provide for meeting the
demands of their own legislation by adding new
loans to the public debt. The dilemma is purely
and exclusively congressional dilemma, and it res
mains to be seen whether the craftsmanship of the
present Congress is equal to the exigencies Of the
OCCASION