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DEC. 21, 22, 1831.]

District.

District of Columbia.--Seneca Indians.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

[H. OF R.

part of the avails of the sale, was vested in the President of the United States, who, as their trustee, was to invest Mr. CARSON, of North Carolina, moved the following interest accruing from it. this sum to the best advantage, and annually pay them the This fund was originally inresolution: vested in the old Bank of the United States, at a period Resolved, That the Committee for the District of Co-when its stock was considerably above par, and the sum of lumbia be instructed to report a bill to provide for the six thousand dollars, as the product thereof, was annually election of a delegate, in the said District, to the House paid to the Indians, until the expiration of the charter of of Representatives of the United States, with the right to that institution, when the same was again directly placed debate on any question relating to the interests of said in the hands of the President. From time to time, the rates of interest, until the year 1826, when it was invested capital sum was invested in other funds, yielding different in the three per cent. stock, which was supposed by the then President of the United States to be the most judicious arrangement then practicable. The amount of the which was only $3,385 60, leaving a deficiency of $2,614 40 stock purchased was $112,853, the annual interest of in the annual sum them before paid to said Indians. The interest on this sum, annually, was passed to the credit of Indian appropriations, and the $6,000 was taken from that fund and paid to the Indians.

Mr. CAMBRELENG, of New York, said he had no objection to an inquiry into the expediency of the measure proposed, but he was not prepared, without some previous consideration, to instruct the committee to re

port a bill.

Mr. CARSON said he was himself disposed to make the instruction imperative, for he thought nothing could be more reasonable than what it proposed. What, he asked, is the situation of the people of this District? With a population of forty thousand souls--enough to entitle them, if within any State, to a representative on this floor, This course was pursued until the present Executive they have not even a delegate, as every other territory came into office, in 1829, who thought himself not authohas, to represent their wants and wishes; and any citizen rized by any existing law to pay to the Indians a greater of the District who wishes to bring any business before sum than the actual product of the stock; and the SecreCongress, is obliged to throw himself on the kindness of tary of War, in his annual report to Congress, in 1829, some one of the representatives of other parts of the stated the facts in relation to this case, and suggested the country, or he has no chance of being heard. Though propriety of an interference of Congress in behalf of the his conviction of the expediency of this measure was so Indians. Under this recommendation, a law was passed strong, however, to obviate all objection to the reso- at the last session of the last Congress, directing that the lution, he agreed to modify it so as to propose an inquiry Secretary of War should annually, thereafter, pay to said into the expediency of the measure. Indians 6,000 out of any money in the treasury not otherMr. McDUFFIE thought the whole subject of the in-wise appropriated; that the annual proceeds of said fund ternal administration of the District of Columbia ought to should be invested in the Indian appropriation fund; and undergo a revision. His own opinion was that the District that the sum of $2,614 40 should be paid for the defi ought to have a legislative council. It must be perfectly ciency of the last year, (1830,) but making no provision evident to every one that Congress was not the proper for the deficiency of 1829, the year referred to by the body to legislate for it. Secretary of War, who doubtless supposed that the proMr. CARSON thought that perhaps the expediency of vision would have been made by law during the first, and a legislative council might be already under the considera- before the second session of the last Congress; in which tion of the Committee for the District of Columbia, in case, the law would have done ample justice to the Inconsequence of the reference to the committee of that part dians.

of the President's message which relates to this subject. Mr. T. further remarked that the Indians could not be Mr. DODDRIDGE, of Virginia, (chairman of the Com-made to understand the cause of this deficiency for 1829, mittee for the District of Columbia,) stated, for the infor- and refused to receive the amount of the product of their mation of the gentleman from South Carolina, that the fund alone, unless the difference between this and other subject of a legislative council was already under the years could be made up to them; and that the agent had consideration of that committee, and that there was every felt himself impelled to lend his own responsibility to assist desire in the committee to ascertain, from intelligent them in obtaining the money, trusting that Congress, at an sources, what are the wants of the people of the District, early day, would make provision to meet the deficiency. and to do what may be necessary to relieve them from any Mr. T. believed, from the brief statement which he had inconveniences which they may labor under. of immediate attention to the subject. made, the appropriate committee would see the propriety

Mr. MCDUFFIE expressed himself as perfectly satisfied with this explanation; and

The resolution of Mr. CARSON, as modified, was agreed to, nem. con.

SENECA INDIANS.

On motion of Mr. TRACY, it was

Resolved, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be instructed to inquire into the propriety of passing a law authorizing the Secretary of War to receive and pay over to the Seneca Indians, in the State of New York, the amount of deficiency in the year 1829, of the usual sum paid over to said Indians.

On offering the resolution, Mr. TRACY remarked that he felt it proper to explain the reasons why he offered the resolution at the present time; particularly as a subject, analogous in its nature, was acted upon in the last Congress. At an early period of this Government, said Mr. T., a treaty was held with the Seneca Indians, in the State of New York, by which they were authorized to sell a portion of their lands. By that treaty, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, being either the whole or a

solutions of inquiry,
After disposing of between sixty and seventy other re-

The House adjourned.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22.

Forty-one memorials, sundry reports, and twenty-five resolutions were presented, and disposed of to-day. Among the last named, was the following:

BRIDGE OVER THE OHIO, AT WHEELING. Mr. DODDRIDGE submitted the following: Resolved, That the Committee on Internal Improvements be directed to inquire into the expediency of providing for the erection of a bridge over the Ohio river, at or near the town of Wheeling, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. SPEIGHT, of North Carolina, opposed the adop tion of the resolution. He considered it his duty to oppose all similar measures, for it was necessary, in his opinion, to defend correct constitutional principles on all occasions,

H. OF R.]

General William Hull.-Public Lands.

[DEC. 23, 27, 1832

be they great or small; and though the present was only tice in other cases, and instanced that of Governor Tompa motion for inquiry, he would, nevertheless, call for the kins, of New York. yeas and nays.

Mr. DODDRIDGE said that a mere motion for inquiry was not an occasion to combat for principle. He remarked that it was not then the time to go into the merits of the question, but thus much he would say, the bridge proposed would connect the Cumberland road on the Virginia side of the Ohio, with the continuation of that road on the opposite bank. It was a measure which had been before Congress for many years, and certainly was one which it would be highly expedient to sanction. Το do so would be to realize the grand idea of Thomas Jefferson, for then there would soon be a road from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. A bill on the subject had been reported last session, but, from some cause, had not been acted on. He concluded by observing that the present was not the time to go into a discussion on the merits of the great question of road or no road; but when that time did arrive, he would not shrink from defending his views on the subject.

Mr. SPEIGHT, on the suggestion of his colleague, [Mr. CARSON,] withdrew his opposition; and

The resolution of Mr. DODDRIDGE was agreed to.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23.

This day was, agreeably to the rule of the House, devoted to the consideration of private bills. Amongst these was the bill allowing to the representatives of the late GENERAL WILLIAM HULL,

pay due him as Governor of the Territory of Michigan. On the question of engrossing this bill,

Mr. HOFFMAN said that the case cited would not sustain the present, inasmuch as the person alluded to was not paid as Governor.

On the question of engrossment, the yeas were thirtynine, only; nays not counted. So the bill was rejected. [On the following day, this vote was, on motion of Mr. WICKLIFFE, reconsidered, and the bill was laid on the table.] The House adjourned to Tuesday, the 27th,

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27.

PUBLIC LANDS.

The House resumed the consideration of a resolution offered by Mr. BLAIR, of Tennessee, on Thursday last, proposing the appointment of a committee "to inquire into the expediency of distributing (according to population) the proceeds of the public lands amongst the seyeral States and Territories; which distribution, when made, | shall be expended on works of internal improvement, or to reimburse moneys already expended on such works as the Legislature of the respective States shall direct." The question being on an amendment proposed by Mr. HUNT, of Vermont, who had moved to insert, after the words "expended on such works," the words, or for purposes of education.

Mr. VINTON, of Ohio, suggested a substitute for the resolution, which he thought would meet the views both of Mr. BLAIR and Mr. HUNT, and which, being read, both gentlemen acceded to it. The substitute was as

follows:

Mr. WICKLIFFE said that the amount appropriated "That a committee be appointed to inquire into the by the bill would scarcely justify the detention of the expediency of providing a uniform system of gradually House by any discussion of its propriety; but he thought closing up the sale of the public lands now in market, or the principle upon which that appropriation was proposed that may be hereafter brought into market; also, to take might be worthy of some consideration. He understood into consideration the expediency of appropriating the that Governor Hull, after the surrender of Detroit, until proceeds of the public lands, after the payment of the the time of his dismissal from the army, was to be consi- public debt, to the promotion of some national object or dered as Governor of Michigan territory, and his repre- objects." sentatives paid accordingly. Now, could it be maintained that he was, during that period, performing the office of Governor, when there was actually no Government there but that of the British forces? or did the bill propose so to pay him, not on account of his services, but merely because, until the time of his dismissal from the army, he had his commission in his pocket?

This being accepted by Mr. BLAIR as a substitute for his resolution,

Mr. DUNCAN, of Illinois, moved to strike out all of the resolution after the word Resolved, and insert the following:

"That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of appropriating one. third of the proceeds of the future sales of the public lands to objects of internal improvement within the States in which said lands are sold, and that the same committee inquire into the expediency of appropriating (after the national debt is paid) one-third of the proceeds of said land sales, for the construction of roads and canals, from the Mississippi, the Ohio, the lakes, and the St. Lawrence, to the commercial cities of the Atlantic; and of appropriating the remaining third of said proceeds for purposes of education; the works or objects of improvements to be designated or approved by Congress, and the money to be expended under the authority of the States in which said improvements are made."

Mr. WHITTLESEY said it was unnecessary to enter, now, into a discussion of the merits or demerits of General Hull's conduct. From the 16th of August, 1812, the date of his surrender of Detroit, up to the time of his dismissal, on the 1st February, 1813, the Government had paid him his salary as brigadier general, thereby, in a manner, sanctioning the principle upon which the grant in this bill had been made. Until the judgment of the court against him, which decided on his case, he must be considered as having been de facto Governor of Michigan. In this bill they had proceeded on the legality of the claim, and accorded that which they thought would have been given, had it been sought in another way, by the verdict of a jury. Proceeding on the same principle, Mr. CARSON, of North Carolina, made a few remarks gentlemen might theorize, and stop the pay of other offi-to show that the acts of the several States ceding the lands cers, who had been, by circumstances, incapacitated or now owned by the United States, had immoveably settled prevented from fulfilling the duties appertaining to their the manner of distributing among the several States the offices. The committee had been, he believed, unani- proceeds from them, (after the payment of the public mously in favor of this bill, and he hoped the House would debt,) and that Congress could not, by any legislation, sustain their report. depart from that mode.

Mr. HOFFMAN asked whether Governor Hull had received payment as brigadier general; and whether he was likewise to be paid as Governor de jure, for Governor de facto he was not.

Mr. MERCER went into an argument, and referred to the acts of cession, also to show that the States which ceded the lands to the United States had prescribed the application of the proceeds from their sale, after the payMr. WHITTLESEY said that such had been the prac-ment of the public debt, the objects and mode of which

DEC. 28, 1832.]

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28.

PUBLIC LANDS.

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application he explained at large. He had, however, no all the land in the State. He said every principle of jusobjection to the second branch of the proposed inquiry; tice would require the Government to contribute its full but strenuously opposed any new system of land laws, or share of every expenditure which went directly to increase new mode of disposing of the public domain, the present the value of the public lands, and make them sell. being, in his opinion, the wisest that had ever been, or Gentlemen, both in and out of Congress, are greatly could be, devised by the wisdom of man; the beneficent mistaken about the real value of the public land in its preeffects of which he briefly pointed out, in contrast with sent condition. He said he had seen published in some the evils which prevailed in those of the new States east of the newspapers the most extravagant calculations of the of the Ohio, where a different system had been pursued. amount that would fall to certain States, when these lands When Mr. M. concluded his remarks, Mr. BLAIR, of were sold to the States in which they lie, as suggested by Tennessee, rose; but the hour for considering resolutions the Secretary of the Treasury in his late report. Mr. D. had expired, and the debate was suspended. said he was convinced that the new States would never give the price that was likely to be set upon them, even if they approved the policy recommended, about which there was, however, a great difference of opinion. He said there had been a meeting called of the Senators and Representatives, to consider the policy of submitting a proposition to meet the views of the Secretary of the Treasury, in which meeting there was a majority against the policy; and, except himself, he said that no member present was willing to pledge his State for more than three Mr. DUNCAN rose, and said that he had offered his cents an acre for all the land, good and bad, within their amendment from a sense of justice to the State and people limits. If this, said Mr. D., be any thing like the real value he had the honor to represent. He had hoped, as it was of the public land in its wild condition, how does it sell for a mere inquiry into the justice and expediency of a mea-one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, unless it receives sure, that it would have passed without opposition; but as its value from the improvements made by the money and the gentleman from North Carolina, [Mr. CARSON,] and labor of the settlers, and the States in which they lie? the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. MERCER,] had opposed | its reference on the ground that Congress had no right to dispose of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, as proposed in his amendment, he felt called upon to say something in reply, however reluctant he might be to enter fully into the discussion of the merits of a question of so much importance at its introduction, and in the shape in which it was then before the House.

The House then resumed the consideration of the resolution moved by Mr. BLAIR, of Tennessee, on Thursday last, as yesterday modified, at the suggestion of Mr. VINTON--the question being on the amendment yesterday submitted by Mr. DUNCAN.

Mr. D. remarked that Congress had bargained the new States out of their right to tax the public lands within their limits; that they had gone further, they had even made the new States agree, on their admission into the Union, not to tax any land for five years after it was sold by the United States. He did not hesitate to say that this purchase of the right of sovereignty was in direct violation of the cession of 1789 by Virginia, and in equal violation Mr. D. thought it was too late for gentlemen to start an of the constitution of the United States. He said that, by objection to the power of Congress to make a just, libe- the surrender of this right, the State of Illinois had lost near ral, and enlightened use of the moneys arising from the $400,000 per annum; as a tax on the public lands, as high sales of the public lands; he understood the power of as that paid by the citizens, would have amounted to that Congress very differently. Mr. D. agreed with the gen-sum. He was not disposed, he said, to question the valitleman from Virginia, that the present system of selling dity of this bargain, by which his State had lost the only the lands, so far as it related to the correctness and safety right of sovereignty worth contending for; the bargain of titles, had done much good, and he was not disposed to had been made, and he would not now call it in question; change the mode of selling; his only object was to change but he could not see how gentlemen, so tenacious of State the manner of disposing of the proceeds of the sales, which rights, could ever have sanctioned such a measure. Mr. had operated heretofore oppressively to the citizens of D. here alluded to the cession, the ordinances, and the the new States, by exacting from them the highest prices constitution, to show that Virginia intended, and it was so for their lands, and spending nearly every cent of the mo- understood at the time, to secure the right of the new ney on the seaboard, in building ships, harbors, &c. He States to tax the public land, by compelling Congress to said that the embarrassments growing out of this policy admit them into the Union, with all the rights of sovereignhad been severely felt by his constituents, as would appear ty, freedom, and independence, which were then enjoyed from the numerous memorials from the Legislatures and by the original States. He said, the right to tax the land the petitions from the people, which had been piled from was an attribute of sovereignty universal in all the old year to year upon the Speaker's table. He said it was dif-States, and was indispensable to the freedom and indepenficult to impoverish a people by a tax, however high, dence of every country, and could not be denied to the if the same money was expended among them; but new States, without reducing them to a state of inferiority that it was equally difficult to stand for a very long time a and dependence, wholly at war with every principle of perpetual drain, however small, without some return of it. the constitution and the compact. Mr. D. said it might Mr. D. objected to the system of selling the public lands, be, and perhaps was, too late to correct this error, but he because it held up inferior lands, until the improvements hoped it was not too late to do justice. And the present made by the settlers and the States gave them value. This was an auspicious period, as the national debt was about he considered unjust. He said that the people of Illinois to be paid off. Congress was at liberty to use the public had been taxed five days' work, or five dollars per annum, lands in such a way as to satisfy every just expectation of for making roads, which, supposing there were but 30,000 the new States, and to improve and enlighten the old ones. taxable inhabitants, would amount to a tax of 150,000 dol- He said that there had been expended about 700,000,000 lars. That the State had made large appropriations for dollars on the Atlantic seaboard since the commencement roads and bridges, to connect neighborhoods and facilitate of this Government, and comparatively but little in any of commerce; that the county courts often levied taxes in the new States, and that nearly all the revenue of the Goaddition, for the same purposes; which improvements, vernment, say $15,000,000 a year, must, from the nature however necessary to the convenience and prosperity of of things, be expended on the seaboard. To all this he the State, were calculated to benefit and give value to the made no objection. But he thought it nothing more than public lands, six or eight times as much as it did that of just that a portion of the money paid for lands should be the citizens. The United States owns about six-eighths of expended in improving the States in which it is paid. Mr.

H. OF R.]

Public Lands.

[DEC. 28, 1832

D. said that a distinguished gentleman from the South had rolina, that, on a mere question of reference, the merits remarked that the Government should use these lands for of the resolution did not, properly, come up for discus the purpose of building up great and flourishing States, sion. But when an inquiry was proposed into the expeand that the proposition he had submitted would not only diency of appropriating the public domain for specific be just to every interest, but accomplish that great object. objects, such as those contained in the amendment to the He said that the first branch of his proposition was to give present resolution, the mere vote to refer implied someone-third of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands thing like an assent by the House that such an application for works of improvement in the States in which they are of the proceeds of the public lands was a proper subject sold, which would create a fund sufficient to adorn and for inquiry. Viewing the matter in this light, he felt it beautify the country, and would ensure such an increased incumbent on him peremptorily to deny any right in Convalue to the remaining portions of the land, as to render it, gress to appropriate the proceeds of the national domain through all time, an inexhaustible fund for the accomplish- to such objects as were spetified in the gentleman's ment of the other objects contemplated in his amendment. amendment. To whom did the lands belong, which the He said the second branch of his proposition was to ap-gentleman from Illinois claimed as belonging to the seve propriate one-third of the proceeds arising from the sales ral States where they were situated? The manner in of those lands to the construction of roads and canals, so which those lands were ceded to the United States, and equally throughout the Union as to connect this expan- the causes which led to the cession, was well known. sive valley with every seaport on the Atlantic, which, he Early in the revolution, those States whose charters cosaid, independent of the great commercial and military im-vered no unseated lands, advanced a claim to their shares portance to the Government, would do more to unite and in the lands which should be ceded to the confederacy. harmonize the States than any thing that had been done Some of the States maintained that their chartered limits since the revolution. As to the third branch of his propo- extended as far west as to the Pacific Ocean. But some sition, which was to appropriate a third of this fund for of the States, among whom were Maryland, New Jersey, purposes of education in all the States, he thought it and Rhode Island, having no claims of their own to unenough to say (as was universally admitted) that the free-settled territory, insisted that the public lands ought to dom and independence of the Government and the happi- be viewed and treated as the joint property of all the ness of all depend upon the intelligence and virtue of the States that had embarked in the revolution. Even prior people. Mr. D. concluded his remarks by saying that he to the articles of confederation, bounties were promised hoped the House would give this subject the consideration to officers and soldiers, to be paid out of the lands which its importance demanded, and that the committee might were to be acquired from the States by voluntary cession have full power to report what in their opinion will be or by purchase; where they were not voluntarily surrenmost expedient. dered, Congress was to defray the expense out of the Mr. McDUFFIE expressed regret that any discussion public treasury. No specific provision, however, was should have been provoked as to the direction this resolu- made upon the subject. And how did the States thus tion should take. For himself, he was entirely willing it situated conduct? Maryland withdrew herself from the should assume any form its friends could agree upon. But confederacy; and both Rhode Island and New Jersey rehe considered it very improper, and an interference with monstrated again and again. Congress, by repeated resothe usual course of business, that gentlemen should, in the lutions, solicited, and at length obtained, the cession of the present stage of the business, enter into the merits of the lands. New York was the first to surrender her unsettled general subject of the resolution. On the merits, at a territory, of which she owned a vast amount, as a common proper time, he had much to say, but he forebore; yet en- fund, for the express purpose of carrying on the war, and tering, at the same time, his protest against the principles defraying the public debt. These were made the specific assumed by the gentleman who had just taken his seat. conditions of the grant. And, at the termination of the The new States had no right whatever, either morally or war, the lands thus contributed were appropriated, under politically, to tax the public domain of the country. Land, the articles of confederation, to reimburse the principal merely as such, was not a rightful subject of taxation, any of public debt, the interest being to be discharged from more than air or water. It would be as reasonable to tax other sources. When the new constitution had been the streams of water in a country, because they were sus-adopted, at the first Congress held under it, an appropriaceptible, at some future day, of being used in propelling tion of a similar kind was made, and the faith of the Gothe machinery in factories, as to tax lands because they vernment was pledged that the land should be applied were susceptible of being cleared and improved. Lands only to the purposes which New York and Virginia had were taxed only because they were used: nor could any specified in their acts of cession; and even the releases thing be more absurd than to tax a domain of which no use made by Connecticut contained the same thing. was made. As soon as they were occupied and improved, they became a rightful object of taxation; and he regretted that the United States had ever insisted on having its domain exempted from taxation after it was actually used. He would be in favor of repealing the law on that subject. which the gentleman, continued Mr. R., claims as of The exemption had no manner of effect whatever upon right, and in equity, belonging to his State, (for he says the price of the lands. The United States never did, and that it is unjust that otherwise they should be required to never would, get more than the minimum price, whether improve it by constructing roads through it,) whence taxed or not. He concluded by repeating his protesta- came this same land? The land in the north part of the tion against the principle that the new States had any State was ceded by New York. A narrow strip, extendgreater right to the public lands than the old States.

Mr. DUNCAN, in reply, observed that the gentleman had misapprehended him. He had not asserted that the new States had a right to the public lands, nor did he now claim a right to tax them. As to the idea that unimproved land was no more taxable than air, any gentleman who would open a statute book of any State in the Union, might learn to what consideration such a notion was entitled.

Mr. ROOT agreed with the gentleman from South Ca

And this very land in Illinois, which the honorable gentleman claimed as belonging to that State[Here Mr. DUNCAN interposed, and denied having asserted that the land belonged to his State.}

ing half a degree above the line in the ordinance, was claimed by Massachusetts; but that in the northwest part of the State had been surrendered to the General Government by the State of New York. Now, if that land has been ceded for an express specific purpose, when the mortgage was redeemed, to whom did the land belong? Surely it belonged to all the States, New York includedto all the States who had expended their blood and treasure in advancing the common cause. Gentlemen, indeed, spoke of these lands as if they had all been ceded by

DEC. 29, 1831.]

South Carolina Claims.--Public Lands.

[H. or R.

troops would have been incapable of doing duty at all, as part of their term of service included very cold weather, and they were miserably provided with tents and clothing. He dwelt on the pernicious effects of refusing such an allowance under the peculiarly hard circumstances of the case, and the discouragement which might thence ensue to future patriotic exertions of States in danger from the enemy, &c.

Virginia, and they referred to the terms of the Virginia grants. He should not dispute titles with that ancient commonwealth. Gentlemen might, if they pleased, suffer their minds to run on the line which separated Virginia from North Carolina, all the number of leagues which had been claimed, even to the Pacific Ocean. But they would find that their grant would fall as having nothing to rest on belonging to Great Britain. Even if the charters to which gentlemen alluded had never been annulled and re- Mr. WARD supported the view taken by Mr. DRAYmodified, still that entire region which the gentleman Tox, and stated the circumstances under which the blanfrom Illinois [Mr. DUNCAN] so honorably and usefully re-kets had, on application of the officers commanding, been presented in this House, had belonged to France down to voted by the Legislature of South Carolina. He warmly the year 1763. It had all been held by France previous ins'sted on the equity of the claim. to the grants to Great Britain; it had subsequently been Mr. McCOY complimented the patriotism of the genacquired by conquest, and had been solemnly recognised tleman from New York, and if the House would take up as belonging to the State of New York. The claim of the subject, and make the allowance general, he had no New York was derived not only from the Dutch grants objections. He stated what had been allowed to other anterior to the reign of the second Charles, or to the last States, and especially to Virginia, to whom compensation grant to Virginia. She had held land at that early day on for expenditures of this kind had been refused. He said the Hudson, and north, to the French possessions. The that his State would be a great gainer by the passage of fact had been so admitted. The region round Detroit had the bill, as she could advance and support a claim of at been acknowledged as part of the Crown lands, and not least $200,000 on similar grounds. He did not see why to be included in the grant to Virginia. The country had South Carolina should be made an exception to the genebeen acknowledged for a century by Great Britain, as ral rule, which had been applied to the claims of other pertaining to the colony of New York. The presents States. If the States were to be paid for all the munitions from the British Government to the Six Nations of Indians of war which they had purchased for defence, Virginia and their tributaries, had passed through the hands of Sir could present a heavy bill, and would be entitled to a William Johnson as the agent of Great Britain, and all great deal of money from the treasury. Hoping that the the lands belonging to those Indians and their tributaries subject would receive a more mature consideration, he had been owned to belong to New York. Mr. R. was moved an adjournment; which motion succeeding, about to read the terms of the cession by that State to the| The House then adjourned. General Government, when he was warned by the Speaker that the hour allotted to the consideration of resolutions had expired.

An unsuccessful attempt was made to suspend the rule;} so the debate was here arrested.

SOUTH CAROLINA CLAIMS.

The bill making an appropriation for the purpose of satisfying the claims of the State of South Carolina for moneys advanced by that State during the late war, in the purchase of military stores, and the payment of the militia called on for the defence of the State, came up as the special order of the day for this day; and the House went into a Committee of the Whole, Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, in the chair, on that bill.

The bill having been read,

Mr. DRAYTON, who had reported it from the Com. mittee on Military Affairs, called for the reading of the report of that committee, accompanying the bill; and it was read accordingly.

He then moved that the committee rise and report the bill to the House.

Whereupon,

Mr. McCOY called for the reading of a report made last session by the Committee of Claims, (of which he was then chairman,) in opposition to the claim; and it was read.

The committee then rose, and reported the bill, which was amended by the insertion of the following item:

5th. The sum of $7,500 for blankets purchased by the State for the use of a portion of her militia, whilst in the service of the United States.

Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, said he should be glad to hear from the honorable chairman of the Military Committee whether the allowance of blankets to militia serving less than twelve months was not unusual, and whether that item in the bill did not involve an extension of the rules heretofore uniformly observed in disposing of claims of this kind.

Mr. DRAYTON replied. He admitted the allowance to be unusual, but insisted that the claim was equitable, and ought to be allowed; inasmuch as, without blankets, the VOL. VIII.-92

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29.

PUBLIC LANDS.

The consideration of the resolution offered by Mr. BLAIR, of Tennessee, on the subject of the appropriation of the public lands, together with the amendment thereto proposed by Mr. DUNCAN, (which goes to appropriate the residue of the public lands, after the national debt shall have been paid, to three classes of objects, viz. one-third for roads and canals, one-third to other works of internal improvement, and the remaining third to education,) came up as the unfinished business of yesterday morning; when

Mr. ROOT resumed the course of his remarks, in substance as follows:

Since addressing the House yesterday, he had had an opportunity of examining the journals of the old Congress, and some of the grants made by the several States, which enabled him to state more distinctly the facts to which he had yesterday briefly alluded; and he thought it proper to advert to them, because the honorable gentleman from Illinois [Mr. DusCAN] had stated that these lands were derived from the State of Virginia, supposing, perhaps, that the circumstance of their having been granted by that generous and high-minded State would have a favorable effect in enforcing the claim he advanced. He would, in the first place, recur slightly to the claims to the Western lands, preferred by several of the States, in virtue of their respective charters. The territory northwest of the Ohio had been claimed in part, or in whole, by Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Virginia. Massachusetts had claimed under an ancient charter, granted to the Plymouth colony, the boundaries of which, passing over whatever land was held by other christian nations, extended to the Pacific Ocean. This charter had been confirmed after the revolution in England, by William and Mary. Connecticut advanced a claim, extending in width one degree of latitude, and also running west to the Pacific; Virginia rested her claim on several ancient charters, in one of which, the boundary extending for a certain number of miles from Point Comfort, ran after

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