The House resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of Monday last, on the bill making compensation to Messrs. Lewis, Clarke, and their companions.
The bill grants land warrants, which may be either located or received at the land offices in payment of debts due there, at the rate of two dollars per acre. The bill grants these persons 24,960 acres.
A motion was made by Mr. Lyon to strike out so much as permits the receipt of these warrants at the land offices in payment of debts. This was opposed by Mr. Alston and supported by Messrs. Tallmadge, J. Clay, Quincy, Cook, Lyon, Ely, and D. R. Williams. It was contended that double pay was a liberal compensation, and that this grant was extravagant and beyond all former precedent. It was equivalent to taking more than $60,000 out of the Treasury, and might be perhaps three or four times that sum, as the grantees might go over all the Western country and locate their warrants on the best land, in 160 acre lots.
A motion to recommit the bill was made, and after considerable debate, was carried—ayes 66.
Wednesday, February 25.
Post Roads.
On motion of Mr. Thomas, the House proceeded to consider the Post Office bill.
Mr. J. Randolph observed that this was an extraordinary bill, and was passing in an extraordinary manner. It gave New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and some other Northern States, a large number of post roads, and not one to Virginia. It was not wonderful that this subject was pressed on by certain gentlemen. If it would not be considered as too alarming a proof of Virginia influence on this floor, he would propose a new road from Prince Edward County, in the district which he represented, to Petersburg. Mr. R. spoke at considerable length.
Mr. Blount observed that many large counties in the Southern States had no post roads, while scarcely a town in the Northern States was without one.
Mr. Quincy repelled the suggestion of partiality by recurring to former laws and showing that the Southern States had been previously accommodated better than the Northern States.