Mr. MORRIliiL. I think the bill is open fairly to some of the criticisms that have been made on it, and I am not sure that they ought not to be fatal. The subject had some consideration in the committee, and these very objections were considered. It is said the power may be abused. Clearly, but I think the an swer is that it is not necessarily so. The object is a good one, professedly; it is to induce emigration to and the settlement of the large domain of unsettled lands in the southern States. That these parties have not the spirit of enterprise necessary to accorn lish this de clared purpose, I think it would ardly be fair to assume. I think they have. Now. what is the scope of the powers of this bill? In the 1st place, these men are asso ciated as a body politic and corporate. All their powers, of course, come from Congress in the exercise of its functions over this District. We do not propose to invest them with any authority outside of this District; none what? oyer as ainst any State authority. They are simply a odypolitic invested with such powers as May may exercise in this District. he advantages of being associated in this way are obvious enou h. The advantages are such as would natural y arise from an incorporated company over a mere voluntary association or over a partnership. They can act with more efficiency and perhaps with less personal respon sibility. That is a thing fairly to be considered. That being their general power. what can theydo in any of these States? They can do noting repugnant to the policy of the State or any law of the State. hey can only do what an individual might do, or what individuals simply associated together might do. They can O into the States and may o contracts for tapurchase and sale and lease of lands, may hold lands and improve lands, and that is the upshot of the whole of it. They would Operate from this common center, sending their agents into the States to purchase and sell lands. They undoubtedly would have power and capacity over individual enterprise. That is the very object of the bill; it is to give them the power which comes from associated capital and associated enterprise. If the object is a good one, then the more power in that direction the better, provided it is not abused. It is said that it is new legislation for this district. I am inclined to think that to some extent it is so; and that feeling is growing. I should say, from the number of bills of this character that have been presented to the committee during the last year or so. Feeling that some authority or some power in the name of the General Government, or having the sanction of the General Government, ought to go from this particular localityinto other sections of the country, my honorable friendfrom Maryland [Mr. Ensswnnn] introduced a bill of a similar character, which is now before our committee, to incorporate a mining and manufac turing company, not limited to this District, but to operate anywhere in any State where it can get permission so to do. That bill is almost a transcript of this; it is precisely after the style of this.,