Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-23


the sales of public lands to answer the
object. This wonld certainly be a heavy
tax on the Treasury. Mr.. {. denied the
probability ofspeculators coming into the
market with the soldiers lands Tor sale ;
because, as it appeared from the PreSi-
dents Message, that spectators had par
chased AT the public sales large quantities
of the public land, awaiting the benefit OF
the rise expected 10 take place in them
But, If the spectators should come in
competition with the government, the
whole amount they could sell would not
sensibly affect the public receipts from
thc sale of the public lands. These we're
few OF Mr.. C's rrHarhs.
Mr.. HUNTING ,ut Connection, was
opposed la striking out The first section Of
the bill. ii!S object was nO, 70 increase The
bounty OF The soldiers, but TO give an op-
poriuOity 10 gentlemen TO propose a.
UirndDcnts. He tho't perfectly fair 10
allow gentlemen IN make the bill as per-
feet as they could, aud to reserve the right
thought proper.
Mr.. CoMsroCN, Of n. York, said, in
. the commencement of his remarks, that
II might not be prudent for man who
had spent the greater part of his life in
nhSlng up medicines TO mingle in the
conflict of lawyers OH this question but
the interest he felt IN II superseded such
considerations. He was decidedly op-
posed to striking out the first section. be-
cause, as he proceeded TO show, he lhu't
Congress could legislate with propricty
and benchciaiiy OH the subject. The go
Nernmeni, III granting this bounty land
lie admitted, had been liberal, but not
TOO much so; but we have to deplore
tiat speculation has grown out Of il which
required the mterpOstion of the legisla-
inre which, he argued, ought not TO be
withheld on Tie plea that abuses might
grow out of any Legislation on the sub
leci. In proof OF existing abuses, he said.
/, was well known, that rights 10 100 a.
ores had been repeatedly sold by the sol
diers al this place, at the rate OF 100 acres
Tor 80 dollars and if he had chosen TO
have availed himself Of lie improyidence
OF poor soldier, before he left home. lie
might have obtained his right for ten doi-
lars and they had frequently been sold
he presumed, al from ten dollars to one.
III such an evil admitted of no remedy, it
was "a prodigy. But, Mr.. c. thought
there was alemedy, & that this biiiwonid
AFFORD II. Even the stand which had been
already taken il this House, wouli have
the most benchci,u effect, as il would con-
vince HE soldier iiia; many gentlemen on
this door believed this land To he worth
vastly more than his feliow-Soldiers' had
sold for. When he offered the motion
which had given riSe 10 the introduction
OF this bill, MIR. &. said, lie had hoped
something would grow out of IL; and if
unfortunately, the biii should not pass, he
believed the agitation of the question
would be found TO have cured much ofthe
evil.
MIR. LIvERMoRE, Of New Hampshire,
next expressed his views on the main
SUBJECT OF the bill. lie thought the mea-
sure neither Sustainabie on the principle
OF Justice nor on that of muniiicence-
justice requiring only that the govern
ment should fulfil its contract with the SOL
diers, &c. lie did not think it consistent
with the dignity of the United States
to turn SPECTATOR, and purchase land
from the soldier al Il certain price, that il
might be sold out at double rate. The
idea OF purchasing lands OIL speculation.
he thought novel, and unworthy of the
government, ii not unauthorized bv INV
constitutional powers of Congress. II
munihcience was the argument on which
Inc measure was to be sustained, he tho't
there were thousand ways in which if
could be more advamlageouSiy empoyed.
even iii favor OF the soldier. Soldiers he
said, AWAY had been spcculated OH. and
You might as well attempt to shield his
boiy from the bayonct OF an enemy. as
TO shield The soldier from the arts of the
speculator, by any provisions of law. Mr..
l.. was Ill favor ofstrlling cut the section.
because lie belevec'tiie measure would be
oino benefit to the soldier, and was mex
pedient as regarded the government
Mr.. CLAY indicated the amendment
winch he hal suggested from misconcep-
tons which had prevailed in the course
ut the debate on it. I'm reply TO the OBJ
lection made by Mr.. Storrs 10 the power
OF barring the soldiers rights, in certain
cases, Mr.. &. denied It's force, and showed
That sGcIl power had been repeatedly
exercised by the government in carving
into effect us general power to levy taxes,
Nc. - to lhe necessity the soldier would
he under 81 procuring his Communication
by an 'iltnaey, Mr.. Z. said, he did pre-
sune there was no gentleman who had
the lionOf OF seat on this floor who
would hesitate TO receive and remit TO
any sOli.er, his Communication without ex
penSe to hiGI. 10 those who entertained
such slucamlsll fears of the government
engaging IN speculation, MIR. T.. said, he
could use ne argument. II they could
calmly view tne spectacle of The sale of
400 acres OF land for ten dollars, Il could
be alarmed at the idea of spec ulation on
Tie part OF Congress, no argument would
move them. The idea Of Communication.
MIR. Z. sad, was NOT new it runs through
our statute book ii began with the sol
dier OF the revolution, and has been ap-
Pied to the heirs and representatives
OF the same class of men TO whom it was
now proposed further to extend it. Hun
drcds of cases might be found in which
The government had offered present