Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-03-20
C0NGRESSX0sSAl..
IhAr8day, January II.
IN THE SENATE.
RELIEF TO LAND PURCHASER

Mr.. EDWARDS, of Illinois, rose,
and expressing hope that the great I'M
portance Of the subject then under dis
cussion, to the nation, and more parti-
CularlY the deep interest which the pco-
pic OF the state he had the honor in part
to represent had in it, would be sufi-
eicnt apology for.hls ask ing the attention
Of The Senate to the remarks he felt it his
duty to offer to its consideration--pro-
eeeded to notice certain defects in the
ai!l, and, among others, suggested that,
by It's phraseology, the relief which it
proposed to grant was limited, and con-
i,ncd to the direct pure hasers from the
government, to the entire exclusion OF
those who had purchased from indivi-
cuals lands subject to the lien OF the
goyornm cnt, tor The instruments that arc
still due upon them; which latter class,
he contendcd, if they were not the most
numerous, were in general the most de-
sewing Of relief, because they were
principally composed OF persons who,
having gone to the resp ective states in
which the public lands lie, strangers,
and not knowing where to find vacant
land, or being deslreus of settling in the
viclnities of friends and acquaintance
who had preceded them, had generally
purchased at an advanced price, and Of!
course would, in proportion to their
purchases, be the greatest sufferers
But, said he, what is still worse, by the
provisions of the bill as ii now reads, the
original purchasers have the right to re-
linquish the very lands which they have
sold, in many instances, at an exorbitant
profit: and to appropriate to themselves
shc benefit OF all the instruments that
have been paid by their assgnees.- -
These objections, however, said he, may
be easily obviated by substituting the
word holders in the place purchasers.
Other amendments he thought most OBJ
viously necessary, but, said he, in this
stage Of the bill, it may be most advisa-
Die to discuss its general objects, which,
by elicitlng the views of different gentle
men, may enable us to ascertain with the
more certainty and precision what pro-
visions and amendments will be most
acceptable to the majority of the Senate.
All agree that relief is necessity
Much diversity of opinion, however, may
exist as to what it should be. And, in
order Justly to appreciate the claims
which the debtors for public land have
upon the humanity and justice of this
gov ernment, it seems to be necessary 70
advert to the times of artificial and iicti-
1ious prosperity that are recently past !;
and to contrast them with the present
disastrous turn of affairs, which we sec
every day more and more realized; and
this, for the double purpose Of account
ing for the causes that have seduced that
class of our fellow citizens into condi-
ton which renders the benefcient inter-
position OF Congress necessary to them !;
and at the same time to demonstrate the
expediency, on the part Of Congress, of
extending to them such relief as their
situation requires, and as is not forbid
den by the dictates of liberal and en-
hghtened policy, and a just regard to the
public interest.
Mr.. President, said Mr.. E. I discard
G'ccIi my view Of this subject all merce-
nary considerations of profit to the gov
crnncnt, from granting the relief pro-
Nosed by this bill. Narrow considera-
lions of interest, nice calculations of Pc
Cuniary profit, when the great question is
one of legislative grace and relief, to a
considerable and suffering portion ofthe
community, seem to me to be out OF
place on this floor. l never can ask this
Senate to do what consider wrong, be-
cause it may produce profit to the ma
mon. Nor will l ask it to do what |
consider right, in itself, by appealing to
any such contracted and mercenary con-
alterations. A course like this may suit
the superannuated, corrupt, and totter-
ing monarchies on the other side OF the
Atlantic, living from hand to mouth, by
the expedients of the day, and Fastening
their downfall by the very food on which
they feed but such course is, in my
opinion, as unsuited to the meridian as il
is inconsistent with the dignity of a great
ayouthful, a vigorous, and magnanimous
Republic, a Republic founded on the
affections of the people, flowing from
them as the great fountain of power
instituted SHELLY for their hahtiness
and, consequently, eUer ready to ad
minister, from the hurest motives, a JUS
rekcfto their suferings. This govern
nent, sir, depends for its successful ope