Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-18

restore certain interests in ,em TO the state of
artificial prosperity which they enjoyed during the
war. During the whole period of that contest the
Southern country was deprived OF market for its
great staples, and there Was nothiug in the military
operations of the government TO compensate the
loss. Even if the people had devoted themselves to
the growing of grain, there no armies ia the
field to consume it, and that, like their cotton and
tobacco, would have remained without a market.
In this of things, they only ceased make
any progress in woath, but were compelled to cou-
tract their accustomed expenses, aud use ,n ceono-
my before unknown TO them, TO provide decent
maintenance for their families. These habits made
the return OF peace to them, the harbins. of pros
pery. I, dspensaion Of justice res;.iiins i:am
the very mature OF thin:ss that those who suffer the
greatest privaons in war, shall be least affected BY
the changes resulting from the restoration of peace.
Bat, SIX, viii venture to assert, that the mi,lde
aud western states have, at this moments us large
share of the of positive enjoyment as auy
thcr portion OF the Union. Their dstresses are
latiye, and in great degree magn,arv. II is not
what they are but what they mere, that causes The
prevailing discomfort. The reduction OF an inflated
currency has reduced the nominal price of property
and the man who, few years past, estimated his
wealth al fifty thousand dollars, and now finds it
only twenty five complains of his disresses as tho
Inc were in want of the necessarics OF life. / adj
init tha, the western people embarrassed, but
deny that they distressed, in any other sense Of
the word. Where is the evidence Of actual suffer-
IN: In some OF the western states, am informed.
they hav': no po0r ta,cs al al, and that such ,es
as a raupcr Is scarcely known. Regarding, there
fore, the aggregate enoynents OF the whole com
m unity, as tho true criterion of national happiness.
should select tho western states the part ut The
Uaon where the highest drsrce of prosperity pre-
vailed. Indeed sir believe there is not the face
| oil the earth region of Country of equal extent,
where few suffering from poverty, at.i where
tho means of comfortable subsistence abundant!,
reward the to! of tie aborer. 1t is not Distress
repeat u. but discomfort, that has excited ;!s rage
for creating wealth by legislation. To prove this,
will advert to another standard; Of prcsperity re-
fcrre to, very unfortunately think. for his own pui-
poses, by the honorable gentleman from New York,
to whom before alluded He told us thar the
prosperity OF a nation was Indicated by Tie increase
OF its populations; and then favored us with beau
ifL dsquisition OH the comforts OF matsnouy, anil
the duty of the government &c promote IT, 1 per-
fcctIy accord with these ve&s OF the honorable.
member, but mus; be permitted say, that. accor-
ding to the criterion 20 which lie has referred there
Il no other nation prosperous as the T. States,
All no part of the UI.:on prosperous that from
which wc hear much about their distyesses. And
ii tho honorable nenbor wishes 10 promote the
cause Of matrimony,I would advise him 10 send his
twelve and-a-half cents per day aborers to The
western country. What sir! country which tlot-
oes its population in ten years, call upon gover-
ment to relieve it from distress, by creating new en-
Payments! The Thug will not bear examination
The historian will scarcely be credited, in future
time, who ventures to record it. Permit me to cal
the attention OF the House few facts illustrative
ut this part of the subject, which ain sure will not
be disputed. IN the states where the public lands
arc III market, you can purchase land of the first
quality for one dollar and fifty cents per acre one
dollar and Twenty-Five cents says gentleman near
mc-when land Of the same quality, is worth, in
some parts of the Union, fifty dollars per acre.
This single fact speaks more than volumes OF deca-
nation on the subject of popular suffering. Indeed
II may be safely asserted. paradoxical as it may
scen that the imaginary distresses of the western
county, proceed from the very abundance in vacl
! they possess the primary ainent of nat;ona!
wealth. What is their complaint? Not as one
would suppose, the scarcity, but the superb bun
dance of the necessaries of life. And here, | will
ooseive that nothing, III my opinion, has contribu-
ted more to the existing arrangement in the Gle
mens of wealth in the western states, than bring
| ing the public lands into market imuiiciousy and
without any regard to the existing demand. The
inevitable tendency Of this policy, by overlooking
the market, is 20 reduce lands TO The minimum price;
and if that were fixed al fifty cents per acre, the
| land would command more. The consequence
Isl that the people purchase large quantities OF pro-
ductIve lands, which have all the constituent value
| but scarcity. And. because they have not every
thing else in proportion, they disconnected and
restless. And will avail myself Of this occasion
10 ueciafe, 'hat never VIII gave my vote 10 bring
another acre of the public lands into the market,
but under the strongest conviction that there is a
fair and natural demand for it. Our very system
converts our land into drug in ihe market
and the people into spectators.
viii now take tie liberty Of addressing n few
words especially to the Representatives oftLe West
| on the subject oftheif interests. subject up-
on which certainly will not presume TO instruct
them. But ! am they will excnse friendly adj
monition, VIXEN state the particular topic 10 which
1t relates. i am well assured that the permanent
prosperity Of the west depends more upon the i'm
Provement of the means of transporting their pro-
duce to market, and of receiving the returns than
upon every other subject which the legislation of
this government an be directed.
On measures of this description, have hereto
fore given them my earnest and cordial support
Most of my colleagues, aud many others, who re-
present the southern portion Of the Union, have pur-
induce ne to change my views or conduct OH the
subject; but submit to- the ,,ispassionate consit!e
ration oil the western gentlemen, whether there is moi
oamSer' mat, by urging upon system, which We
pcievc to be oppressive, they will ALLEVIATE the kind
feelings of the portion of the country to which
nave alluded and lose its Corporation in relation
TO that system of internal improvements which, in
my opinion, IS of more importance to the west tina n
all the tariis That can be passed i'll half century
Speech 10 be cosf:,,ued.I
CHeRAw, Is. c. June II.
PRESIDENTIAL