Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-06-16
FROM TIE .N;tii,pinI .Inlrnnl


On motion UT MIR. B"TTOS, the ScuHte took up the
bill 10 graduate the price Of The public lands; and after
speech Of two hours Il ON Mr. BENTON, who avowed
that he did intend urge the consideration OF the
bill al this session,
Mr.. BART ON rose and said: in this remnant of an
afternoon at this Protraced period Of the session. nth
such mass of business, IN which many citizens
Interested Still be acted will not enter into
as ii IS The ayOwed intention of my colleague aud OF
the Senators, not 10 act upon this bin the present
sion OF Congress. But said Mr.. b. it is my intention
10 make brcf reply to that part of INV c0itedgues
speech that does not relate 20 any business before Tue
Senate, in YlIch lie has ndrlgej such extraordina
ry and unnecessary dcnunciaons o! the adninistra-
tons OF the General Government both past and present.
especially 10 that part of the speech respecting the
servat0ns of salines and lead Hics, by Government
OF the United States, and TO the administration the
laws IN relation TO them, by the Executive Branch of
u!is Government.
True, these subjects not before the Senate at pre-
SENT but the speech having been originally prepared
cover ths ground, has been accordingly delivered.
should have deemed IT more fair however, if the Speech
confcssediy p.clafed after the study Of many months
and evidently He product OF much iabour had been us-
cred upon at carly period, and not held back until
the hurried scene OF closing session Of ongrcs as if
by design. 10 prevent reply, and then sent forth among
the people, with certain long repotts never Cacu1 fer
consideration, Unanswered.
The Committee Public Lands agreed to report
tie bill to authorize the sale OF the reserved salt springs
of Tie United States in Missouri to be passed If tie
sary TO conHuCe The laws rcSeryiag them for sale as
ether lands.
Alter all the determinations which Tie senate has lust
heard about the mysterious virtues aud the ndiSne
bic necessity OF salt 10 man; and about tic hcartess
tyranny OF making such Reservations b. The E. States
he fact s that the United States in their compact with
Missouri have granted her twelve OF the best salt
prngs IN the state be selected b, herself and Tie
remaining ones not worth being distinguished from
the mass of the public lands.
The want OF salt be felt in Missouri on ac
cou'S OF ttic DOE H1ly OF Governments but may be rem
dercd plenty and Ccap as the wood in our forests
o. the grass praerics whenever tie pcoe of tia
country shall find Involvement 10 manufacture that
article The country abouDds in salt waters fsore Of
them, my colleague has told you large enough turn
mills, and ilcaV en- has given nCc better security to
the article Than Tie bill upon the subject can do.
lih regard to the other bin, not before the Senate
which forms part OF the subject Of lbc speech 10 at-
Ihorize the sale Of the United States reserved lead
mines, the COMMITTEES entertained different opinion Of
the prOprety OF throwing them into market at tie ~
sent tune with The present Information, OF their situation
and probable value possessed by the people Of the Unit
ed states their common owners and Instructed me TO
move The indefinite pOsipoDcmcut az the bill! when il
should be rAen up f. Cguslcrat ion, concurTcd with
lie Committee ~ that opinion. What IS the situation
Of the people Of The Western States? ARE fIeY
prepares 10 enter Tie market TO purchase the lead mines
OF MISSOURI Every NAN knows that these people arc
immersed in debt contracted in the purchase and the
over purchase OF the public lands.
From tie year SEQ 10 tie pfcscntse5sOn, applications
nave DtC In"He by thci5 Tor Tcle! from those CInbdr
easements That reefhas been granted by that Govern
ineut witch have just heard GcOGunccd for lis grind
ing hcar!css tyranny, with leuy and kindness more
Characteristic Of an ndu!gent parc< than cc1B unfee
ing tyfAn, Are those peopet whom have cz tend
ed rciei and remission at this very session now pre-
pared to compete With the money bodefs ard s2ecua>
iois ~ tie purchase oG the lead nincs The inevitable
consequences Of such competition be, that the
mines would DC moOop0iizcd by few companies of mo-
Deyed spectators, while The body Of the country are
Doinc down by the debts contracted for the lands they
I'VE on-debts enhanced upon them by the former Gu
p1iy OF those same moneyed SPECTATORS. Were tho
interests OF Missouri alone to be considered il 10 surely
not Tue iime 20 urge upon the United States TIC sale OF
the lead mines
Butwe have higher duty 10 perform, and a larger
oOect TO consider, than the supposed local advantage
Of the Re" people Of the United States who now iubabi
Missouri.
nose mines are the common property Of all these
united States; all equally interested in thein and
equally entitled TO full and fair Information Of their stu
aIon VaiUc and whatever else may conduce To- fair
ana equal disposition in them. They we're purchased
With Tie money Of all; and the small number Of the
common owners, who have since migrated TO the Mis-
sTPp, are not alone 20 be consulted and if they were
the inevitable consequence Of bringing the mines into
market at present, would be to throw them into The
hands OF few United States officers and other money
hOidcis-esPeC laly holders Of public mone,-to the
EXCLUSION o. ihc great BODY OF tie peore o. .rt co~u.