Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-01
Mo-, y ~, DECENIBER -.
In SEN AWE

1lr. Beai5a I4.in:y o;itainsl leave to intr0lu =
bin Tor The graduation Of The price Of the Pubic
lands T.rflccd il with tint following remarks:
Air. PhtsIpE:.r; rise for the purpose of Inak-
ing tie motion .Jr which gave notice on Thurs
day last--a motion Tor Lave to Introduce a bin To-
graduate the price OF the public lands. In asking
this leave for the fifth time, sir, do not deem il
neccs airy 70 70 into any general exposition of the
merits OF Iuy bill; that done very fully about
tWo years ago, and II j. moi Intention 10 repeat
Now, amy thing which then said But there i
point OF ..w in which the character Of the LII
has been misunderstood, Gnd for the better under
standing OF which sloul be glad 10 b. in,ul.-
cd ii saying "A few words. II has been thought
by come, that tliis bill Oh sectional, or 4 local
character calculated Tor the peculiar benefit of the
States in the West, and not intended 20 90 an
sool 70 she Older States in the East and the Union
at large. II such was the fact, Mr.. President,
believe should have no necessity, certainly 10
iaclina!ion, TO conceal deny il: for | have had
too many proofs OF the pacnal Kindness Of the Sen
ate towards these young States, to fear that any
measure, favorable TO them, would be the less fl
yored in this Chamber on that account. But such
IS not the fact, sir. My bill is not of sectional
or local character. Ii is not intended for the ex-
elusive peculiar benefit &C the new States in the
West, but compartments within lis liberal scope
!lc essential interest Of every State in the Union
Every State, Mr. Prcsicnt is essentially interest
ed in having the public debt paid off, and its citi-
zcns relieved from the load Of taxes which they
now bear account Of it. My bill, sir, is intend
Cd TO facilitate the accomplishment OF these objects
aud any bill which shall have that effect viii be
admitted, apprchcad 70 be i very different thing
from piece Of sectional or local legislation
be!iey'. Mr.. President, that, by the operation
% this bill, ia conjunction with other measures,
now Ia force, thc public debt may nov he paid off
IN five years AMI The People relieved FROM tie an
nuiI levy Oi twelve OF fifteen millions Of taxes. /
say five years: and paradoXical as such declara-
zion may seem, believe Il is not only true, but
that the riaincst statement Of my proposition will
amount 80 demonstration of is truth. For cx-
ample: VIC owe debt OF siNty-seYcn millions,
bearing al iatcres. Of three millions an we have.
"a Government 10 support which costs US ten mil
Hons To meet these dcindn Is we have q rcvc-
Iue of q million ani-l hall, derived from sales Of
public ldads, and twenty three millions more, TAX
lug average OF three years, derived from duties
on imports, Bank dividends and few other sourc-
c5. Now, . clear that tbs revenue derived from
duties anl other sources, exclusive Of the lands,
would b. suiic Of its,i 10 dcfray the current
expenses ui the government, and 60 cxtingui IA The
debt in i've years pToriiei It's whole amount could
re applied % these two Oh cts and that il might
applied IS equally clear, provided the interest
pC the deb, for that period, could DC raised from
t!Ie i1nds. This chen, j. my object; and in pro-
posing 20 accomplish j; Is means Of the bill which
an asking leave 70 Introduce, do not consider
myself as attempting Jny thing new, proposing
any innovation upor the ancient policy Of tlis Co
comment but Only Cuoeav0ufing to use these
lands Tor the precise purpose for which they were
ceded 10 tn Congress OF the Confederation above
forty years ago ii is wol known, Mr.. President,
That these lands, the greater part of thoin were
long since, ccied 70 General Government, By
different States, 60 be " disposed of' for tlic pay
N mt Of tic public debt, and il is equally well
known chat, instead Of being so &c disgOsed ar
they have, on Tie contrary, been 80 reserved from
sale and kept out Of iuaract so hurecd up in the
arms and treasured away 10 the bosom Of ,lc Fed
efal Government, that upwards Of ninc-tenths Of
them remain, % this d1y unsOld! ani thst enough
has not been received from their sales 10 reimburse
the Federal Trc3ury for is expenses IN the 1cqu-
5ton and management Of Them!
So Ear from paying ia public delft, that they have
not yielded the fifth part Of tc interest which
has accrued upon 81; and the States which made
50 magnificent provision for the discharge Ot
That Revolutionary legacy, aiJcr paying about one
hundred 0nd fifty millions in int rest with money
derived from other sources, have the modification
at The end Of nearly haif1 century, % the dcd
about as large as 10 was, and themselves suil re-
CURED b, 20 e. sl ten or tW Give millions more
from other source, 90 meet IL annual interest," and
fraction q The capta' Such result, Mr. Preticnt
announces great fault in the administration o
this fund so patrOucaiy given for purpose {,
which il has not been applied; and have no bcsi
tatbn in Affirming, that THE fault lee IN tho poicy