Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-05


mont fit was not now IN order he said he would
make the motion ut another limo.
The PRESIDENT said the motion vas not in
order.
Mr.. FOOT made fcw observations in rcpN, 10
Mr.. BENTON and Mr.. WOODBURY.. He repcll-
ed the imputatioD that it vas through any hostile
motives to the West rr proposed the resolution.
lie said the question here involved was of great
and increasing importance and interest, and added
that It the resolution and amendment in the modified
form were adopted, ne should to add TO tho
whole, the words "proprety ofmaking donations to
actual settlers"
On motion Of Mr.. SMITH, of Maryland, divi-
sion OF the question was ordered.
Mr.. HAYNE said, that if the gentlemen who Ind
discussed this proposition had confined themselves
strictly tn the resolution under consideration, he
would have spared the Senate tho trouble of ening
to the few remarks he now proposed 10 offer II has
bcrn said. and correctly said by more than gcn
uenan, that resolutions of inquiry ns0ally stuff
fered to pass without opposition. The parliamentary
practices IN this respect was certainly founded IN
good sense and sound policy which rcuardcd such
resolutions Intended merely TO elicit information,
and therefore entitled TO favor. But, said Mr.. H.,
cannot give my to the proposition so broadly
laid down BY some gentlemen, that, because nobody
stands committed by vote for inquiry that there
fore every resolution proposing an nquiry-no matter
on what subjcct-must pass almost a matter of
course, and that 10 discuss oppose such resolutions
ID unparliamontary. The trne distinction seems to
DO thiswhere Information is desired the basis of
legislation; where the policy of any measure, or
The principles it involves really questionable il
vas always proper Co send the subject tc
for investigations bot where all the material facts
already KNOWN md there fixed and settled opinion
IN respect to the policy to be pnrsned. inquiry WIS
unnecessary, and ought to be refused. No one, he
thought, could doubt the correctness of tic position
assumed by the gentleuJun from Missouri that DO
inquiry ought To be Instituted as 10 the cxpc-
diency of doing "a great and acknowledged wrong :"
do not mean. however. to Intimate opinion that
such rs the character Of this resolution. The uppli
cation fthese rules TO the before US will decide
self to the decision of the question. whether the
inquiry called for should be granted or refused
With that decision, whatever il nuy' be- shall be
content
l have not risen, however, Mr. President for Tie
purpose of discussing the propriety of nsiitutln tie
inquiry recommended by the resolution, but TO offer
Jew rcmurks on another aud much more important
Question TO which gentlemen have alluded IN she
COURSE ofths 6ebutc-f mean the policy which en- nit
10 be pursued in relation to the PUBLIC LANDS. Eve
ry gentleman who hns had scat in Congress for
the last two three years for the last two
three weeks, must be conviaced Of the great and
growing importance of this question. More than
half of our time has BEEN taken mp with the discus
sion o. propositions connected with the Public Lands
more than half of our acts embrace provisions grow
ing out Of Tins fruitful source. Day after cay the
changes are rung this topic, from the ruye :-,-
~ into the right of the New States TO The absolute
sovereignty and property In tho soil. down TO the
grant OF pre-smptio1 Of fey quarter snc,ions -
actual settlers. In the language of nrca, n,or in
relation TO another "vexed question we NAV truly
say, THAT year after year have been Isshed round
the miserable circle % occasional arguments md
Porary exped;aNts." No gentleman can fail to per
ceve that this is question no longer to be evaded:
II uinst be mcfairly and fearessly met; question
that Is pressed upon Us in SO many wuys-that in
trudcs IN such variety eGsapus-involvinr 70 deep
~ we fe-r,s ind interests OF large portion Of the
Notwithstanding itself into almost every question
of public policy, and tngne the whole course of our
legisatien-cannot be put aside, or laid asleep. We
cannot long avoid 1--we must meet and overcome
II, or 1t will overcome Let us then, Mr. Presi-
dent, be prepared to encounter IL in a spirit of wis
dom and of justice, and endeavor to proparc our own
minds aud the minds of the people, for Just and en-
lighiened decision. The object Of the remarks am
about to offer, is merely to cali public attention to
tho question, TO throw ont fow crude and undincs-
cd thoughts, food for reflecton-in order to pre
pare the public mind for the adoption at no distant
day, of some fixed and settled policy in relation to the
public lands believe that out of the Western
country there is subject in the whole range of our
Legislation, less understood and in relation to which
there exists SO many errors md such unhappy preiu
dlces end misconceptions.
There NAV be said to be two great parties In this
country, who entertain very opposite opinions in re-
aflon to the character of the policy which the 90
Vernment has heretofore pursued in relation to The
public lands, as well as to that which ought hercaf-
ter, to be purssed. PROPOSE very briefly to exam
inc these opinions, and to throw ont for considera-
ton q few ideas In connection with them. Advcr,ina
first to the past policy OF the government we find
that ono party, embracing a very large portion per
OF the people oil the UNI
ted States in all quarters The Union entertain the
opinion that in the settlement Of the nov States and
the disposition of the public lands Congress has pur
s1ed not only highly just and liberal course but one
OF extraordinary kindness and indulgence. We are
regarded as having ncted towards the new States IN
the spirit OF parental weakness, granting to froward
children, not only every thing that was reasonable
and proper, bot actually robhng ourselves of our pro-
perty TO crafty their Unsuitable desires while the
other party embracing the entire West insist that we
have treated them from the beginning not like heirs
OF the estate, but III tho spirit Of hard taslmaser
resolved to promote our selfish interests from the fruit
Of their labor Now, cir, it is not my prese purpose
TO investigate oil the grounds which these opposite
opinions rest; shall content myscfwth noticing one
or two particulars, IN relation to which il has lonn
appeared to ue, that the West have had SONIC cause
Tor compliant. ] notice them now, not for The pur-
pose Of aggravaing the spirit Of disconcnt in rca-
lion to this subject, which s known 10 exist IN that
quarter, Tor do not know that my voice sill ever
reach them, but TO assist IN bringing others TO what
eeIleve to be Just of the past policy Of the
government IN relation to this matter. In the Gre
niIon and settlement Of the new States, Mr. Prcsi-
dent, the plan has been invariably pursued of selling
" NWN