Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-03-03
THE SECTIONAL DEBATE.

luton offered in the Senate by Mr.. Foot
of Connecticut, for an inquiry into the ex-
pediency Of disseminating the surveys Of
Of the public lands. Mr.. Benton of Mis-
souri,, in a speech upon this resolution
made an attack upon the New-England
states, as being influenced by unfrIend
Ily feelings towards the West. Mr. Web
ster, Of Massachusetts, repealed the charge
Of lliberality in relation to the West and
argued that the states north of the Hudson
rad been more liberal towards the West
I than ths South had been. This bapht
ic9 MI uayul Of South Carolina; Wac
reiterated N1r. Beaton's censures against
[ the New England states. The discussion
Is still unfinished.
Among the Speakers in this extraor
binary debate, Mr.. Barton of Missouri,
! has attracted particular notice. He cen
Isures in strong terms the introduction oil
such a course of argument as had been
employed by his colleague Mr.. Benton,
/ and chastises Mr.. Benton with well
meyited severity. We subjoin an extract
7 from bis speech
'Au was going on tremendously here. The mag
unanimous yictoFs 10 the late Presidential campaign
seemed satisfied with their triumph and their tros
phies. All paris Of the Union were expressing
favourable dispositions towards the young West
A liberia. system no dspOslng Of our public domains
pr0pitious 70 our growth and our prosperity, and 10
The leyelOpemeut Of all our resources, was openly
advocated by the North, tse South, the East and
The West; when a minor chIettan Of your party
of not much renown for either policy or war, Col.
Benton not satisfied with the scalps be had taken
iu the late campaign fell suddenly and unexpected
w Uroa the prisoners of the minority, and COM
msucld scene Of massacre of the living and,
dragging the dead from their graves re-scapet
/ them Who had been scalped and buried by othe'
arms more vaiorous than hls Own, during the eNl
,stence Of the by-gone warl
/ And thus one, lrrogautly speaking Tor the Who'll
[ Wesg threw the hTCDund among the menibers d|
Tins body and lighted up the fame Of tins partisal
warfare of sectional prejudice, i9ca. luminosity, au
civil iiscord.
Il Is not my purpose 20 avail myself Of the oil
irauge Of my privilege nor TO affect 20 spe ik dt
gers 10 the b0soms of either the ruling MAORI
I here, or that board OF rewards and punishment
yon4er who. having obtained POSSESSION OF I'LL
liTre,srrv. the Press, and the Offices, honows aud
emolumcnts of the republic, have been e,.sL'ill
me fathers Of the revolution weep j the could
behold them,
] Never did more disuteros,ed and patriot body
of men appear in one of Ouf Presidential oltests
than that minority 10 the West with whol had
the honour 20 be associated under the adrnlstra.
ton Of Mr.. Adams, and the equal hunoar be- de-
uOuuced under that of his successor, as be- sun
.iuell and bastard sons of the Vest
We saw, with sorrow, the line of our-eyolu
t0narv worthless extinct; that heuCelOrll new
race ofaspirants would spring up among as divide
and distract the country into personal factions ar
ryed under the banners Of their local leadtrs and
those harmonious elections, by general consent
which marked the elevation Of most OF our i0rmei
Presidents, about 70 disappear from our country -
P flaps togevtTl
( W. were not ignorant Of the fIct that in sucf
au array Of parties, under great plurality OF lead
er-, those who did not succeed, might cCalosce
aud form an opposition TO hang upon the rear Of
any future administration, and paralyzo all rs ef
| forts for the public veal.
We cav the Presidential elections Of our cow
I try about 20 assume o new character, 20 become
mere rafting matches and lotteries, IN " hch the
1 desperate In fortune would take a chance hope
| of relief and the bankrupt in reputation would
seek protection an the shelter " crowds and the
strength Uf combination.
We belonged 20 neither OF these two casses:
we had no personal stake IN that ratfle-c ticket
DOB that lottery except in common with our couu-
try. We neither desired u0T expected any Office
ur individual advantage.
flour candidate succeeded, we relolced ior our
country: ifhis rival succeeded and the ccnstltu-
uongl liberties of the country were preserved. and
It's welfare were promoted no an equal degeei we
were content, and had gained our victory.
We did not dream of this reckless prosecution
f,r aniuion's sake. that now makes the land male.
of this rtvaeing persecution for the exercise of
the bi rh and sacred right of election which now
tears The vitais of this republic.
Il never entered our Imagination, that a combi-
nation. guided by the friends OF party discipline.
otic.. hunting and notwithstanding, could %
soon convert me high and happy privilege Of free
elections into species OF contest cor victory and
ven1strce. and tle Presidential elections Ct or
country into the sackiug Of cities by Suwarow;
and the Offices and h0nOurs and emoluments Giom
ror,-f-, into the mere spOlls Of barbarian war.
We -f5ndly believed the time TO lie flr-tar IN
unL7ov,n futurity when the Presidential elections
ftbs United States, as the elections Of the Empe-
rors Of Germany and the Kings of Poland, should
become the signal for civil discOrd and sectional
strife, and, like them prove the rock upoa which
tbe vessel Of state must be ultimately wrecked and
lost .-
we beheld great nation spring up on Tins con
tipent and suddenly extend iiseiftrom the Atlantic
Sea 10 the Mississippi, from a stock of iugltves
from persecution and prescription both religious
ANA D6itical In the old world; and re had been
taught aud t0ndly believed that 50 fur from those
demons of human misery reaching Us here, they
had been excluded by the rampaTts Of our own
fee constitution; that the exercise OF tbs great
| fundamental right Of election, which lies al the
foundation Of al our liberties, would never even
smbirter the charities Of life, OF disturb the haT-
monies of society fo5 moment but that each free
mqn would ike the other better for ms honest
differences Of opinion, guaranteed 10 HIM by me
sacred compact of our civil institutions, and con
/ - - a.. Ll..L -E .La R---nlu-Luu-