Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-05
CONGRESS-.
IN SENATE-JAN. 10, 1850.
PUBLIC LANDS.

OF the bic lands, &c. being under consideration
Mr. HOLMES rose and said, If some stranger had
happened to have been in the Senate when the Sem
from Missouri, Mr. Benton] rose in the debate
oEycsterday, and had listened to him throughout, he
would have been led to conclude, that the Thirteen
United States were thirteen tyraDts: that they had
driven the emgrans to the West, exposed to savage
beasts and savage men: that they had not only with
held populations but had extended to them the hand
ofeppression that, in spite of the savages the
hnnd and our tyranny OH the oher,. they had grown
aud fourished that we hada dsregarded their COM
plants and Inconsistencies, is the capricous SQUALLS
of child which did not know whether it was ag-
grieved not that this child had at length acquired
the voice, vlgor, and courage OF man-had risen up
and hurled defiance In the teeth of its unnatural pa
rent; that instruction prevaed that dscord was
swapping her whip of scorpons-the torch of rebellion
was lighted-the flames of civil war We're kinded-
aud this resolution to seal their subjugation but
when he came to learn that lo and behod!) nothing
more was intended but to inquire whether sufficient
quantity of our land ready for SALE supply the
denand; and, if so. whether of the officers EN-
pioysd III surveying hem might not be dispensed With
he would be surprised, and suppose it dream.
Thus said Mr. III. does nipassioned eloQuence map-
nify small affair into fearful catastrophe. If there
is danger of excitement, who has created that dan
ger? Surely the Senators who have opposed the re-
solution Had it passed SUB sentio was in the
ordinary course of business, the rest would have
thought nothing of ii. This inquiry is demanded for
the Information of the Senate md the People. They
want light We ask an inquiry, and now, by this
preliminary and premature discussion, the gentlemen
have placed themselves IN this dilcmma-i make
the inquiry you alarm the West-if we suppress it
the East will suspect you. In these days. when re-
form has been promised and is expected, we ask for
information subject SO important as our public
domain, and this information is refused WHAT will
be the inferences You raise every where suspicion
and jealousy. that something is wrong, which will not
bear the light SIR 1t is not for Us, who call for this
inquiry, to give detail of the quantity
quality, and location of these lands nor of the nun,
ber duties, and emolumcnts of the officers employed,
1t would be admitting at once, that we have all the
information the resolution seeks. Fhese are the We
ny objects of the inquiry. We may have some know
ledge, but not enough. This is my case. we have
fire great land districts, VIII /. Ohio and Indiana. Q
Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas; B. South of the
Tennessee, including Mississippi and Louisiana; a
Alabama; 5, Florida. In all these we have surveyed
lao 900 ,006-sod and granted about 80 900 600
leaving than 100 900 600 of acros s, for sale
The quantity reserved by, coded TO the States is
probably not less than SO 100000; and hat is in the
hands of spectators, who purchased not TO cultivate
bat sell, and other large claimants under f,rarn
grants &c not less than $4,000, 900 more; making
grand aggregate of 200 900 900 of acres now ready
for purchasers Now if 100 acres is sufficient for
farm which WILL sus' ain family of six persons there
is already enough from these different sources to ac
cemmodate 900 900 of persons, equal the whole
population OF the United States But suppose that
one hall of this unfif cultivation ia arre deduc
ton IN country described perac paradise then
1t would be only sufficient for sT millions IF then
you have enough already surveyed to supply only six
millions, Is IL necessary be at the expense of sur
veying more, rather, is dangerous to inquire into
the eapediency of dong it? This question is the more
impressive when reflect that this West contains
100000 OF inhabitants and only 20 600 900 of The
public lands have yet been sold And repeat had
this inquiry ben permitted from the usual courtesy
ofthe Senate, no excitement might have been appre-
hended from any quarter-all would have believed il
was III the spirit OF reform. and coming from the quar-
ter 1T does, that there sincerity in itet us
see at least, whether we have not officers in this de-
partment, who have nothing to do, nothing which
we may want done for many If so, instead of
empty professions TO apuse, If not deceive the Pep
pie, let us set to work in earnest.
But, are told that we need not direct the Com
to Giv
us all necessary information. Now, two Senators
have volunteered to inform We expected and
had right 20 expect, detailed statement as expi-
cit as the report of Committee; for nothing else
would fairly and properly dispense With the inquiry
But, sir, 1t was fairly predicted, that to give in
speech, clear, precise, and accurate statement in de
tall of the quantity, value, and location in these
lands, would be an attempt to which no man is EQUAL
and If he was, 1T IS not in the power of the human
mind to comprehend it. merely by hearing it-and so
it has turned out. The Senator from Illinois rMr
kane,l has attempted it In LAS any one OBJ
tanned The information ask from what lie has suid?
The has developed the whole subject | for one am
so unfortunate as not to comprehend it. 81 did TO
be sure tell us that the whole system needed rnod-
hcatlon-fhe strongest argument far inquiry and vet
lac was against it.
The Senator from Missoari Mr. Bsnton I has not
even attempted 1T. His remarks, when they applied
to the subject at all Were confined chiefly to his own
State, only small portion of of the FIVE great
land districts. Is this giving full view of the
whole subject Il is compliment TO our under
standings pretend 1t. The opposers of the inquiry
are driven 10 NO grounds; that they rave al
ready informed that have no Eia ht to know
But the Information yet given is utterly defective
and consists defamation be sufierinos of the
West You! hand Of oppression rests heavy oil her
$50 heavy, that you must not even inquire into her
condition. And will it be pretended that the People
ofthe United States have right to understand the
condition of their !ans l. information to be locked
up, and is the West exclusively to keep the kevss
Sir If we refuse TO open the doors. the People Will
break them. No secrets No secretsl let us know
every thing which concerns property or our Ii
berty.
But, says the Senator from Missouri, TMr O. if
you abolish the offices of surveyors, dte records will
be taken away and the people will be deprived of
their evidences of title Indeed How does this fol.
low? 1t would be strange indeed, if in aboIishing
an office, it was beyond the power of legislation to
provide for preserving the records and autheuica-
tine comics. I believe sir that evor,,