Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-03-16

to take his latitude. and ascertain how far
the elements have driven him from his true
course. Let US initiate his prudence, and,
before we float further, refer to the point
from which we departed, that we may at
least be able TO conjecture where we now
are. ! ask for the reading of the resolu-
ton.
The Secretary read the resolution, as
! follows -
"Resolved, That the Committee on Pubick
Lands be instructed to inquire and report the
quantity of publick lands remaining unsold
within each State and Territory, and wheth-
er It be expedient to limit, for certain pc
Rod, the sale of the publck lands to such
lands only as have heretofore been offered
for sale, and are now subject to entry at the
minimum price. And also, whether the Of
fee of Surveyor General, and some Of the
Land offices, may not be abolished without
detriment to the publick interest; or wheth-
err 1t be expedient to ADOPT measures to has
ten the sales, and extend more rapidly the
surveys, of the publick lands"1
We have thus heard, sir, what the reso-
luton is, which is actually before us for
consideration ; and it will readily occur
to every one that it is almost the only
subject about which something has not
been said in the speech, running through
two days, by which the Senator has been
now entertained by the gentleman from
South Carolina. Every topic in the vide
range of our publick affairs, whether past
or personal---very. thing, general or local,
whether belonging to national politics or
party politics, seems to have attracted
more or less Of the honorable members
attention, save only the resolution before
US. He has spoken of every thing but
the Publick Lands. They have escaped
his notice. To,hat subject, in all his ex-
cursions, he has not paid even the cold
respect of passing glance.
When this debate, sir, was to be resum-
ed, on Thursday morning, it so happen
ed that it would have been convenient for
me to be elsewhere. The honorable
member, however, did not incline TO put
off the discussion to another day. He
had shot, he said, to return, and he
wished to discharge it. That shot, sir.
which it was kind thus TO inform us was
coming, that we might stand out of the
way, or prepare ourselves to fall before il
and die with decency, has now been re-
celved. Under all advantages and with
expectation awakened by the tone which
preceded it, it has been discharged and
has spent its force. 1t may become me
TO say no more of its effect, than that, if
nobody is found. after all, either killed or
wounded by it, it is not the first time, in
the history Of human affairs, that the vig-
our and success of the war have not qni,e
come up to the lofty and sounding phrase
of the manifesto.
The gentleman, sir, in declining to
postpone the debate, told the Senate, with
the emphasis of his hand upon his heart,
that there was something ranking here
which he wished to relieve. Mr.. Hayne
rose and disclaimed having used the word
rankhng]. 1t would not, Mr.. President,
be safe for the honorable member to APP
peal TO those around him upon the ques-
ton, whether he did, in fact, make use Of
that word. But he may have been I'M
conscious Of it. At any rate, il is enough
that he dsclaims it. But still, with or
without the use of that particular word,
he had yet something here, he said. of
which he wished to rid himself by an inn
mediate reply. In this respect, sir, have
great advantage over the honorable
gentleman. There is nothing here sir,
which gives me the slightest uneasiness;
neither fear, nor anger, nor that which
is sometimes more troublesome than either
the consciousness of having been in
the wrong. There is nothing, either
originating here, or now received here by
the gentleman's shot. Nothing original,
for had not the slightest feeling Of dis
respect or unkindness toward the honoura-
BILE member. Some passages, il is true,
had occurred since our acquaintance in
this body, which | could have wished
might have been otherwise; but had us
ed philosophy and forgotten them. When
the honorable member rose. in his
first speech, | paid him the respect of at
tentive listening and~when he sat down,
though surprised, and | must say even
astonished, at some of his opinions, moth
ing was farther from my intention than to
commence any personal warfare; and
through the whole of the few remarks ]
made in answer, avoided, studiously and
carefully, every thing which thought
possible to be construed into disrespect.
Aud, sir, while there is thus nothing
originating here, which wished, at any
time, or now wish to discharge, | musr
repeat, also, that nothing has been receiv.
ed here, which rankles, or in any way
gives annoyance. Twill not accuse the
honorable member Of violating the rules
.of civilized war-I will not say that he
poisoned his arrows. But whether his
shafts were. or were not, dipped in that
which would have caused ranking if they
had reached, there was not, as it happen
ed, quite strength enough in the bow to
bring them to their mark. If he wishes
NOW To find those shafts. he must look for