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


were corsidercd substantially complied with, by
the cu,,isK down few trees and erecting log cabin
the work Of only few DAYS Even these condi-
ucns very tn be considered merely nom.
nsi and were Quired TO be pursued, in ortJ
to YES, in the grantee the fee simple Of the soil S,yh
was the systeln under which this country orV
ally settled and under which the thrteen coI mes
hourished and grew up To that early and vigorous
manhood, which enabled them in fe~ to achieve
their Independence; and beg gen,lem to recollect
and note tho fact, that while they paid
nothing to the mother country, the whole profits Of
their industry we're suffered to remain in thor own
hands. Now, what let us inquire, wa the
which has induced all nations to adoys this system in
the settlement ct countries9 Can he other
than this: that it affords the only certain means of
building up in wilderness-great and prosperous
communities! Was not that policy founded on the
universal belief that the conquest of Q, new country,
the driving Out The savage beasts and still more
wage men, cutting down and subd ling the forest,
and enconuterug all the hartshps aud privations ne.
cessariy incident to the conversion of the wilderness
into cultivated fields, worth the fee simple of the
spi' And was il not believed that the mother coun.
try found ample ID value of the land
So granted IN the additions to her power and the
spurces OF commerce and OF wealth, furnished BY
prosperou and populous States? Now, sir I submit
TO the candid consideration of gentlemen, whether
the policy so diametrieaily opposite to this, which
has been Invariably pursued by the United States
wards the States in the Sest has been quite So
inst and liberal. as we have been accustomed to be-
leve Certain II Isl that TIE British Colonies to the
North of and the Span;f and French to the South
and West, have been fosv red and reared IN under
very different system. lands. which had been for
? -
any charge beyond mo expencc of the survey were
the moment they fell into the hands of the United
States held up for SHE at the highest price thu,
public auction, at ths favorable seasons and not
unfrequently spirs of the widest competition, could
produce, With linitJtion that they should never be
sod below certain n'n!1nnn pree-,hus making it.
u would seen, the cardinal point of policy.
settle the country, and facilitate the formation of
States bot to ell our Golfers BY conug chr auds into
co!i.
Let me now consider for moment, Mr. President
the effect Of these two opposite systems the con-
clifton of New State will take the State of Mis-
souri,, by of example. Here is large and fertile
territory coming into the possession of the Unted
Statcs without any inhabitants but indians and Wild
beasts-a territory which is to be converted into
sovereign and independent State. You commence
your operations by surveying and selling portion
OF the lands, on long credits to actual settlers; and
the population progresses, you go on, after year.
making additional sales on the terms; and this
operation is TO be continued gentlemen tell us for
fifty hundred years least, If not for all time to
come The inhabitants of this new State, under such
a system, il is most obvious, must have commenced
their operations under load Of debt the annual pay
ment of which must necessarily drain their country
OF the whole profits OF their labor Just long this
system shall last. This debt is due, not from
citizens OF the State to others of the State I'm
Whrch cas-: wauf t!:c country
cu it is due from the whole population of the State
10 the United States, by whom it is regularly drawn
out, to be expended abroad. Sir, the amount of this
debt has, i'll every OF the States, actually
constantly exceeded the ability of the people pay,
rs rs proved by the fact that you have been compelled
from time TO time, IN great liberality tn extend
the credits aud in instances even To remit por-
ticus Of the debt IN order TO protect land deb
tors from bankruptcy and total ruin. Now, AIR. Pre-
sdent, will submit the question to any candid man,
whether, under this system, the people of
State, situated could by industry exer,ion,
ever become rich and prosperous. What has been
the consequence, sP3 Almost universal povcrty--ro
money. hardly sufficient circulating me dunn for the
ordinary exchanges of socisty-papeP banks relief
laws and the innumcTable other evils, social political
and moral which il is unnecessary for dwell
Sir under system by VI ich drain like this is con-
rutI A the IA rs he boI.
muny, the country may be truly said to be afflicted
with a curse which II has been well observed more
grievous to- be borne "lan the barrenness of the SOIL
and the fneiemency Of the seasons 1t is said, sir,
that we Learn from own msfortunes how to feel
Tor the suerngs of others and perhaps the present
cond1tion OF the Southern States has served impress
more deeply my mind, the grievous oppression
of system by which the wealth ,f country is drain
ed off, to be expended elsewhere In that devoted
region, Sir in which my lot has been cast, il is our
misfortune to stand in that relation the Federal
Government, which subjects to n taxation which il
requires the utmost efforts of industry meet.
Nearly the whole amount of contributions is
expended abroad-we stand towards the United
States in the relation of Ireland to England. The
fruits Of labor are drawn from us TO enrich other
| and more favored sections of the Union; while with
Of the fnee climates and tho richest products in
the world, furnishing, with third OF the popula.
tion twothrds Of the whole exports Of the country,
We exhibit tho extraordinary the wonderful and pain
tui spectacle OF country, enriched by the bounty of
God, but blasted by the cruel policy of man. The
rank grass grows in our streets our very fields are
|
Such Sir though probably IN less degree, must have
been the effects Of kindred policy the fortunes Of
the West. II is in the nature of things that il
should have been Otherwise.
| Let gentlemen now pause and consider for a mo-
ment what would have been the probable effects of
opposite policy. Suppose Sir certain portion of
the State OF Missouri had been originally laid OFF and
sold TO actual settlers for quit OF pepper.
corn" oven for small price TO be paid down N
cash. Then, Sir, all the money that was made in the
country would have remained in the country, and,
passing from hand to hand would, like rich and album
dant streams flowing through the land have adorned
and fertilized the whole. Suppose Sir, that all the
sales that have been effected had been made by the
State, and that the proceeds had gone into the State
treasury to be returned back to the people in Of
the various shapes in which benecen local govern.
mcnt cxers It's powers for tho inprov ement Of the
condition Of its citizens. Who say, how much
Of wealth and prosperity, how much Of Improvement
in science and he arts, how much Of individual and
social happiness would have been difIused through
cat the land! have done, Mr.. President, with this
topic.
in coming 10 the consideration Of tire great question,
what ought IN lie the future policy OF the government a-
nd The