Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-06

he Parliamentary rule i'm this respect certainly
founded IN good sense aud sound poicywhch regard
ed such resolutions as intended merely TO elicit iniorna
uon ana therefore entitled 10 favor.
But, said MIR. H., cannot give my assent 10 the pro-
position so broadly laid down by gentlemen that,
because nobody stands committed by vote for inquiry,
that therefore every resolution proposing inquiry
no matter on what subect-must pass almost a mat
ter OF course and that TO discuss oppose such reou
ton is supplementary The true distinction TO
be ths-wherc information is desired the basis Of lc
gIsa,on; or where the policy of any measure, the
principles involves really questionable, it al
ways proper to send the subject to committee for in
vesation; but where all the material facts already
KNOWN and there is fixed aud settled opinion in respect
TO the policy 10 be pursued inquiry unnecessary,
and ought TO be refused. No one he thought, could
doubt the correctness OF the position assumed by the
gentleman from Missouri, that inquiry ought TO
be instituted as TO the expcdiency OF doing great and
acknowledged wrong" do not mean however, to in
innate an opinion that such is the character of this
luton The application of these rules the be-
lore us viii decide my vote, and every Senator apply
them Tor hmsc TO the decision of the question: whether
the inquiry now called for should be granted refused
With that decision, whatever il may be, shall be
tent.
have not risen, however, Mr.. Pre- ,ideni, for the
purp s. OF discussing the propirty Of nttuting the in
curry recommended by the solution, but to offer few
remarks en- another and much more important ques-
ton TO which gentlemen have alluded In the Of
inns uebate-l mean the policy which ght TO be pur
sued in relation to the public lands Every gentleman
who has had seat in Congress tor the last two tn
years. or even for the last two three weeks, be
question. More than half of time has been taken
up w'h The discussion OF propositions connected with
the Public Lands-moie than half OF act, embrace
provisions owing out of this fruitful source Day al
t:r day the changes rung this topic, from the
grave inquiry into the right OF the States to
the absolute overegnty and property in the SOIL down
to the grant OF PreenpiiOn OF few quarter sections
TO actual settlers In the language of great orator
IN relation 10 another "vexed question, " we may
W say, hat year after year have been dashed round
tie miserable circle Of occasional Arguments and tenn
ca "a 10 Dsrce
thar this question no longer to be evaded must be
met fairly and feaIlessly met question that press
ed upon Us in so many ways-tha nrules upon Us ia
such variety of shapesinvoving deeply the ieel-
ng and Interests oil large portion Ct the Union-in-
,inuang Itself into almost question Of public poll
icy and IiLging the whole OF our legislation
cannot be put aside laid asleep. We cannot long
void tive must meet and overcome il or it will
come US Lei us, then, Mr. President, be prepared TO
encounter it in spirit OF wisdom and OF Justice aud
ehdeaNor TO prepare our own minds aud the minds Of
the people, Tor just ana enlightened decision.
The object oil the renssCks am about 10 offer. is
merely q call public attention the que stion TO h ow
out few crude and undiges ed thou IN D. a. food for
rehe ctionin order to prepare the public mind the
adoption a, 10 distant day, of fixed aud settled
Obey in rea ion to the public l!nHs. believe tina,
on, of the Western country there is subject in the
Whole range Of our legislation less understood, and in
relation TO which there cxs; NAM c-.crs .i,; .uri,
unhappy Irejudces and msconc eptions.
There may be said to be two great parties in this
country, WHO entertain very opposite opinions in rela
ton to the character of the policy which the govern
heretofore pursued, Relation 10 thc public
lands as we'll 10 that which ought, here AFTER be
pursued | propose, very briefly, TO examine these
opinions and to throw out for consider alton ideas
ia connection with them Adveriing first, TO the past
policy OF the government: hnd that party EN-.
bracing very large portion perhaps this time
jori'y oil the people OF the United States in all quarters
OF the Union entertain the opinion, that n the settle
nent OF the new States and The Opposition OF the pub
lie lands, Congress has pursued not only highly just
and liberal course, but one of extraordinary Kindness
and indulgence. We regarded as having acted to-
mt he of IVA al akpaSS
granting to howard children, only every thing that
was reasonable and proper bu, actually robbng
selves OF Our property TO CRAFTY their unsuitable desires
While the other party, embracing the entire West in
sist that we have treated them from the beginning, not
Ike heirs OF the estate but in the spirit OF a hard task
master resolved TO promote selfish interests from
The fruit oil h"ir labor Now, sir present pur
pose toinvesgae all The grounds which these opposite
opinions RESI-: shall content myself with noticing one
or tvs particulars, in relation TO which il has long APP
peared 10 me- that the Yves, have had cause for
complaint. notice the C,ct now, or the purpose
OF aggravating the spirit of discomfort in relation TO this
subject, which is known exist in that quarter for
DO not know that my voice viii reach Them, but TO
assist in bringing hers to what believe be a lust
sense OF the past policy OF te government in relation
10 TINS matter In the creation and settlement OF the
new Sate-, MIR. President, tie plan has been invaria
bly, pursued, Of selling out rom time TO time, certain
portions Of the publc lands for the highest price that
Could possibly DC obtained for them in open market
and Until a lew years past, long credits. Iu this
respect, marked difference is observable between our
policy and that Of every other nation that has ever at
emptedto establish colonies, create States-
Without pausng TO examine the pursued i'm this
respect at earlier peiiods i'm the history of the world
will come directly TO the measures adopted in the FIRST
settlement OF the world and will confine my oh.
serv atoms entirely to North America.
The English, tie French, and the Spaniards, have
successiveiy planted their colonies here and have all
dopted Il same policy, which, from the very begin
ming OF the world, had always been found necessary in
The settlement OF counries, viz: free grant Of
lands, "wlhou money and without price" We all
know, that the British colonss at their first settlement
tie lords propretors received grants for consdea
tons merely nominal.
The payment OF "a penny, or pepper corn, was the
s ipulaed price which fathers along the whole At
lantc coast, composing the old thirteen States,
paid for their lands, and when conditions, seeming
ly more substantial, annexed 10 the grants--such
tor instance, settlement and cultivation, these were
considered substantially complied with by the cut
ting down few trees aud erecting log cabin--the
work Of only few days. Even these conditions ven
soon came TO be considered a. merely nominal and
required to be pursued la order TO vest in
the grantee, The Tee simple of The soil. Such the
system under which this country originally set
He'd. and under which the thirteen colonies flouri. ln
aud up TO that early and vigorous manhood which
enabled Them in few years 20 achieve their inepen.
leIce; and beg gentlemen TO recoleci & note the fact
that while they paid substantially nothing to the moher
rounry, the whole profits OF their industry were suffer
I'd 10 remain in their own hands Now, let us inquire,
what the reason which has Induced all nations to |
adopt this system in the settlement Of new counies'
Can il be any other than this: that il affords the only
retiaiD means OF building up in wdernessgreat and
prosperous communities? Was not that policy founded |
on the universal belief that the conquest OF
ry, the driving "the savage beasts and still
savage men," cutting down aud subduing the forest