Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-04-06


the lands shall be offered AFTER the expiration Of
third year, at twenty five per acre Il further
proposes to sell lands TO actual settlers, whether
tresposscrs or not, at gradually reduced prices u-
til, after the expiration Of the third are to
receive them Mt FIVE cents per acre. If thnt misera
BILE Pi,tance be not then paid it proposes to ccde 80
any consideration, AMI as Donation finally. hv
he terms ct all tho lnnds which shalt remain not
disposed of by these the end of five wears
are to be given to the states in which they lie up
on these conditions pperey--tbat they shall andy
them to the promotion Of education and internal i'm
provement ut home, and refund to the government
the expenses of the surveys of the lands So coded M
she rate OF two hundred and sixteen dollars for each
township OF twenty-three thousand acres In con-
sequence of the enactment of such a law. probably
very little would be bought until the expiration Of
the. third year, when, if the interference of theee
States with view to the whole to themselves
for nothing, should prevent the sales ptoyehcr
the lands would DO purchased at nominal price,
Such measure, Sir, would only be unjust to the
cizens OF the old States, but highly injurious to the
Western settlers who have heretofore bought lansa
a full and fair consideration .. =. 80
Inc value OF property is merely relative and is
either enhanced diminished by the estimate pla-
ced upon other property of the same kind. If hum
ored millions OF acres be thrown to market at TWEEN
ty-ye cents per and large quantity of land be
offered to actual settlers at the samc time at five
cents per acre, the value of that which has been
bought by fair purchasers at dollars or at one
dollar and twenty five cents per acre, is at once o.
Their circumstances being equal sunk to level with
the selling price of oil the lands around it. We well
know the operation upon our real property in all
parts of tho Union, of the exposure at public sale of
any very considerable portion of the real property
adjoining it. We know that if great landed pro-
prietor sells me tract in the midst of his posses
sous at fity dollars per acre. and then from pecun-
airy embarrassment or from any other cause, exposes
the resdueto sale, by which he realizes only Ave dol
iars per acre for lands of equal fertility and advan
my and as on effect of this, IS reduced to his
lust selling price. When he puts million of ocrcs
around NINE into market at nominal sum- he equal
ly dimlnshes the selling value of mine by the act
whether his motive for doing be to augment pom
uiatIon, atd improve the country, or wantoniv TO eff
| feet my ruin. And should this bill become law.
the former purchasers who have paid full value.
would, In consequence of the depreciation of the pro-
pcrty occasoned by the enactment, have better e.
quapie right 10 remuneration for losses by the gov
eminent, than mary claimants whose dcmands are
! ANNUALLY hquidated here without our hearing note
OF reinonstrance against them This bill has been
pending mere for the last foIr years; and the DISPOSE
sitioh eVlnced to entertain it us a subject
Tor future decision, has cherished expectatiops
which ara sedulously encouraged by rtlinors In
the West that ts provisions will eventually he
adopted. II my Information be correct and Wesern
gentlemen near me can bear witness TINT il ia go
ahticIPatons have been too generally INDUCED that
these lands will, before long be offered for nothino
ihis must tend to impede our sales and pcrl,aps
10 some extent to suspend the settlement of our Yves
tern frontier-a result suppose to be deprecated.
W none more deeply than by the gentleman from
missouri MT Benton) himself. In the meantime.
wHho1t the hnai action OF Congress the subject
the Illusion Is every year increasing: and to add
to the evil, we have nov new doctrine winch
mas been already aCverted to in this debate-that
these lands of right belong to the new States
Win WITHIN ., which they are situated. The gentleman
from Missouri, IN reference the charge Of hostility
| TO the West, to prove disprove which I would
not myself now offer single remark, has chosen
tS ipf'li US 'pn. be hae never eh.aiaed bera
than single vote for his graduation bill from the
representatives of all the States northeast of the
/! Potomac-and he adds that vote was piycn in ,aae
1y former Senator from the State which have the
honor in part to represent here For this oood dse
the gentleman from Missouri proceeded to nrononnce
paneg5ric on that Senator, which was noerted ar
stronger grounds. Though readily according in the
justice which mPues the most correct motives tc
that gentleman who is my neighbor, and with whom
hive on terms of friendly intercourse exercis;no q.
he doubtless did his conscientious Judgment on The
case, yet with my views, thus briefly explained arr
constrained to say thut cannot vote for this bill
according to my mode of considering it. it is promo
stion to give away the birthrght Of our people far
nominal sum; and am yet TO learn that the citizens
OF the Middle States have indicated any FEELING If
TO dinenng from that expressed in the vote
referred to, when, with sugle exception, all tbs
senators representing States north of bIason's and
olxon's iine, opposed the measure. They do NO,
iooR TO these lands as has been uninstly stated with
sne eye OF an unfeeiing landholdcr who parts with
MS acres as miser parts with his gold. Phey view
the new States as younger sisters in the same family
upon an equal footing with themselves and entitled :;
an equal share OF their patrnony but having children
III a.' nuneIous wants 10 DC supplied, they
VIII ihlnk 1t ongenerous, unjust and oppressive.
should these younger sisters take away the ,ohole'
Sr, 1t IS the inheritance which descended from or
forefathers who wrested part of it from the British
q. the expense OF their blood and treasure and
paid for the rest of it by the earnings of their labor
IL Is not tor me to say what the feelings of the
people OF the Middle States on this subject. II ;s
.neis privilege to speak for themselves, and they will
aouotiess, when they think it necessary, exercise
tiiat privilege But will say that if they entert ain
the sentiments OF their fathers, they viii never con
sent to cede away hundreds of millions of acres NJ
ana Tor nominal consideration, or gratuitouslv re-
hnqtish them to any new Slate, however loudly sba
may insist on the measure due to her rigbts and
eer severe gnty or however boldly she MAJ Ihreaten
TO DEFY the Federal Judiciary, aud decide the contTo
Versy oy her own tribunals in her own favor Those
VINO are convcEsant with our revolutionary history
VIII remember that the exclusive claims of Viroinia
and OF other members of our political family. to the
pubic lands, were warmly resisted by the States of
New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, as soon ns
o1uad ofSov ~