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

Of those who believe that the very life of our systsm
Is the independence @ The States. aud that there is
evil more TO be deprecated than the consolidation OF
this Government Ii Is only by strict adherence TO
the imitat Imposed by the Constitution he Fee
deral Governmsnt that this system works well, and
can answer the great ends Tor which II was institute
ed. am opposed, therefore, in any share, TO all un-
necessary extension Of the power, ct the uilue
the Legislature or Executive CT he Union over the
States, the People OF he States, and, OF all,
eppo ell to those par ia s,tbutions OF favor, whe
Their by legislation on tGtion which has direct
and powerful tendency to spread coriup ion through
the lsnd-to create an ahj-ct spirit o: dependence Ito
the see'ls OF dssolu on-to produce jealousy
among the different portions Of the Union, aud finally
to sap the very foundations Of the Government itself
But, Sir, there is another purpose TO which il has
been supposed the public lands be applied, still
aore Objectionable. l mesn that suggested in a re-
port from the Treasury Department, under the late adj
ministration, 1t regulating the disposition of the
public land. TO create and preserve in certain
tiers Of the Union, population suitable Tor conducting
great manufacturing e.abhshm. nts. 1t is suppose
cir, by the advocates OF the ercan system that the
great obstacle TO the Of in this
country, Is the want Of that low and degraded popua
ton, which irfest the cities and towns oil Europe who,
having no other means OF subsistence, will work for
the lowest wages, and be satisfied with the smallest
possible share Of human Enjoyment. And this difficult
~ 1t Is proposed to overcome, by regulating and linn
ting the sales Of the public lands, 20 prevent tho
drawing of this portion Of the population from the
manufacturing Sstes. Sir, is bad enough, thA Gov
eminent should presume 10 regulate the industry OF
man-it Is sufficiently monstrous, that they should
Tempt by arbitrary Legislation, arlfcialy to adjust aud
balance the various pursuits of society, AMI to or
ganize the whole labor and capital Of the country
But what shall say ct the such mt ans tor
these purposes What create a mandatory of nan.
pers in order TO enable the rich proprietor of weo-
len anu cotton factories TO amass wealth. From the
bottom OF my SOUL do abhor and detest the idea that
The powers OF the FEDERAL Government should ever
be prosuted for such purpose.-Sir hope we shall
9c on more just and liberal system of policy. The
People OF America are, and ought be Tor century
to come, essentially agricultural People. and can
conceive OF no policy that possibly be pursued in
relation to the public lands, that ould be more
I" Tor the common benefit Of all the States" than tn
use them as tie means Of furnishing a secure asylum
to that class OF our fellow citizens, who in any
oil the country, may find themselves unable TO pro
cure Comfortable subsistence, by the means mmed-
d'eiy within their reach. would. by just and iibr-
raj system, convert into great aud hour hing commu-
hnes, 'ha enttre class OF prisons, who would other
wise be pAupers in your streets and in soce
ty, and by 30 dong, you will but fulfil the great trust
which has been tonhied TO your care.
Sir, there Is another scheme in relation TO the pub
hc iinds which, as addresses itself to the interes ed
ana selfish feelings OF our nature, will doubtless find
many advocates. mean tbs distribution of the pub.
lie lands among the 5 ates according to some ratio
hereafter TO be settled Sir dis system OF distribution
H. In all IT'S shapes, liable TO many aud powerful ohjec
tons will no, 20 into them at this time, cause
the subject has recendy undergone thorough Discus
SION IN the oher House, and because, from pre- in
dica'ions we shall shortly have up the subject here
SuihcieDt unto the day is the evil thereof come
now TO the claims up by the West TO these lands
Inc hrsti- that they have full and perfect eg al and
tive limits This claim up Tor the first tim.
only few years ago, and has been advocated on this
hoor by the gentlemen from Alabama and Indiana
win great zeal and ability. Without having paid
much attention to thi. punt it has appea AIRED to me- that
this claim IL un,enable shall not stop to enter into
the argument further than TO say, that by the very
terms OF the grants under which the United States
have acquired these isnds the absolute i'm TIA.
soil vested in them. and must, il would SEEM con.
t!nue so until the lands shall be sold or oherw &c dis
posed Of can easily Corrective, that il my be ex-
iphl "a, fate
TO have immense bode, OF land within her red
limits, locked up from sale and settlement, withdrawn
from The power OF taxation, and contributing in re-
spect 10 her wealth or prosperity But, though thi.
state OF things may present strong claims on the sd
raj Government for the adop ion Of a liberal pocy to.
wards the States, it cannot affect the s,ion OF
legal or constitutional right Believing tina, this claim
on the part OF the West, will never he recognized by
the Federal Government, must regret that has be
urged as max II viii have no other effect, than TO
create prejudice against the claims OF the States.
But, sir, there has been another much fruitful
source oil prejudice. mean the demands constantly
made from the West for partial appropriations Of the
pubic Lands for local objects. | am astonished that
gentlemen from the Western country, have not pc r.
ceved the tendency OF such course, TO rivet upon
them forever the system which they consider fatal
to their interests. We have besn told, Sir in tn
OF this debate Of the painful and degrading of.
nee, which the gentleml from that quarter are CON
PEELED to perform, in coming here. year after year,
In the character oil petitioners, for these petty iavors
The gentle from Missouri tells us, il they were
not goaded on by their necessities, thy would
consent TO be beggars at doors" Sir, their
course, in this respect, let say 10 hose gen.
temen, is greatly injurious to the West. While they
shall continue TO ask, AMI gratefully 10 eceiye the
rety and partial appropriations, they will he kept
ever in state Of dependence. Never will the F.de
IA government or rather, those who control il. ops
raons, consent 10 emancipate the West by adopting
wise and just Rocy looking to any final Opposition OF
the public lands while the opIe of the Wrs, can h.
kept in subsection and dependence, by occasional do
ma ioHs OF those land; and will the Western
States themselves, their just and equal station
among the sisters of the Union while they are con-
stdnly looking TO Congress for favos and gratu.
What, them MIR President, is true policy on thi,
important subject do net profess to have formed
any hxed or settled opinions, in relation oit The time
has not yet arrived, when that question must be de
eided; and must reservs for further light, and a
more mature reflection, the formation Of iinal ia
Inent. The public debt must be first paid. FIR thi.
these lands have been soemnIy pledged to the public
creditors. This done, which, If there be no int
ence with the Sinking Fund.- will be effected n three
or Tour years, the question will then he fairly open 10
be disposed Of Congress and the country may think
JUST and proper Without attempting indie ate pre-
cisely what our policy ought then be- will in tho
same spirit which has induced 10 throw out The d ,
su'tory thoughts which have nov presented TO the
S'n"te suggest for slider alton whether il will no
DE sound pulley, and true wisdom adopt system o.
measures, looking to the final renquishme nt OF IN se
lands on The part OF the United States the States in
which they lie, such and condition. az NAV
Iully indemnify Va lor the cost of the ori0 MI
chase, and all the trouble and expense 10 which
we may have been put on their account. Giving u,
The plan Of using these lands forever fund etthe
Tor revehue or distribution, cedsg tosug tn IN az
great TREASURE, Ten1unciug the ikea or ADMINISTERING.
the with view 10 eguate and control the ndusr,
aud oYudilon al the States; Of keeping in subiec
ton aud dependence the States or the ueopIe of an
portion OF the Union, the task will he co,nparativ, 4,
edsy OF striking out plan for the final adin mt
on IN nd ,hI