Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-02


so br tkAsssds of knowledge and virtue; and this
u the hvorod season, the spring time for sowing
them. Let them bo Disseminated, without stint.
Lot them be scattered. with bouniful. broad cast
Whatever the Government can fairly do towards
these objects, IN my opinion, ought to DO DONE
These, cir, arc tho gr0un5s suceinty stated, on
which my votes Cor grants oflands for particular OBJ
iccts rests; while maintain, ut tho Same time, that
&c is al common fund for the common benefit. And
reasons like these, presume, have influenced the
votes Of other gentlemen from Now England. Those
who have adflercnt view OF the p0weis OF tho GOV
ernment OF course TO different conclusions, on
these, other questions Iobserved, when speak,
ing on this subject befole, that II we looked TO any
measure, whether for road, canal, or any thing
else, intended for the improvement OF tho West, 1t
would be found, that if tho New England ayes were
struck out Of tho list OF votes, the Southern noes
would always have rejected the measure. The truth
of this has not been denied and cannot DO denied
constitutional scrupes Of the South, rather than to
any other less favorable less charitable cause.
But, no sooner had done this, than the Honorable
gentlemen asks, if reprosch him, and his friends
nobody. stated Sfact, and gave the most respect
full reason for it that occurred to me. The gentle
man cannot deny the facts he may, If he choose, dis
claim the reason II is not long since had occasion
in presenting petition from his own State, to ac-
for its being entrusted my hands, by saying,
that the constitutional opinions Of the gentleman aud
his worthy colleague, prevented them from support
lug it. Sir, did state this matter Of reproach
than an honest one for these scropes' Sir, did
1t did become me to doubt nor TO insinuate
that the gentleman had either changed his sentiments.
or that he had made up set Of constitutional opius
ions, accommodated to any particular combination of
political occurrences. Had done so, should have
felt that while was entitled to little respect in thus
questioning other peoples motives, justified the
whole world in inspecting my own But how has
ions' His own candor and justice, how have they
been exhibited towards the motives of others while
he has been at SO much pains to maintain, what
body has disputed, the purity Of his own Why, sir
he has asked ehen, and hoto. and piy, New Enela
votes found going for favorable to the
West, he has demanded TO be Informed whether all
this did not begin in 8e5, and chae The election Of
President still pending? Sir to these questions
rctort would be Justified aud it is both cogcnt, and
at hand. Nevertheless, will answer the inquiry
not by retort, but by facts. will tell tho gentlemen
chen, and hoW, and Dhy, New England has support
ed measures favorable to tho West. / have already
referred to the early history Of the Goyeraent-to
the first acquisition of the lands-to the original
laws for dsposng OF them, and for governing the
ritories where they lie; and have shewn the influence
of New England men and New England principles
in all these leading measures should not be par
doned were TO 60 over that ground again. Coming
to recent times; and to of less general
character, have endeavored to prove that every
thing of this kind, designed for Western improve
ment, has depended oil the votes of N. England, all
this is true beyond the power of contradiction.
And now, SIR, there two measures to which
VIII refer, not so ancient To belong to the early
history of the public lands, and not so recent as 10
be on this side of the period when the gentleman
charitaby imagines a new direction may have been
given to New England feeling, and New England
votes. These measures, and the n. England votes
in support Of them, may be taken MS samples and
specimens of all the rest.
In 1920, observe, Mr.. President, in 1920 the peo-
pie of the West besough, Congress for a reduction
IN the price OF lands In favor Of that reduction NJ
England with delegation of forty members in the
other House, gave thirty three votes, and one only
against it. The four Southern States with fifty
members, gcve thirty two votes for it, and seven
against it. Again, in 1921 observe again, sir the
time the law passed for tho relief of the
of the public lands. This was measure of vital
Importance 10 TO the West, and more especially the
>. West. 1t authorized the relinquishment of con-
Tracts fer lands, which had been entered into high
prices and reduction in other cases. less than
373 per cent on the purchase money. Many millions
of dollars, six seven, believe, at least probably
much more, were rciinqulshed by this law On this
bill, N. England, with her forty members gave more
affirmative votes than the four Southern States with
their fifty two or three members. These two are far
the most important measures respecting the public
lands, which have been adopted within the last 20
years. They took place III 1920 and 1891. That
is the time ,ohen. And as to the manner hour, the
gentleman already that it by voting in solid
column, for the required relief; and lastly as TO the
cause vhy, tell the gentleman it was because the
members from N. England thought the measures
Just and sautary; because they entertained towards
the West neither envy, hatred, or malice because
they deemed it becoming them, as just and cnlght-
ened public men, to meet the exigency which had
arisen in the West, with the appropriate measure of
relief, because they felt it due to their charac-
ers, and the characters Of their n. England prede-
ccssors in this Government to act towards the new
States in the spirit of liberal, patronzing, magnan-
imous policy So much, sir, for the cause pty, and
hope that by this time, the honorable gentleman is
satisfied; ifno, do not know toten or how, or tohy
he ever will be.
Having REQUIRED to these two important measures,
IN answer TO the gentlemons inquiries must now
beg permission to 90 back to period still something
earlier, for the purpose still further of showing how
much, rather, how little reason there Is Tor Che
gentlcmans nsinuaton, that political hopes or fears
or party associations the grounds ofthcse New
England votes And after what has been said, hope
it may be forgiven me, if allude to some political
opinions and votes of my own, Of very little public
Importance, certainly, but which, from the time at
which they were given and expressed, may pass for
good witnesses on this OCCASION.
This Government, Mr.. President, from It's origin
to the peace Of 1915, had been too much engrossed