Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-02
SPEECH OF MR.. WEBSTER,
On Mr.. Foogs Resolution
IN SENATE-I.x 3S to2o

Following Mr.. narNE in the Debate, Mr. WEB
SEER addressed the Senate as follows:
MIR. Prcsi.cnt-When tho mariner has been toss.
ed for many days, in thick weather, aud on an I'M
known sea, Ire naturally uypils himself of the first
pause IN the storm, the currst glance of the SUM- &c
take bus la'ftu,e, and ascertain how far the elements
lave driven him from his true conrsc. Let us initiate
this prudence. and before we float farther refer to
tile point from, which VIC departed, that we may at
least be able to conjecture where we now are. ask
for the reading ofthc resolution.
The Secretary read the resolution as fellows:
"ffeso!etd, That the Committee on Public Lands
DC instructed To inquire and report the quantity of
tue public lands remaining unsod within each State
md Territory, and whether IT be expedent toitnit,
for certain period the sales of the public lands TO
sucb lands only have heretofore been offered for
sale, aud are ROW subject to entry at the minimum
price Aud, also, whether the office of Surveyor
General, and some OF the Land Offices may not bc
abolished without detriment TO the public interest;
or whether it be cxpeicnt adopt measures ti,as-
n,hc salc., aud extcr1 rapidly the surveys
OF The public lands']
We have thus heard, sir. what the resolution is
which Is actually before us for consideration; and it
viii readily occur to every one that it Is almost tho
vnl ~nhect about which something hes not been said
~ inc speech running through two5t;ays, by which
the Senate has been now entertained t,y the gentle
man from South Carolina, Every topic in the wide
range Of our public affairs, whether past or present
every thing. general local. whether belonoinp To
H9tora politics, or party politics, SO ems to have
1ttracted more or Ices of the honorable members
''tcntiou. savc only tho resolution before u.s. lie
ms spoken ofcyerY hing but the public lands. They
hnve escaped his notice 10 that subject in nj, his
excursions, nc has ot paid The cold resrcct of
passing g'anec.
When this debate, sir, was to be resumed, on
thursday morning, 1t SO happened that it would
have been convenient. for me to be elsewhere TIE
honorable member, however, I'd not incline TO nit off
the discussionto another days He had a slot. he
said, to return, and he wished to discharge it, That
snot, SIR, which it was kind this Inform us was
coming that we might stoHd out of the .yay or nrc
pare ourselves to fall before aud die with deceney
las now been received. Under all aIvantaaes and
VAN expectation awakened by the tone which pre-
cedec It, It has been discharged and has spcnt its
f2rcc IL may bccomc say no more of its
than that, It no body is found aticr nil either killed
or wounded by is not the first ,iE,c in the his
tory of human affairs, that the vSor aud success of
the war have not quite come up TO tie Icny md
sounding phrase oftle manifesto
The gentleman sir, in declining to postpone the
debate told the Senate, with the emphasis of his hand
lfpon his heart, that there WAS sometime ranklinr
here which he wished to relieve Mr.. Haync rose
and d,sclnincd having used the word aankiine1 II
would not, Mr: President, be saf. for the honorable
i'lcmoer 70 appeal 10 those around him, upon the
Question, whether he did, in fact, make use of that
word. But he may have been UNCONSCIOUS off At
'nny rate, it is enough that he disclamsi But sill
with or without the use of that particular word h..
ad YET SeicthlRg herc, he snid of which he wished
20 RID himself by immediate reply. In this resnect
SIR have great advantage over Tho honorable ren
t!e.ian There Is nothing here, sir, which ryes rnc
tao slightest ucasincss; neither fear nor anonr
toat, WHICH Is sometimes more troublesome rhon
clther--tlc ccasci .sless of having been in tba
wrong There IS nothing, either originatno here
or now received here, by tie gentcnlans shot. No
tang original, for had not the srltest fe,ino nc
disrespcct or ulkinncss towards the honorable nooro
bor. Some passages it rs trae, had occurred since
oar acquaintance in this body, whic, could liza ve.
%'shed might have been othcrwise; but had used
philosophy and forgotten them. When the honora
bic member rose IN his FIRST speech. paid hin, the
respect of attentive listening; and When he sat down
though surprised, und4 must even astonished mt
inf III co,,,., /,
intention than TO commence any personal warfare.
and through he whole of the few rcnlarks made in
answer, avoided, studously and Carefully everv
thing which thought possible to be construed into
dsrcspect And, SIR, while there is thus nothing
Originating here, which wished, ut ans time or now
wish to discharge, must repeat, ALSO that nothing
as been received here, which rankles or in any ay
gives me annoyunco. viii not accuse the honora-
be member o.! violating the rules Of civilized war:
VII mol say That he poisoned his arrows. But yle-
ifcr ms SHIFTS were, not dipped in that which
would have caused ranking they had reacied tfare
was not, as happened quite strength cnourh in the
bow TO bring them to their mark Ifhc wishes now
70 ind those shuts, he must LOOK for them elsewhere;
they Will not DC found fixed and quivering in tho OBJ
ject, at which they were aimed.
The honorable member compliance that 7 had sl.rt
On his speech must have slept on it. or not silent ut
al The moment the honorable member sat down.
lis irlcndffom Missouri rose and, with much henevcd
commentator OF the speech, suggested that the i'm
1ress.ons which 1t had produced were too cha uino
and delightful to be disturbed by other sentiments or
other sounds, ard proposed that the Senate Should
adjourn Would IL have been quite anial,lc in me.
sir, TO interrupt this excellent good feepes Nus
MT haze been absolutely malicious if could have
thrust myself forward to destroy sensations thus
Elcosing9 WAS it not much better and kinder. both
To sleep upon them myself, and to alloy others also
the pleasure of sleeping upon theuR Bm if i, be
meant by sleeping upon bis speech, that took time
to prepare reply to it, it is quite mistake: owing TO
other engagements, could not employ even the in
terval, between the Adjournment of the Senate. and
its meeting tho next morning, in attention TO the sub
1cct Of this debate. Nevertheless sir the mere mat
Ger Of fact is undoubtedly traeI did sleep ON the
gentlcmans speech; and slept soundy. And slept
equally wei on his speech of yesterday to which
ain now replying 1t Is quite possible that, 10 this
respect, also, Ipossess some advantage over the no.
norabe member. attributable, doubtless to cooler
temperament on my part; for, in truth slept unon
his speeches remarkably well. Blu, the gentleman
inquiries why he was made the object of sucl reply,
WHY h st.,rlnI nItt2 -