The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-02-25
DIR. B4RYO.Nn.S SPEECK

Mr.. B.3RTO.N"S SPEECH
Mr.. Fooi's resolution conceming the
further survey and sale Of the public lands
being under consideration, Mr.. Barton ad
dressed the Senate.
Mr.. PREs!DENT-I am one orthose Sun.
lneal aud bastard sons of the West" whom
you have heard denounced as false to their
country, during this strange debate, in the
commencement of which | am persuaded,
the Sachema of your party could not have
been consulted.
All was going on hormoniously here.
The magnanimous vic,ors in the late Pres
idenliol campaign, seemed satisfied with
their triumph and their trophies. All parts
of the Union were expressing favourable
dispositions towards the young West
A liberal system in disposing Of our public
domains, ,propItious TO our growth and pros
periiy, and TO The developement of oil our
recourccs, was openly advocated by the
North, the South. the East and the West
when minor chieitain Of your party, of
not much renown for either policy or war,
(Col. Benton not satisfied with the scalps
he had taken in the late campaign, fell
suddenly and Unexpectedly upon the pris.
oncrs of the minority, onJ commenced n
scene Of massacre Of the living, nnd dag
gIng the dead from their graves, even re-
sralped them who had been sculped and
buried by other arms more valorous than
his own. during the existence OF the by.
gone war!
And thus one, arrogaDtIy speaking for
! the whole West, threw the frebrand n.
mong the members Of this body, and light
ed up the flame Of this partisan warfare oi
sectional prejudice, local animosty and civil
| disc0rd
The latitude and liberty of this debn,c
seem 10 be kind of Saluinalia in the Sen.
ate of the United States. This may be a
good thing during long session of Con.
! gress il not too often repeated. The Ro.
mans, too, had their Saturnalio. in which
it was allowable TO The vericst slaves in the
empire, TO speak home truths 10 their mas
ters, without either fear or reserve.
Ii is not my purpose 10 avail myself oI
the full range ofmy privilege; nor 10 aiiec,
10 speak daggers TO the bosoms Of the IN.
ling majority here, or that board ofrewards
and punshmcnts yonder; who, having oh
,ained possession of the treasury. the press
and the Offices, honors, and elnouments oI
the Republic, have been enacting such
freaks Of party disc cipne," as would make
the fathers Of the Revolution weep, iftbey
could behold them.
Never did more disiniercstcd and pat.
riotc body Of men appear in ono Of on
Presidential contests, than that minority
in the West, with whom ! bad the honor
10 be associated under the administration
Of mr.. Adams, and the equal honor to be
denounced, under that of his successor, rs
the "unlneal and bastard son ofihe Wcst!''
We saw, with SORROW, the liGe of our
revolutionary worthless extinct; that hence
forth q new race ofaspirants woDld spring
up among us; divide and distract the coun.
try into personal factions, nrroyed under
the banners ofiheir local leaders,and those
harmonious elections, by general consent.
which marked the elevation Of most Of our
former Presidents, about to disappear from
opr country--pcrhap forever
We were not ignorant Of the fact, that,
In such an array of parties. under great
plurality Of leaders, those Who dad not sue.
seed, nigh, coslesce, and form n opposa
ion to hang upon the rear ofnny future I'D.
ministraiion, and paralyze all It's efforts for
the public veal
We saw the Presidential elections OF
our country about 10 assume pew char.
scter; to become mere rafting matches d.
lotteries. ip which the desperate in fortune
wopld lske , shppee ia bePs Of relief sHs