Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-23

tenn OF credit sales by Which the West had been kept
constantly in debt to the United States, and 6y which
their wealth was drained off to be expended else
where had operated inuriousy on their prosperity.
On this point the gentleman from Massachusetts,, in
January 1925, expressed himself thus:
'There could be no doubt, if gentlemen looked at
the money received into the Treasury from the sale of
the public lands to the West and then looked to the
whole amount expended by the Government, even
including the whole amount OF what was laid out for
the army, the latter must be allowed to be very in
considerable, and there must be constant drain Of
money from the West, to pay for the public lands; it
might indeed be said, that this was more than the
refuence Of capital which had previously gone over
the mountains be so; still its practical effect
to produce Inconvenience, if 10; DISTRESS by absorb
ing tie money of the people,"
contended that the public lands ought not to be
treated merely 50 fund for revenue;' that they
oluht no, to be boarded "as a great treasure" On
this point. the Senator expressed himself thus:-
Government, he believed, had received eighteen
twenty millions of dollars from the public lands, and
it was with the greatest satisfaction he adverted to
the change which had been in the mode OF paying for
them; yet he could never think the national domain
was to be regarded any great source of revenue.
The great object of the Government in respect to
these lands was not So much the money derived from
their sale, as 1t was the getting them settled. What
he meant to say was, he did not think they ought to
hug that domain GREAT IRE AsUEE, which was
to enrich the eXchequer,' &c.
Now, Mr. President, it will be seen TINT the very
doctrines which the gentleman Indignantly aban-
dons, were urged by him in 1925; and if had actu
ally borrow my sentiments from those which he
then ayowed, could not have followed more closely
IN his footsteps. Sir, liz only since the gentleman
quoted this ok, yesterday, that my attention has
been turned to the sentiments he expressed in 1925,
and if had remembered them, might possibly have
been deferred from uttering sentiments here which it
might wei be supposed, had borrowed from that
gcntlemon
In 1925, the gentleman told the world that the
public lands sought not to be treated treasure"
lie now tells u., that ''they must be treated
gentleman on this subject may be, it belongs not to
ME to determines bot, do not think he cam with the
shadow OF I'isfce or propricty. impunge my senti-
ments, while his own recorded opinions identical
with my own. When the gentleman refers to the
conditions of the grants under which the u States
have acquired these lands, and insists that as they
declared to be 'for the common benefit of all the
States" they can only be treated much trea-
sure, think he has applied rule Reconstruction too
narrow for the case. If, in the deeds of cession it
has been declared, that the grants intended for
"the common benefit of all the States" it is clear
from other provisions, that they we're not intended
merely much property; for, it is expressly de-
clared that the object of the grants ia the erection of
States; and the United States, in accepting the
trust, bind themselves to facilitate the formation of
those States to be admitted into the Union with all
the rights and privileges of the original States This,
SIR, was the great end to which all parties looked,
and it is by the fulfment of this high trust that "the
common benefit of all the States, to be best pro-
noted SIR, let me tell the gentleman, that in the
part of the country in which live, we do not mea-
sure political benefits by the money standard. we
consider valuable than gold, liberty princi-
pie, and Justice.
But SIR if we are bound to act on the narrow nrin
cples commended for by the gentleman, am wholly
at loss to conceive how he reconcile his princi
pies with his own practice. The lands are it seems
TO be treated "as so much treasure, and must be
ppllcd to the common benefit of oil the States'-
Now, ifths be whence does he derive the right to
appropriate them for partial and local objects, How
can the gentleman consent to vote away immense
BODIES OF these lands, for canals in Indiana end ILL
nois; to the Louisville and Portland canu to Kenyon
College In Ohio; to Schools for the Dcnf and Dumb
and other objects of similar descriptions IF grants
OF this character can fairly be considered made oI
sthe common benefit of oil the States, it can only be
because all the States are interested in the welfare
each-a prinripe, which, carried to the full extent
destroys all distinction between local and natona
objects; and is certainly broad enough to embrace
the principles for which have ventured to contend
Sir, the true difference between take TO be this
the gentlemen wishes to treat the public lands rs a
great treasure, just as much money in the Urea
sury to be applied to all objects, constitutional and
unconstitutional, TO which the public money is now
constantly applied consider it as sacred trust
which we ought to fulfil the principles for which
have coatended.
| The Senator from Massachusetts has thought pro-
per to present In strong contrast the friendly feel
ings of the East towards the West with the sent
fnents OF an opposite character, displayed by the
South, In relation 70 appropriations for Internal I'm.
proVemcnts Now Sir let it be recollec,ed that the
! CertalnIV
made none in their behalf) of regard for the West
1t has been reserved to the gentleman from Massa
chusetts, while he vauns his personal devotion
TO Western Eterents to claim for the entire section
OF country IN which he belongs, an ardent friendship
for the west, as manifested by their support of The
system OF internal improvements, while he casts in
our teeth the reproach that the South has manifested
hostility TO @estern interests, in opposing appropr
| atoms for such objects. That gentleman at the
same time, acknowledged that the South entertain.
constitutional scruples this subject Are we then
pr, TO understand that the gentleman considers it
just subject of reproach, that we respect our oatbs
by which we are bound 'to preserve, protect, an,
defend, the Constitution of the u. States?" Wou
the gentleman have us manifest our love for tl
! West, by trampling under foot our constitutions
scrupes! Does lie not perceive, if the South is to
reproached with unkindDcss to the West in yotin!
against appropriations which the gentleman admit
! they could not vote for without doing violence t,
their constitutional opinions, that he exposes hinse
to the question-welher, if he was in our situation
ne could vote for these appropriations regardless