Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-03

the Public Lands. being under consideration,
MIR. CLAYTON, Of Delaware, addressed the
CHAIR
Mr.PnEs,pInr, u need an apolog, for discussing
tnpics cxrnsic not strictly relevant to the subject
ut the resolution before u.s. shall find II IN the eX-
ornple OF honorable gentlemen, who III gong before
me, have nvaed themselves, by general consent, OF
opportunity TO debate this motion the full merits
Uf other questions of monenious interest to our coun-
Try. While the argument was OF n sectional char
actcr, and chiefly calculated To excite personal aud
local feeling, Uesircd no participation It. But,
although generally averse TO any deviation from the
ORDINARY rules OF Parliamentary proceeding, and un
willing 10 originate any new subject of controversy,
even IN the boundiess latitude given To this discus
sion, cannot be Silent wine principles are boldly adj
vanccd and pressed upon us, (no matter how map
i'cabe inappropriate they may appear.) which in
nv Judgment. subvcTsivc OF tho interests of this
nation, or hostile to the spirit Of The Federal Const
fUtion.
The resolution Of the honorable Senator from Con-
cticu, has no,hing imperative in it, character. 1t
Lays down no new principle, aud proposes new
course OF lCgslaon; but SIMPLY asks enquiry into
the cxpcdiency of either fastening tho sales OF the
public domain, orof stopping the surveys for limi
ted period. The committee 10 whom ;nc inquiry Is
proposed to be entrusted. Is CONFUSED of five
Dcrss all of whom are Representatives of the States
within whose limits contained ary. portions OF the
public lands. Seeing IN this fact sufficient reius-
non ofthe objection that this inquiry may create I'M
necessary alarm in the West-+nlcr' aiming tho same
confidence III tho honorable menbeis of that Commit
Subject proposed TO be referred them is important
10 the country and that by the adop, on of the raso
iIion, We may De furnished with Interesting doc
umcut IN their report, my own vote will be given u
gaihst tho m,.,ion for indefinite postpouenlent
agree with my honorable friend from Massachusetts,
Mr. Wcbster) that the committee may investigate
The whole Subject without any express rue ions
~ the rules Of the Senate th"y already have full u-
fIsdicon over the matter BIT nfier all the discus
which has been elected by the mere proposition
ID instruct them TO inquire, is probable that tn.
committee will do without further intmatiuu
from the Senate that report This subject would
he acceptable. cannot cgree with the honorable
Senator from Now Hampshire, Mr.. Woodbury. that
the motion TO postpone il calculated or intended to
prevent distinct expression OF opinion on tho sub
aci: the contrary, the postpoRemeft ofthe
LUTON, of'er discussion, would announce to the
mlttee iudspoS ition TO have the inquiry made dn-
ring the present session The Senator from Connec-
tlcut, (Mr. Fooi) who desires this information, and
whose department here is distinguished for urbeniy
end courtesy TO Others may be Induged without any
apprehension of exciting unnecessary alarm in the
West while our refusal TO adont any measure to throw
light on the subject, may, possibly. create suspicion
IN other parts Of our country, that we are wasting
this portion of the nations treasure and arc afraid
that our PFohigacy may 6e exposed by this investga
lion.
proceed now sir, 70 4 brief examination of what |
Conceive To have been the origin of this protracted 81
GuScuTsivc debate. We have q bill on our flies emit
tied, bill Ito graduate tic price of the public lands
20 make provision for actual settlers to cedc the
refuse upon equitable terms, and for merit oiious OBJ
l"cts to the States in which they le-ihe same sir
which has been alluded 10 by the Senator from Mis-
sruri, rMr. Benionl under the designation of .nny
graduation bill" When the gentleman from Scui h
Carolina, Mr.. Haynej first addressed the Senate on
tho resolution before us, / understood him to have
pressed measure ofeSpedicncy, that the public
land houid be sold to the states within whose limits
they are situated, for nominal consideration. The
gentleman afterwards corrected this impression when
his colleague SIR. Smith of South Cardinal declar
cd that he also understood HIM. Sir the rcntlc.
IMAM has the right 10 claim of all that his state
mont should be properly represented l now uu.
dcrstnnd him 10 say that his proposition is not to
ccde away these lands for nominal consideration
bnt 10 sell them such lbcrnl terms that revenue
should not he a secondary object in the sale
lie urged with all his usual ability the impolicy of G.
ven considering them n source of revenue. Sir
j. now comprehend all This doctrine it has for its OBJ
jcct TO make Impressions which shall secure favor
able VOC on this same graduation BILL and, if co.
dissfn from the doctrine toto eOeio Whether this
or not the great object the debate with
tho gentleman from South Carolina il was plainIy n
vowed TO have been motive for il by The Senator
from Missouri, Mr.. Benlon.l in the view which he
took Of the subject. TIE bill referred to proposes to
nit the prices of these lands at once TO ono dollar
per aero and then gradually 20 reduce those prices
NJ the Iato OF twenty-five per cent. per anaUm un:
the ans shall be offered AFTER tho expiration of the
tird year, at twenty five cents per acre II further
proposes TO sell lands TO actual settlers, whether
trcSpnsgcrs not nc gradually reduced prices IN
I'LL after the expiration Of the third year they are to
receive them ct five cents per IF that miscra
bic ptancc be not then paid, il proposes to ccdc 30
acrts to every such settler ithou The payment Of
any consideration, AMI as donatIor"-and finally by
the terms OF il all tho lands which shull remain not
disposed of by these means at the end Of five years
are 10 be given to tho states in which they liz III.
on these conditions morcy--that they shall apply
them to the promotion Of oducation and internal i'm
provcment OF homo, and refund TO the government
The expenses OF tile surveys NJ the lands ceded
the rite Of two hundred and sixteen dollars for ench
township Of twenty three Thousand acres. I'm con-
sequence of tie enactment OF such law, probably
very lulc would be bought until tho expiration OF
the third yenr, when, If tho interference Of these
States with view TO secure the whole TO themselves
Tor nothing, should not prevent the sales aItorelhcr
The lands would be purchased st nominal price
Snch measure, cir, would not only be unjust to the
citizens Of tho old States, hut highly injurious 20 Inc
Western settlers who have heretofore bought landsat
full and fair consideration.
The value Of property IS merely relative, and is
either enhanced or diminished by the estimate ola
ccd upon other property Of the suino kiud Ia hun.
died millions OF acres be thrown in to market AZ tyy.n
ty-fyo cents per acre, and large quantity Of and bc