Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-23

next place. it will lessen the public burdens and re-
leve the labor and industry of the country from the
payment of annual tax of fourteen millions of dol
lars Instead of revenue of twenty four millions
which is now paid, ten millions will be suiii-
cicnt for all the purposes of carrying this
Government. Then fixed aud settled policy
can be adopted. 1t can be decided whether one
portion of this community is to be taxed and
severely taxed, to enable another portion to
keep competitors out of our markets. did not in
tend to say any thing upon the tariff this OCCASION
but my remarks having led to that subject, will
say few words in relation To it. Can it's advocates
believe that tariff will continue lonp IN this country
of character which shall deprive the labor of one
part OF the country OF ITS just profits and confer them
on anotner; Surely the moral sense of this conmu-
NIFTY will rise up in opposition to it. When il shall
be seen that the Government needs only millions
OF dollars annually, tax of twenty-four millions will
no, be submitted to: My friend from New Jersey
hlr Uckersoni tells us he has specific for this evil
an iDfai6le cure for this disease maady, which is
an annual distribution of the surplus revenue among
the States ask him to reflect again upon this sub
Ject and see whether there is not great danger of
oat'ng the principles both policy and Justice by the
course he recommends Ifthe money is to be collec-
ted by the Government, and then returned to the
same people from whom it was received in the first
instance, you have gone through operation Of col
lectlng and returning to its rightfu owners, money
not needed by the Government; and you have lost,
in commissions and failures of public officers to
great amount; and you are at the point from which
you sat out, except that you have wasted much of the
public treasure. But suppose you collect the money
chiefly from one part section of the country las
the fact at presently and divide it equally amongst ALL
are you not practising great injustice upon that por-
tlon from which the tax has been levied Gentlemen
need not tiatter themselves that majority of the
American people will long permit injustice to be prac
used upon any portion OF this community. Let me
not be mlsunderstood would not tear OFF the tariff
II could and thereby place the manufacturing nsti-
tuons of this country at the mercy of foreign gov
ernmcnts or foreign manufacturers. NY wish is TO
sec 1t modified so as to protect manufactures which
/ huun a.. c..l ~
same time remove oppression from others. This is
practicable; 1t cannot be that the oppression of any
portion of this happy land is necessary for the secur
ty and protection of another.
Further, the speedy extinction Of the public debt is
calculated more than any thing that can be done al
this PERIOD to increase the responsibility and moral
influence of this Government both at home and
abroad. This done, we shall be the wonder of an
admlrlng and asonished world. We cannot our
selves tell how it has happened that, in little more
than hall century, three mons of people, scattered
along the Atlantic border have grown be SO great
and mighty a nation, extending from the sea hoard
near 1000 miles to the West and from the Northern
Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico; containing within its
limits upwards of twelve millions of inhabitants
Louf; lana, large enough for an empire, purchased
the Floridas acquired; respectable NAVY; the ey
tensive board fortified; the Indian title To millions
OF acres OF land exngusied two wars with the most
powerful nation earth successfully prosecuted and
honorably terminated; and after all this not one cent
OF the expenditures incurred remains unpaid, Will
not all mankind say, if this new people and this new
government have achieved all this in their infancy
what can they not do in the days of their atrrtvs
'oir ioreign nations viii entertain higher respect
io our country ana the causes of future wars will be
diminished.
With regard to some modification of the existing
Land Laws, am perfectly willing TO unite in any
scheme of graduation of prices which shall make a
distinction between lands of different qualities or
values, and shall not. at the same time, retard the
saies and thereby procrastnate The payment of the
public debt Towards one class of individuals, the
"A Sntt I
III or out OF this Senate anxious to place 1t in
their power to become freehoders, to have an inter
est IN the soil 1t is good policy convert Eastern
tenants into Western freehoders Ifthe supoes,ions
made were well founded, that some Eastern poiti
Clans desired to prevent their citizens from
to the West in order that they might be retained in
their manufacturing establishments, all such efforts
would be vain and Intellectual. You miobt "a VOL
Mr. President attempt 20 stop the torrents rrshipo
from thousand hills, to arrest the tide of erniura
ton, which Is rising higher and higher and POURING
and spreading itself over the vast valley of the Mssis.
eipp. 1t the course of nature and of man. and M
human legislation stay it. 1t rs the duty of man
to pursue his own happiness. Competence and indie
pendence are main ingredients in human happiness
and no portion of our citizens will be rcstra ned from
going to land of and plenty if within their
reach. | regretted to hear remarks made by the
Senator from New Hampshire derogatiDc from the
merits Of settlers the public lands. He considered
them as tresPassefs and ntruders, and mering pun
lshment as lnractors of public law Sir thev orp
acting the original principle upon which titaa 70
lands were first acquired; they are mixing their labor
with the SOIL and improving its condition; they are
adding to its value and increasing the wealth of the
country: and tell that Senator that whcn tl,o
country shall be in adversely aud peril, these men,
now reyIed, will prove prompt step forward and
defend IT. as any other portion of our citizens I
refer to the Senator from New Hampshire mr.
Bell0 not to my friend nenr me- (Mr. WoodburvG he
speaks in different tones, AID his voice falls, at all
times, pleasantly my ear.
have already voted to give preference to occu-
pants now IN possession, and at all times ready to
do So This, however falls far short of nv favorite
system OF dsposiag of the public lands. would not
confine the provisions of the law preference to set
tiers now seated upon the land but would act pros
pcciiveiy. 1 would by no means limit the rirht of
preference TO the few who are in the occupation
OF the public lands but say, to all the citizens Of the
United States, that any of them who would settle on
the surveyed public land, should be entitled to quar-
ter aectlon' or 100 acres, at reduced price, say fifty
cents per acre or less; provided they would remain
on the land two years. and raise tvs crons ,.non i