Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-04
CONGRESS.
IN SENATE-JAN. l9, 1850.
PUBLIC LANDS.

Mr. HOLMES rose and said, If some stranger had
Unopened to have been in tho Senate, when the Sem
stor FROM Missouri Ur Bcnton.l roso in the debate
0fycsterday, and had steacd to him throughout, he
would have been led to conclude, that the h!rec1,
United States were thftccn tyrants that they had
driven the emgrants to the West, exposed to savage
h ass and savage men: that they had not only with
held population, but had extended to them the hand
Of oppresson that in spite Of the savages on he
hand. and our tyranny on the other, they had grown
and f,uri she'd; that had disrcgarded their COM
plants aud remonstranccs las the caprcious squalls
OF child, which did not know whether it wus az
grieved mott" that this child had length acquired
the voice, vgor and courage OF man-kad risen up,
and hurled defiance in the teeth OF its unnatural pa
rent that instruction prevailed; that d;scord was
suaPPrg har whip Of scorpons-the torch Of rebellion
vas hghted-the flames Of civil Gar were kindled-
ind tins resolution was To seal their subjugaion; but
when he camc to learn that, (lo and behold) hing
more was intended but to inquire whether sufficient
quantity Of land ready for salc to supply the
demand; and, if So whether some of the officers en-.
n'yed in surveying them might not be dispensed vi,h,
b: would be surprised, and suppose it dream.
T&u-, said Mr., II. does impassoned eloquence mag
My small affair into fearful catastrophe. Ifthcre
Is danger Of excitement, who has created that dan
ger? Surely the Senators who have opposed the re-
solution. Had passed sut siientio, it in the
ordinary course Of business, the rest would have
taoaght nothing oft This inquiry Is dema nded for
the information Of the Senate and the People They
vant light We ask an bqoiry, and now, by th,
preliminary and premature discussion the gentlemen
have placed themselves in this dilemma-ii we make
The inquiry you alarm the West-if we suppress IT,
the East will suspect you. In these days, when re.
form has been promised and is expected, we ask for
information q subject important as our public
domain, and this Information is refused. What will
be the inferencee You raise every where suspicion
and Jealousy. that something Is wrong. which will not
bear the light Sir, is not for 1s, who call for this
inquiry. to give an accurate detail OF the quanti,v
quality, and location of these lands, Of the mum
her. duties, and emoluments Of the officers employed
II would be admitting at once, that We have ell the
ms finn he Olltftr
~ objects Of tho inquiry. We may have some know
ledge, but not enough. This is my oase We have
re great land districts, viz: l. Ohio and Indiana;
Illinois, Missouri, aud Arkansas; g. South of rho
Tennessee, including Mississippi and Louisiana: a.
Alabama; 5, Florida. In all these We have SURVEYED
10000 ,00o-sold and granted about SO 900 600
having more han 100 900 600 Of stl for sale
The quantity reserved by coded TO the States il
probably not less than SO 600 0o0 and what Is in the
hands of spectators, who purchased not to cultivate
Dot to se aud other large clana uts uader FOREIGN
grants &c not less than $4,000 900 more; making
grand aggregate of 200 900 900 of acres now resdv
for purchasers Now If 100 acres is suIicien, for
farm. which viii sustuin family of six persons there
r. already enough FROM these different sources to sc
eommodate 100000 OF persons. equal to the whole
population Of the United States. But suppose tho,
one halt Of this rs unfit for cultivation large dednc
ton IN country described perfec paradise then
II yood be only sufficient for sir millions IF then
nave enough already surveyed 10 supply only sin
niAons, Is necessary to be ut the expense of sur
vey1ng more rather, ii dangerous to in7,ire mi
the expedency of DONG it9 This question is the more
Impressive, when we reject that this West contains
S,O0OOOO OF inhabitants and only 20 900 600 of Tho
public lands have yet been sold And I reneat had
this inquiry BEN permitted from the usual courtesy
oil the Senate, no excitement might have been appre
hended from any quarter--all would have believed il
was IN the spirit OF REFORM and coming from the ouar
ter II does that there some sincerity in i'll, ne
see at least, whether have not officers in this de-
Paftment, who have nothing to do, or nothing winch
NO may want done for many years IF So instead of
IN aI1tfqo ~ Ill
pie, let us set to work In arrest.
But, we are told that We need not direct the Com
mttee to inquire, for gentlemen abe now to give
us all necessary information. Now two Srnaio,s
have volunteered to inform u.s. We expected. and
had right TO expect, detailed statement as eyoi-
eft as the report of COMMITTEE; for nothinr else
would fairly and properly dispense With the inquiry
Bot, SIR, 1t Gus fairly predicted that to give in a
speech, clear, precise, and accurate statement in de
tail, Of the quantity, value, and location In these
ihnds, would be an attempt to which no man is equal
and If he vas, 1t is not in the power Of the human
mind to comprehend IT. merely by hearing it-aud so
u has turncd out. Phc Senator from IilinoTs. ISIr
Kane,] has attempted it IN vain. Has apy one oh
timed the information ask from What he rms sa;dp
II ne has developed the whole ssbject, for onc am
SO unfortunate as not TO comprehend il. FL did 10
DO sure, tell us that the whole sygtcrn needed nod
fcaton-the strongest argument Eo~ inquiry and yet
be against it.
Che Senator from Missoari, [ur. Benton, J hos no,
even attempted it- His remarks, when they applied
70 tho subject at all. confined chiefly tn bs avn
Ssste. only small portion Of one Of the Eve prea,
tsnd DISTRICTS Is this giving us u full view OF the
whole subject II rs compliment to our under
standings to pretend II. The opposers Of the pqtiTy
are arven 10 one or tvo grounds; that tbey have a.
ready informed as or that ha no risit to huor
But the Information yet given is utterly defective
ana consists IN defamation tho suGerings of the
West. Your hand Of oppression rests heavy on hey
so heavy, that you must inquire into he,
cundtion. And will it BIC pretended tia, the People
orthe United States haveo right to understand the
condition OF their Iands' Is information TO be locked
mp, and is the West exclusively to heep the kcysl-
or, We refuse TO open the doors, tho People will
breaR them. No secrets! No secrets! Iet us kno,v
every thing which concerns ou' property or our Ii
Bot, says the Sepator from Missouri fHr. RI If
you abolish the Offices Of surveyors te recoy, will
be taken away. and the people vAl DO deprived NJ
their evidences Of title. Indeed! low doc This 6J
iowf 1t would be strange, indeed, if in abolisbing
dn ofice It vas beyond tho power Of Legislation n
pLoV'de ior preserving tho records, and Guthcnca-
ing copies. believe SIR, that every he nielotr1o
bas, IL u1spOwing With Office, taken care to bro
serve the records and to provide tue means OF nsne
III a rfor.