The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-02-17
WHOLE NO. 296s.

l, | N 'o'0S' II was truly more southern, than
II an eastern measure. And what votes carried
n the tariff of 1924? Certainly, not those Of
e New England. 1t is known 10 have been made
8 matter OF reproach, especially against Massa-
chnseits, that she would not aid the tariff of
1874 and selfish motive imputed TO her
Tor that also. In point of fact, it is true that
she did, indeed, oppose the tariff of 1924.
mere were more votes in favor of that law in
the House OF Representatives, not onlv in each
, OF majority of the western States, but even
IN Virginia herself, also, than in Massachusetts,.
1t was literally forced upon New England and
TINS shows how groundless, how void of all
probability any charge must be, which imputes
} 70 her, hostility to the growth of the western
states, as naturally flowing from cherished
pohcy OF her own. But leaving all coniectures
{ about causes and motives, 90 at once to the
iact' ana meet 1t with one broad, comprehen-
slVe, and emphatic negative | denv that in
any part OF her history, at any period of the
government, or in relation to anv leading snb-
Ject, New England has manifested suc! 6ostil-
I ity as is charged upon her. On the contrary.
l maintain that, from the cession of the Terri.
tories by the States 10 Congress, no portion of
the'c0untry has acted either with more liberal
I ity or more intelligence, on the subject of the
western lands in the new States than New
England Tins statement, though strong is no
stronger than the strictest truth will warrant
Let US look at the historical facts. So soon as the
( cesslons were obtained, it became necessary TO
make provision for the government and dispo.
sitlon OF the territory-tbe country was TO be-
governed This, for the present, it was obyi
Gus, must be by some territorial system of adj
mlnlstration. But the soil, also, was to be-
granted and settled. Those immense REGIONS.
large enough almost for an empire, were to be
! appropriated tt private ownership How was
this best to be done? What system for sale
and disposition should be adopted? Two modes
I N ndt1cfIp 4 hra, 4
the one southern, and the other a northern
mode. 1t would be tedious, sir, here, to run
out these different systems, into all their dis
tlnclions, and TO contrast their opposite results
That which was adopted was the northern svs-
tenn, and is that which we now see in success.
tul operation in all the new States. That
which was rejected was the sytem of warrants.
surveys entry, and location such as prevails
south OF the Ohio. 1t Is not necessary TO ex.
tend these remarks into invidious comparisons.
The last system, is that which, as has been
emphaticaly said, has shiRgied over the coun-
try TO which it was applied, with so MANY con-
fctng titles and claims Every body &C.
qualnted with the subject, knows how easily
1t leads TO speculation and litigation-two great
calamities in new country. From the sys.
tenn actually established, these evils are ban
ished. Now, sir, in effecting this great meas.
uTe the first important measure on the whole
subject; New England acted with Vigor and
effect, and the latest posteri:y of those who
and her wisdom 1 he system adopted was her
own system. She knew, for she had tried and
proved its value. II was the old fashioned way
of surveying lands, before the issuing of any
title papers, and then ul inserting accurate and
precise descriptions in the patents or grants,
! and proceeding with regular reference to metes
and bounds. This gives to original titles, de-
rived from government, a certain and fixed
character; it cuts up litigation by the roots,
and the settler commences his labors with the
assurance that he has a clear title. 1t is easy
J to perceive, but not easy to measure, the i'm
portance of this in new country. New Eng
! land gave this system to the west and while
ii remains there viii be spread over all the west,
one monument Of her intelligence in matters of
government, and her practical good sense.
At the foundation of the constitution of these
new northwestern States, we are accustomed,
sir, to praise the lawgivers of antiquity we
help TO perpetuate the fame of Scion and Ly-
curgus ; but / doubt whether one single law of
any lawgiver, ancient or modern, has produced
effects OF more distinct, marked, and lasting
character, than the ordnance of 81. That in
strument was drawn by Nathan Dane then and
now citizen of Massachusetts. Ii was adopt-
| ed, as think | have understood without the
slightest alteration and certainly il has hap
pensd to few men to be the authors Of a politi-
cal measure of more large and enduring conse-
QuSilCe. II llAtus lOIGSeI, The character OF the
population IN the vast regions northwest of the
Ohio, by excluding from them involuntary SER
vitude. 1t impressed on the soil itself, while
it was yet wilderness, an incapacity to bear
up any other than free men. 1t laid the inter-.
diet against personal servtude, in orig inal COM
pact not only deeper than all local law, but
deeper, also, than all local constitutions I'm
, der the circumstances then existing, look up
on this original and seasonable provision as a.
! real vnod nttnluNd No ito
at tins moment, and we shall never cease to
' see them, perhaps, while the Ohio shall flow
It was great and salutary measure of preven-
A ton. Sir, should fear the rebuke Of no in
telligent gentleman from Kentucky, were to
ask whether, if snch an ordinance could have
been applied TO his own State, while it was vet
f wilderness, and before Boone had passed The
gap of the Allegheny, he does not suppose it
would have contributed to the ultimate great
ness of that commonwealth Now, sir, this
great measure again was carried by the North
;. and by the North alone. There were, indeed
;. individuals elsewhere favorable to it but if
If was supported as measure entirely by the
northern States. If New England had been
l., governed by the narrow and selfish views now
|, ascrlbed to her, this very measure was, Of all
e others, the best calculated to thwart her pur.
h poses. 1t was, of all things, the very means
/. of rendering certain vast emigration from hel
n own population 10 the West. She looked to
% that consequence only to disregard it. She
ID deemed the regulation most useful one to the
'. States that would spring up on the territory,
e and advantageous TO the country at large. She
is adhered to the principle of it persevcrngy, year
j. after year, until it was finally accomplished.
oil Leaving them Mr.. President, these two grea
! and lending measures, and coming down to ou
10 own times, what is there in the history of re
i cent measures of government, that exposes New
e England to this accusation of hostility to west
10 ern interests assert boldly, that in all meas
" ures conducive to the welfare Of the West, since
! my acquaintance here, no part of the country
n has manifested more liberal policy. / beg /,
;. say, sir, that do not state this with view 0
B. claiming for her any special regard on that &C
m count Not at all She does not place her sup
" mort of neasures ON the ground Of fnvnr cnnlar