Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-04-06
MIR LEWIS SPEECH.

thought proper to bestow on me. Public approba. tlOn Is, perhaps at all times of the highest re- wards oipubic service, but it brings with il more than ordinary share of qualification to one who, in opposition to individuals standing deservedy high in public estimation has received from the ndulgent partiay of his fellow citizens, confidence far in advance of his years-and whose nexperienee is so well calculated to produce mstrust in his ability to discharge the arduous duties of Representative in the Congress of the United States
 Il is, perhaps, expected that on an occasion like the present l should avail myself of the presence of so large portion ofmy constituents for the purpose of sendering account of some of the most promi- nen measures of the last session Of Congress. In dohg thls shall not have time to enter much into detal; the ability to present views either different, from those have already presented to sim
 ilar collections of my constituents in other parts of the District 1 have but one set of opinions as re- gards the policy ofthe government-and these feel bound to express without reserve. Conceament on the part of public servant is nothing short of Il brach of trust towards the public.
 Among the important measures oi the last Con gress there was in which this State felt deep ioca interest. refer to the bill approprialing five h. ndred thousand dollars for tl,l. renosa e i E the indan tribes may voluntarily einlgra,e west ithe Mssissippi-assigning them land in exchange for the land they may leave behind-payng them lof any improvements they may aband0n-and snp- pong them one year after their renewal. To measure so essential 10 the prosperity off the States of Georgia Alabama, and Mississippi cOnsonant with the obligations of the government to these St,tes-and ai the same time so humane and just it rfgards the Indians themselves an opposition was waged which in point of bitterness and vindictiye feeng has few parallels in the history oilegislation; cenpny no discussion since that of the celebrated Missouri Question ever called forth such display or ssong sectional feeling-heiehtened by partizan zeal and strengthened by artful appeals to the pre-
 udses of certain portions of the Union. The rights of ils States to extend their civil and criminal juris dcuin all the persons and things within their territorial limits, boldly questoned-politica privileges and powers were claimed for the Indians whol no civilized nation have ever acknowledged and the President of the United States was de- noun,ed tyrant and all usurper, because, unlike his predecessor, he was not "impelled by super addedobgation even higher than human" to arrest the avs oi Georgia and Alabama at the point of the bayoIet. The same species ofianaticism which has heretofore prevailed the subject of Southern slave ry wat suddenly transferred to Southern Indians, and those busy agents who have so often manifested their importunate zeal in intemeddng with the most lecate questions of southern nerest-doubt- less bteved that the same power which could vlo-
 late ths sovereign rights of Georgia and Alabama so far In any manner to regulate the political rights and privileges of the red men within their limits could by similar usurpation interfere with our domestic relations, to the condition of our slave population Hence, protests and memorials, aboundng Tn all the cant and slang of pretended regard for Indian rights, were poured in upon without measure and reserve,
 from States, who during their colonial existence and ever since, have exercised the same control and
 jurisdiction over the Indian tribes within their limits which they deny to Alabama and Georgia. Now,
 in the exercise of this power can these States lay any claim to the humanity and moderation which characterises the laws of Georgia and Alabama ' On the contrary; code tyrannical and sangunary as desnntisr1i dnu stands in h" feiisi npon theIi statute books, the rule of conduct for race of men who have of late become the special objects of their regard and protection. Nor was this the only inconsistency which marked the jesutcal opposition which was waged against the bill. Its leading op- ponents after camouring so loudly against the e1- treme cruelty of assisting the remouai of such of the Indians as might uotnntarity emigrate west of the Mississippi, were convicted by the journals of the House, of having voted for precisely similar ure during the administration of Mir Adams Thus, opposition claiming to have originated in the highest feelings of humanity was traced with uner- ring certainty to the most grovellng feelings of par ty opposition to our present Chief Magistrate, and after discussion which was protracted near two weeks the bill fully carried by majority of five votes, through the House of Representatives.
 In this manner terminated one of the most angry contests which ever divided the country-a contest which in common parlance, was called the Indian war, and which well merted the appeation from the unsparing virulence with which it prOsecu- ted. In the decision of this question the State of Alabama has not only the prospect of acquiring pos sesslon of of the first portions of her territory to the exclusion of an Indian population. at all times disaareeahle and dangerous, but what consider of more importance, she has received guaranty for that invaluable principle of State sovereignty, that each State is supreme it's jurisdiction all the persons and Mings mifhin is limits, and that Con- gress cannot aier control regutate the cra po- aicat relations of any portion of her population with out violation of her constitutional sovereignty - Under an adverse decision the slave holding States would have much to fear from that restless spirit of
 interference with their internal concerns, repeat edy manifested the floor of Congress, and so sig nally active during this discussion, and which re- qures nothing but tbe sanction of precedent, to em- boden fanaticism in claiming for Congress com plete control over subject which not only the rights, but the safety of the southern people tells them pe- culiary heir own.
 Another subject of deep consideration to the dele gation from this State, to modify the system of dsposng of the public lands at aucton so as to pro- tect the actual settler from exposure to that runous species ofspeculaon, which has heretofore attended the sale of improved land. It is unnecessary to ad- vert the evils of the auction system before an au- dience who have so long experienced its practical operation, but it will probably create some surprise when inform you that for the last four years, the average price of the public lands in Alabama has amounted only to dollar and thirty cents per acre. So completely has speculation put down all competition at the land sales, that the specuator in nine cases out of ten, purchases the most valuable improved land in the country at government price, and then sells it to the settler at whatever his neces- sities make it worth to him-thereby realising the most exorbtant profts Our efforts to remedy this system of cruel exacton on the planting interest of
 the country resulted in the passage of the two bills, familiarly known as the'reief law, and pre-empton
 law. Under the joint operation of these two laws, we had believed that most of the improred land in the country would be subjectto entry; and although we had not effected all we could have desired, we fattered ourselves that while we had succeeded in afordng protection to much the larger portion of in duiduals ,uhn had nlaced imnroYemeDts on public