Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-06-01


 public lands passed Congress, which we would not gladly have amended had it been in our power; but after repeated consultations it was thought best by the delegation to forego any attempt at amendment lest we might endan ger the passage of the blls-that in claiming too much we might lose all-and that we should sustain the propositions in the shape in which they were reported by the commit tee on public lands, not as containing all We could ask, but all which, under the crcum- stances, we had probability of recciving.- With some admitted exceptions to the bene- | fcial operations of the late land laws, l still f1atter myself that under their joint pro- visions, the valuable lands of the country will be almost entirely entered by our citizens at moderate prices, and under circumstances of perfect equality to the rich and the poor giving to the humbest occupant the benefit of the improvements which his labor has plac ed on the soil.
 It has been my misfortune, fellow citizens, to differ from many for whose opinions have great respect, in relation to both the cxpedi- ency and the constitutional power of the ge neral government to carry on a system of ln ternal Improvements. Such views as 1 have entertained on this subject have given to the public without reserve, on many occasions, | both before and since my election to Con gress. These opinions have been severely canvassed in the public prints and elsewhere; but amidst all the collisions of sentiment which have taken place, it has been to me source of proud satisfaction that my most violent op- ponents, even in the wantonness of opposition, | have never attributed to me single unwor- thy motive, either of interest or ambition, as controlling my judgement on this question. - l What individual interest could have differ ent from that of the great body of the people l utho I hove ha6 thp honor. n p- Their interests are my interests; their pros pel%ty is my prosperity; and their oppres- sions on the:part of the government, are my expressions. Nor could have expected that the unreserved expressions of my opinions, in opposition to internal improvement, would proptiate the favor or support of my political opponents Those present will bear me wit ness to the fact that these opinions were made the strongest ground of opposition to my re- I election. Had 1 consented to have forbornc their exposition on this question, or to have yielded acquiescence to system by which the South had been plundered of it's hard earned treasure, my opponents would have been deprived of the sharpest weapon with which was assailed in the spirited canvass of 1929, but 1 thank my God, fellow citizens, that it is not in my nature to be smuggled in to office by concealing my sentiments, or tol purchase popularity at the expense of my principles. Time, the great arbitcr of Human events, can alcne determine whether have erred ornot. But if have erred, have erred On the side of liberty against power; and have the consolation of being sustained in my opinions, not only by the decisive vote of the popular branch of our last Legislature in the rejection of the Coosa Canal Memorial, but by the opinions of four-hfths of the represen- tatives of the Southern States, the interest of ,uh JNrpriSplV the lS those of the people of Alabama.
 Had have represented interests adverse to those have represented, and been entire ly free from the restraints of the Constitution and of principle, should have advocated pre- csely an opposite policy. As representa- tive of people interested in the continuance of public debt, might vote for internal im- provement as the best means of preventing the extinction of that debt As the represen tative of large State, whose numerical strength in Congress gave her control over the public revenue disproportionate to her contributions to that revenue, might then ad vocate the system under the belief that could get more out of the public treasury than my constituents had paidin Were l the repre- sentative of d people deeply interested in the continuance of the tariff, might then vote for every prohigate expenditure on roads and ca nals as pretext and apology for keeping up that high rate of duties, which would operate as bounty to my constituents. But repre- sentng, as Ihave, the interests ofthc tax-pay- ing people of Alabama, to whom a public debt is public burthen, who contribute by millions and receive by thousands from the public treasury, and whose prosperity is in the inverse ratio of high rate of duties cn 1 imported goods, should lend my aid in rivet- ting upon them their chains by recognizing the policy Of internal improvement.
 I have said, fellow citizens, on different occasion, that if a majority of the people of the United States are in favor of continuing this system, it is difficult to see on what grounds they can reject MT Clay for President, who contributed, perhaps, more to it's success than any other man living; and l will now say that were 1 the most zealous advocate for that gentleman's pretensons, l could not advise more successful mode of furthering his cleo tion than by supporting such measures ot in- ternal improvement 2s the President, under his last message to Congress, would feel bound to reject, and thus throwing upon him the responsibility of defeating their passage. That such were the tactics of his opponents during the last session, there can be but little doubt, and l should but poorly have repre- sented either the feelings or the interests of my constituents had l have lent myself to such an object.
 It would have been to me, fellow citizens, source infinite qualification if in referring to the acts of the last session Of Congress could have mentioned a single instance of re-
 taxation in that cruel system of monopoly and restriction of which the Southern States have so earnestly and so justly complained. From
 indications furnished during the first session ofthe last Congress the hearts of the oppress- cd portions of the country were gladdened at what they fondly believed were the evidence