Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-04-06

Ot reducing tho priCc OF tlc public ldndS to WhICn
motion Mr.. Robinson added further. to instruct
thc committee In inquire into the rNpcdirucy "l
Transferring them to Tie Stvtcs in which ihcy lie,
on reasonable terms.
Mir. BENTON expressed tho great satisfaction
which he felt at hearing the voice of the Sc
ua,or from Illinois, Mr.. Rohusou,l now Tor near.
" the first time, heard in debate this floor, but
often cxcrtrd in the Legislature OF his State, and
always there low here, Ia support patriotic
propositions with sound and sensible reasons. II ;
Mr.. Rohusou'Sl amendment 20 the motion of the
senator from Kentucky, Mr. Biih,N opened the
whole question Of the public lands, and present.
ed the inquiry into their future dispositions fairly
and fully to the consideration OF the committee
The double question of reducing the price, o.
transferring the lands to the States, embraced
in the proposition and the Committee would
doubtless say which of them should be adopted,
whether either should be adopted. This was
not the time to discuss these questions or To de.
clare preference Tor either OF them; that time
would properly arrive after the Committee had
made lis report The question was 40 refer the
subject; and to that reference two objections were
made one objection TO the character al the Com.
rttcc, and the othCr to the individuals which COM
pose it; and strange to say, both objections came
from the Committee itself. and from its friends or
supporters. They object TO the reference on ac-
count OF the character of the Committee and SAY
!; is absurd to send the public lands 30 the Com
mttcc on Manufactures. Sir, said Mr. b.. the alb.
surdtv of the thing is admitted. but then ii must
tie admitted also, that THE abSurditv is only part
end parcel of that mOnstrouS ahSurditV which has
erected the Committee of Manufactures into the
Finance Committee of the Senate! The old Fl.
nance Committee no longer exists except for su-
baltcrn and ccrcmOniouS services. As Il fiscal Com
mittcc charged with plans of revenue, it no long
exists. As such, it is cNpunged, rubbed out, an
initiated! The venerable chairman Of that old
committee Gen. Smith, of Md has nothing TO do
now hut to read his appropriation biliS the Scna-
tor from New Jersey, Mr.. Dickcrson,) whose
name is at the head OF the Committee on Manutac-
lures, or tho Senator from kentucky, CMr. Clay, J
who occupies place upon il, viii now be charged
with tho report of the Secretary of the Treasury
upon the finances, and will deliver us future plans
of rcvcnuc 1t is i'll vain TO object their charlc-
ter. They have got the NiRg into their hands.
They have cot the revenue TO adjust. They have
got the whole Treasury report before them; and
the public lands is leading article in that report
j. is in vain TO say they ought not act upon tho
public lands. The fact is they will act upon it,
whether referred To them or not. No Committees
statesman, no individual, can start a project of
future revenue without fiSi determining the qucs-
ton in his own mind, whether the public lands are
10 he, or not to be, a source of future revenue.
These lands now yield three millions of dollars
and we want but twelve thirteen millions; the
lands, therefore, produce the fourth of all that
is wanted. No man then give an opinion
much less report bill for the future amount
of our revenue, without including or cX-
Guiding, the lands. He must do one or
tie other. He cannot toll what duty or tax
to leave upon single article until he first knows
whether tho large income from the lands are to
be included or excluded. Away, then, with this
story. The committee must decide; they will
decide; they Will report a bill with, or with
out the lands, and either way, is decision:
for EVENT. nothing is DONE the present high and
arbitrary price OF public lands Will be kept up.
No. let - have no lodging iiiuching!
The Manufacturing Committee has got itself IN
vested with the powers of the Finance Committees
Let them, then, meet lis duties and Responsibilities
ii Will decide the land question, whether we refer
ii or not; let them then decide 1t their RESPONSE
&. a an q; to tlp