Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-07-06

cded in part But he expressed his desire the
subject without further delay.
Mr. King said he himself opposed TO the per cent
was reported lie instructed not to press the
reduction of the price of lands in this bill He referred 10
the hardship which he alleged TO bear on the new States,
by their compact with tine General Government; and
which he said admitted by the Senator from Kentucky
Mr. Clay corrected the Senator from Alabama, as to the
opinions attributed TO him. lie had admitted the
existence of hardship, but merely of complaint and for
that complaint he denied that there was any good oun-
daiOu He stated that if the lands TO be coded to
the States, they would still be exempted from taxation,
State had everaxed its own lands Ill inquired IT the
Government was not justified in making could
be made from the public lands, without uuiairness the
He Showed the superiority OF the principle
and mode of distribution adopted by the report OF the Com
nittee Manufactures He stated that all the Union
interested in the application of the proceeds of the
lands to Colonization, Internal Improvement, Educa
ton; because all that added To the mind the inn
provement OF State, addition TO the aggregate n
ellect aud wealth OF the whole.
MIR. Benton said, this bill to be pushed through
at the present session, the amendment directed by the
Committee Public Lands to be made TO the Tariff BILL
would be moved this BILL to test the of the Senate
TO the reduction OF this heavy the States
the West IL should he determined by direct vote, whe
Their the States, besides the support Of the General
were to be saded with The support of all the
twenty four States, and 10 be the spoil of the rest
Mr. Clay said he glad TO hear that the Senator
from Missouri determined to bring forward the whole
subject. "Come Macduh." He had been DESTROYS
have the whole subject disposed OIL and there time
for this general action during this session. he anxious
that it should take place
Mr. pOndeXtcr made remarks in opposition TO the
Senator from Missouri the point that the States
the spells and the oppressed of the other States He
stated that the sales of the public lands the Choctaw
purchase in Mississippi, would be opened fall, and
ii he, in i'll hunour because he could get all he
wanted should vote for posponing this subject to another
year, his constituents would lose the benefit the 5 per
cent the lands then to be offered for sale. He could
not place himself in that position before his constituents
Mr.. Gruniy adverted TO the mpossbility of getting
through THIS question IN the two weeks, or one week,
which Congress have sit He wished through
the unfinished business which ought be acted upon Ii
this bill was TO be put aside he would also vote postpone
the other bill from the Committee the Public Lands,
for the reduction of the price of the Public Lands. BIT
this bill were TO be passed upon the ?cion the other
could not be prevented III gentlenen however, were
eager get discussion, let them go thought
that two weeks hence, they would regret that they had
done
Mr.. King asserted that although the dividend now given
to the States out OF the sales public lands protested
to be per cent, IL in fact put per cent? ad-
donal per cent TO be directed TO the making of
roads and from the lands. He stated that he would
for this bill if the dividend be raised
20 per cent TO the States lie would not be brbed
10 give his support 10 this bill
Mr.. PondeXter asked it the gentleman from Alabama
was brbed when he obtained 400 600 for his Slate
He repealed The idea that either he himself other Sena-
tors To be laid under the imputaon of being blbed
and stated that although public lands had been on sale i'm
Mississippi for thirty years that State had nothing
from the general government He desired 10 act on this
bill during the present session,
Mr.. Johnston expressed himself in favor of going
through with this bill at the present session. and replied
TO the several objections which had been urged against
action upon it. He conendcd that in looking intently
al me reduction oil the price OF the Public Lands, there
was danger OF losing the advantages promised by this
bill, WHILE after ALL there certainty that the price
would be reduced.
Mr. Benton insisted the probability of the passage of
6 TO reduce the price Of the public lands, should this
bill fail.
Mr. Johnston replied that the principle of reduction was
not at war with the principle OF distribution pro-
| ceeds.
decided as follows:
Yeos-Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Buckner Hendricks
Kane, Moore Poindexter, Robinson, Ruggles, Upton
Noys-Messrs. Bell Brown, Chambers, Clay, Clayton,
Dallas, DickersOn, Dudley, Ellis, Ewing, Foot Freing-
huysen, Grundy Hayne, Hill, Holmes, Johnston King
Knight, Mangum, Marcy, Miller Naudan, PrentSs
Robbins, SEYMOUR Silsbee, Smith, Spraguc Tazewell
Tomlinson, Troup Tyler, Waggauan White wilkins
SO.
Mr.. Hayne moved to strike out the words which pro-
vide Tor the distribution OF the proceeds among States
lie was opposed to the introduction of the principle of dis
tributing the revenue among the States He insisted bnt
the proceeds Of the Public Lands did constitute part of
the revenue. The clause which he moved To strike ont
cut OH Part OF ne public revenue, taking it from the
Treasury 10 divide among The States He made an OH
Jecuon 10 he distribution Also because ii division of
ne gross instead oil the nett revenue, and far the
difference between the and proceeds il was d.
vision OF the duties derived from imports. He admitted
The perfect power OF Congress 10 legisae the subject
Bu he was opposed to donations OF money TO the States
and desired TO have some general and equitable system
adopted for the disposition OF the Public Lands He ask
ed for the ayes and his notion which were Or
dcred.
Mr. Clay said he reoced that the question of the prin
cipe oil distribution 10 be tested i'm IA simple and
solemn manner. He met the opinion the Senator from
South Carolina, that the division the proceeds of the
uoc LANDS would leau 10 The practice OF distributing the
proceeds oil The taxes among the States, by opposite
one; and declared his firm and strenuous opposition TO
the principle Of such distribution. He stated that the re-
venue from the Public Lands distinguished from all
other revenue by the language of the constitution and of
tile deeds oil cession, which gave exclusive and unlimited
power TO Congress the Public Lands and which was
not gwen over any other This view was sum
ported by the opinions of of the able of eur con-
stutlona lawyers; and if it correct, the argument
therefore, that the division of this revenue would lead TO
the division OF all the surplus revenue he did not consider
as susainaOe lie ddverted TO the argument that the dis
nbuion oil the gross proceeds would be distribution in
part oil revenue from other and stated that the bill
authorized the division Of the proceeds ONLY He de-
tailed what would be the deductions made by the
ing officers under the BILL when they determined tbe
amount OF the proceeds applicable division The nett
amount oil charges the annual sales of the public lands
uld not, he believed, exceed per He hOped that
the question OF distribution would be settled and in such
manner as to rebound to the happiness prosperity of
every State, and, Of consequence, of the whole of the
| Union. ~ " '0
Mr. Haync briefly replied the subject of the dscriu
from other sources-and commended that if the CONSTRUCTION
oil Tie gentleman from Kentucky correct re was M
limitation to the powers of the General Governments and
hey might be exercised under a wild discretion the ex
tent oil which could not be anticipated or controlled He
asserted That there ought not 10 be any surplus money in
me treasury but that should be taken TO renuote tl
taxes so as to have unnecessary amount in the Treasury
lie denied that Ire anxious 10 increase the revenrc
from the public lands. He was willing TO place ben ON
fair and equitable ground
Mr. Poindexter dissencd from many of the posfons
taken by the Senator from South Carolina who had stated
nus disposition TO beiriend the States vet refused
either TO cede the lands the new States or 10 make dona
tons OF lands to them.
The debate was further continued by Mr. Johnston Mr.
Kane, Mr. Holiness and Mr.. Robinson wi hen ia c,,.s;,