Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-01-22
Congress.
MR.. CLAY ON THE PUBLIC LANDS.
In SENATE-TUrsDAy, Doc. %

In SENATE-TUEsDAY, Dec. 90.
Mr. Clay arose and addressed the Chair.
Although he said ] find myself borne down
by the severcst affection with which Prov.
ldenCc has ever been pleased to visit me.
have thought that my private grief,
ought not longer to prevent me from at
tempting, Ill as feel qualified, to discharge
my public duties. And now rise, in pur
suance ofthe notice which has been riven
10 ak leave to introduce bill to approp-
rate for a limited time. the proceeds Of
tie sales of public lands of the United
States, and for granting land to certain
States.
feel it incumbent on me TO make q
bret explanation of the highly important
mea sure which ] have now the honor IN
propose. The bill which desire 10 intro.
ducc, provides for the distribution of the
proceeds Of the public lands in the wears
1888, 81, 80, 80, 81. among The twenty
tour States OF the Union, and conforms
substantially to that which passed N 1888.
II is therefore of Temporary character;
but if It shall be found to have salurary
operation It will be ia the power Of fu,
turc Congress TO give it an indefinite con-
lnuance; and. if Otherwise, it will expire
by its own terms. In the event of war
unfortunately breaking out with anv for
elgn power, the bill is to cease. and the
fund which it distributes is to be anpied
To the prosecution of the war. The bill
directs that ten per cent of the nett pro-
ceeds OF the public lands, sold within the
limits Of the seven new States, shall be
first be set apart for them, in addition to
the five per cent reserved by their several
compacis with the United States; and that
the residue oftle proceeds, whether from
sales made IN the States or Territories
shall be divided among the q States. in
proportion to their respective f. deral popu
Iajon. In this respect the bril- CONFORM,
to that which was introduced in l832.-
For one, | should have been WILING 10
have allowed III" new States I9i instead
OF 10 per cent; but as that was objected to
by the President, IN his veto message. and
has been opposed in other quarters. I thor
It best 10 restrict thee allowance to the
more moderate sum. The bill also con-
lajns large and liberal grants of land 10
several oftbe new States, to place them
upon 81 equality with others TO which the
bpun'y Of Congress has been heretofore
extended. aud provides that when Other
new S a,es shall be admitted into the I'm
a,,.,,,.'. c,,,J '"'' s"afe VI Tue
,,,''''" '""1'
ne nett amount OF sales OF public lands
!. '"' car 1000 va, me sum 90 S5.9610@2
90 III we year ig1l was SiG57GOO 60.
""u -" .ne year 900, according to actual
''.e'P,s ]" 'nf t.'ee lrSt quarters, ana an
'7' ,'''"'c u '"' ''"'t"' Is Z'222,I2l ID
"I"H,,'I a.' u29ar@a'n iof the three years
y, D. ~ ~ ''7of o. n'S aggregate is what
,"' WI p.'p''es 10 u'slfou'e ana pay to
Wv, ,o,o ,"g"' 'our GA Is on 'he lSt OF May,
''1o' uP,m Tue Pr'nc'PIes which | have
s'o,eu. ne olIIlrence between the es'l-
"'i'e 'h'ue ny Tue secretary OF The Trea--
VI! ana '"a' "H'ch nave offered of the
Pf"cncl OF the last quarter OF this year,
arises from my having taken, as the prob
able sum- one lhlrh otthe total amount of
the three first quarters, and some other
g,' Joc, uIal sum DeuNc'ing from the
9-'ot"4ot 90 ,oe hIi'eN per cent to which
'"G sewn new >, ii es' according to thr biIl.
- w. = -'D'
-oo TO- mere WI" remain Tor distribution
among t"'t"en'y-l'ur states OF he Union.
ne sum o' 5" 49,. oo4 a. Oi TINS sum.
we ProP'r,Tn o, Aen,"eHy VIII $3.50
80 1l-oI NF9lna' the sum OF s. 5GI,-
ooJ '0-uI y. Caro,'hh' S9da.O32 1@-and
Oh pennsylvania S!ojj 80 - Ihe pro
portion oI ma ana including the fifteen per
ctn'. VIII D. S'oo,p'o <5-n' ono SI677,
! ~ oi-a"u u mississippi S'o8'9l5 -.
A"' me ProPo' ''oN' 81 al 'he twenty four
q" atts are '""I'a'eu III taoie Whlch |
no'u II my hanu' prepared al my instance
III ne once o. ING oecreip y OF me Senate.
ana TO Wnicn any senator may have &C
crSs no srouhos on wtlch me extra
n''"h"Ce Is made TO me new states are,
H'S' 'n'F complaint mat an lands sold by
Tue 'e"'Id' @"'erh"ent are I'VE years eX
"'P''u GU 'a""t'o"i secopDiy' mat IL Is
w. W "P''aou III sci 'ia""c' as WI" aug
w,thin HAM. and io,,t u'IT'u lp"o"o 'and'
ilopont
"ry o' ''co'cc'eu 'nat o'1 passed