Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1836-05-12
WlaHInaroN. April e..

-. cont into sessiun-under the expectatiO
.I,vavs strong and always peculiar, Of heariI
Mr.: CLAY upon his Land Bill.
Il was. indeed highly complimentary
that accomplished and eloquent man, that u
capitol should be SO early thrOnged I" list
to his OratOry. Yet there was nothing e
travagant or unnatural in the m"venent.'
He deserves il all. He is an orator OF woo
the Republic may we'll he proud ana stare !.
man To whom the Republic should ewes d
grateful. At one o'clock ne commenSu
M. CLAY, in entering .npon a dlscuss'"n
az hin. expressed himself conscious OF
G.ring Of inability to meet its merits as n
wOuId wish to, owing to the circumstances
bodily and mental oppression and ind'sP0s'
fion under which he IabOred. II was soon
evident, however, that these circumstances
had no abiding effect with him. ana tnat ne
was il: possession Of full suffic'ency % pow
or, to enable him to do ample justice Dom 10
the subject and himself.
He was satisfied that the picture OF pros.
perity andisecurity of the country: presented
by the Senator from New YORK lMr. Wrign')
w.s delusive enc. The cOlOrs were extrav-
sg.nt and unnatural. He put it to the Sena-
tor to saw, If he would speak the honest con-
victions Of his mind as man Of common sense
and Of statesmanlike views, whether he did
not believe the state Of things in the land. in
financial relation, was most unfortunate
and dangerous one. He deOied Sihat there
was any attempt to create panic by the rep
4,,.senfatiops which bad been made by the
senator from N. Jersey, and which the N.
York Senator had charged upon bin; and
declared that If there was any nisrepresenta-
ton IN this great case, It was made by him
self. That all the revenue which ought now
tn he expended, was required by the state Of
the country, or could be expended, It was 10
vain TO assert, and could not be shown, by that
Senator. or any one else. As for the pros
pect of extending it 10 Notifications, it was at
once unwjse and impossible. He agreed 10
sentiment with the Secretary of War upon
this subject. and held his opinions to be high
lv valuable and sensible. The coast was now
to degree that rendered the de-
inanded appropriations improper; and as tor
he interior. the great West and the frontiers,
already had the great and unparalleled e"er-
o;ee cf the Republic increased its strength
""rt;, !, might be safely said to snrpass all be-
lief when compared with it's fortified power
AT the lime we issued triumphantly from the
late war. ,a. aas.f ia r.
A .hen there was not that demand for
the public fund 10 the manner contemplated
and assigned by the senator from New YORK
and those who went with him-the vast and
important question was what should be done
with that portion of the money of this people,
which, was particularly regarded 10 this bill
That bill provided for the distribution OF that
fand-the nett proceeds Of the sales Of the
public lands among the several States Of the
Union. And what was the principle Of that
distribution I? II was founded upon the con-
sumption or burden of each State-which
terms are SYNONYMOUS with population and tag
0sios. And what could be better principle
--or more sensibIe-or satisfactOry--or equl-
table? The provision as it operated with the
new States, certainly could not be complained
Of; and as it operated with all OF them, there
was not room TO doubt OF the salutary char
acter of the system. t,.
A leading question was' OF course, the pow
er Of the general government thus to dispose
of this immense and accommodating fund. Mr..
Clay was, upon this point. forcible, luminous
and convincing. 1t had the power, drawn
from the very source, whence it denied the
treasure. 1t had the power from the States
the fountain, not only Of its power. but of it's
existence. He argued for this power Of dis
tributi6n, from fair construction Of the trea-
ties Of session. by which the United States
came possessed of those lands. from which
this treasure emanated. He dwelt upon the
treaty of Virginia with the general govern
ment, in connection with this subject, forcibly
and happily, as an example TO illustrate and
enforce his argument. .f
The question Of the power Of government
10 this matter being settled, the next one that
naturally arese was upon the expediency oil
the measure, and here he could not indulge a
>dloubt. He could not believe that any on.
who had the good of his country at heart
would allow himself to doubt, upon the poll
cy Of Il measure so fraught with every thinl
that looked to the interest Of each state, ant
Of course to the permanent aggregate interes
Ofthe whole OF this great republic. The NOR,
he regarded the measure, the more was h,
satisfied with the benehcence and nobleness o
itsprOvisions. What more was it doing thai
what liberal and loving parent should b.
willing to do for its children? 1t was but re
farming. with generosity and a blessing. 10 tn
day of its pOs0er, to the bosom Of the state.
what the states had contributed, in kindness
to the general government, in the day Of il
sOeokness It was obeying a call of justiC
aud equity, 10 the highest and most expansiy
sense Of tie terms.
Again, MIR. C., argued, If this fund - no.
distributed az contemplated by this bin, II wi
serve to put forever to rest question anon
these states, upon which, il nothing be don,
they will, and that soon, make their vote
heard to the discomfort and unhappy ,distu.
bance OF this government. He meant IN
question Of Internal improvements. Surel
any one who saw the gigantic strides n mo-
aud wealth ofthe vast Western section ~ MI
country, could not doubt the truth Of this
and any one who felt the sad condition &c
great state torn by the fears aud jealousies .
some great national question, could no, doul
the policy Of measure that might prevent
Mr. Elaa aAsanAuA In Eanlina lannn...-