Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-03-02

ii has proved to be.
The administration has profed by this |
vast patronage, and the prejudice which il |
mas excited against the bank, as the means OF
sustaining themselves in power. II is unne-
cessary 10 repeatthe remarks, in illustration
OF this. The truth of the statement is known
TO all the Senators, who have daily witnessed |
the party topics which have been drawn rom |
this fruitful source. I then remark ed that.
il rumor were tn be trusted, 1t was not only
in political Poin, of view lha, those in pow :.
er Lad pIohied by the vast means pu, i'm the
hands OF the Executive by tie experiment,
they had profited in q pecuniary. as we'll
ss IN political point of view. Il has been
frequently stated, and not con,radicied. tina,
many, in high places, are among the specu.
ia'ors in public lands; and that an individual
connected with the Presiden, himself. one of
nus nephews, was an extensive adventurer in
this held Of speculation. I did not name
him, but now feel my self called upon 10 do
90. mean Mr.. McLemore.
Having established these points. I mex,
undertook TO show that this bill would Con.
eummate those speculations, and establish
The political ascendancy which the expert.
ment mad given TO the Administrations In
prso' OF the former, | avail myself OF the
declaration OF the Chairman of the Commit.
tee on Public Lands, who had stated thai the
spectators bad already purchased and held a
vast amount OF public land, no, less, as un-
derstood him, than twenty five or thirty
millions OF acres, and ii.at il this hill did no,
pass, The scenes Of the last two wears would
be repeated in this and the coming wear. I
Then undertook 10 show, from the showjn OF
The Chairman himself, that these specula
lions would prove ruinous without, the aid of
TINS mn. He had stated that the annual de-
mand Tor public land, resulting from our in
creased population, could moi exceed five
millions Of acres.
Now, assuming that the quantity on hand
Is thirty millions of acres, there would he
SIX years supply in the hands of spectators
even IT the land Offices of the United States
be closed and that if the bill did not pass,
according TO his showing, it would take
double or treble the time 10 dispose of the
lands. which, in that case, will be in the
hands OF spectators. All must see the GER
tam ruin, In that event, Of those who have
borrowed money TO speculate in land; par
t'cuiariy II The sales OF public land should be
ree ana open 10 every one, as II now rs, 10
purchase TO the extent Of his means. Inext
showed that tho contest was between the
government. as dealer in public land. and
the spectators; that they held in market Al
ieast an equal quantity m value 10 that which
the Government now has offered for sale, and
that every restriction imposed upon the sales
OF Government land, mus: of necessity in,
crease the advantages OF lis rival dealers.
'hen showed that the very onerous and
oppressive restrictions, Of an odous charac.
ter, upon the sales Of the public lands. would
De imposed, il the bill should pass. No one
thereafter could purchase land of the Gov
eminent without iicense-a license. i'm nv
opinion, as offensive and od,ous as would he
license on The press. 10 obtain this H.
cense, the oath of the applicant was required:
and then il could only he obtained on paw
menl OF one dollar and TWENTY-FIVE cents per
acre, for which the citizen may now receive
grant in fee simple. After lie had made
ms purchase. under authority OF his license,
The purchaser has 10 comply with The condi-
non OF settlement aad cultivation, and must.
wi!nin Inc period OF five years, prove to the
sa!'s'acsion OF the Register aud Receiver,
who are made high judicial officers, com.
piiance with these conditions. before he Can
receive his title: and if he failed TO comply.
by accident OF otherwise, he forfeits both his
money and The land. | stated that this was
virtual increase OF the price at the public
lanes 10 the actual settler so much so that
any sober minded man would prefer to give
the spectators two dollars per acre for laod
OF The same quality, to giving The Govern
meht one dollar and twenty-five cents for
license, with these oppressive conditions.
Having established this point, then un-
dertook to show that il would mere ase vastly
the power of the Government in the new
States, II they choose 10 exercise This patron
age Tor political purposes. Tha, they would
80 use il, we have ample proof in Inc ;,ssi
conduct OF the Administration, and in the
principles which have been avnwc,i bv its
friends. A former Senator from New York.
high in the confidence OF The party, and now
Chief Magistrate OF that State, had openIy
avowed, in his place on this iuur, that 10 the
victor belongs the spoils, tor which he was
reprimanded, at The time, by The Senator
from Massachusetts. mir. Webster i in
manner worthy of his distinguished talents.
Assuming, then, tha, The power would be
exercised with view Ia political influence,
showed that II would place q FAST number
Of The citizens OF the new States, In ohably
no. less than one hundred thousand, in con
dition of complete dependence on the Rcceiv.
ers, and oil Yassa!age 10 the Government.
These are The sentiments which deliver.
cd on former occasion, and which | now
reIterate TO the full extent---omi,finp nothing
That IS material as far as connected with The
letter OF the President and for the delivery
Of which my privileges rs y Senator and |
those OF this body, have been So grossly out |
ragged.
= Mr.. Grundy and Mr.. Walker rose ard
slated that they had been attentive listeners
during The debate alluded 10 in the Presi
oeht 8 icttar, and corrObofaed the correct.
ness Oh MIR. Calhnnn's statement of what he
bad said on that OCCASION
Mr. Calhoun then said that lie was gtati-
n had k1f u ,