Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-01-31

by these unjustifabe denunciatons without
some notice. Even in regard to the amount
of money received, he said it was not a
question of interest with the Government.
1t would be found on review of the histo-
tory Of our land sales under the cash sys.
tenn, that land had sold more rapidly during
the existence of presumption laws, than at
any other period. 1t would be found, more.
over. that the average excess, above the
minimum, received since the commence.
mcnt of that system, had not been more than
two or three cents per acre. Let the SELL
ator from Kentucky wait Till the report of
the Commissioner Of the General Land OF.
flee comes in, responding 70 resolution
which had been adopted at the extra scs.
sion on his Mr.. C's) motion, and he would
see the Government gained nothing, in mo-.
ney, by selling the public land at auction.
The true question would be found to be,
whether the Government ought to put il up
at auction, and sell it to combinations Of
Spectators at the minimum price, or little
more, and thereby place it in their power
to extort inordinate profits from the Guilt
vators of the soil, or suffer il to be bought
for the same money by the honest, poor
and enterprising settler, who had, by the
sweat of his brow, cleured and fenced his
little farm, and built his cabin to protect his
family from the inclemency Of the weather.
But, he said, he would repeat that it would
BIO time enough to 60 into this discussion,
and he pledged himself to be ready to meet
it when the proper bill came up. He would
then be ready to show what description of
people. and whose interests, the Senator
was advocating. 1.-THE same time he hoped
to be able to show the meritorious character
of the claims of those intended to be bene-
fitted.
But (said Mr.. Clay) the Senator from
Kentucky, by way Of giving force to his
imputations against settlers on the pubic
lands, has thought proper TO refer to an act
of Congress, passed more than thirty years
ago, which authorized the President of the
United States TO cause intruders to be re.
moved by military force. He seemed to
imagine that the mere existence of this law
upon the statute book would be sufficient
to stamp with odium the conduct and char.
actcrs of those who went upon the public
lands without previously purchasing. 1t is
true, sir, (suid Mr.. c. that such law had
been passed at the time mentioned; but
what Chief Magistrate had ever enforced
it, unless connected with the actual or sup
posed Intrusion of the settlers uponthe rights
Of the Indians, from whom the land had been
obtained, and who's till remained upon il un-
der the treaty. For his own part, Mr.. G.
said,) although he had resided for more
than twen,y.six years in one of the States
where most of the land had been acquired
from the Indians. in the mean time he had
known of no instance of an order to remove
the settlers on any other ground than he
had mentioned, by military force. Indeed,
he might ask what Chief Magistrate ever
would attempt to expel settlers, by such
force, from the public komain? Would
the Senator from Kentucky advise the ex.
ercise of such power? Public sentiment
would revolt at such treatment of the har.
dy pioneers, who went forward improving
the country, giving increased value TO the
public lands, and facilitating permanent set
Elements. Nor did he know of any penal
~ presc ribed by law for cutting and using
any other timber than that reserved, and
suitable, for ship building. There had bee n
general acquiescence, he believed, by CIV.
cry Administration, for twenty or thirty
years, in the settlement, use and cultivati, n
of our newly acquired territory, with the en-
ception before stated. Hence he had been
warranted in saying, as he had done, when
up before, that the Government had yield.
ed :ocit permission, which exempted the
class OF persons alluded to from the charge
q being Hiere trespassers.
Mr.. G. said he did not know to what
part Of the country the Senator from Ken.
lucky referred when he charged the settlers
with using threats of violence to deter 9th.
ers from the purchase Of their improve.
mcns. He SAID he knew of but one charge
of that nature having been made against a.
ny of the citizens of Alabama and that
was some seven or eight years ago, on the
eve Of taking up the bill, which contempa-
ted the first general grant Of the right Of
presumption. But it happened, fortunately,
that there were those present who were a.
BILE TO contradict the charge, or so explain
the circumstances, us to give entire salts.
faction; and the measure passed by tri.
umpbant majority, and had long since diff.
fused its incaculable benefits. He said he
had heard ofno other similar charge against
the people of Alabama, or those of Missis.
sippi, close in his vicinity, where large
quantities of the public lands had since been
brought into market and sold. But if such
threats had been used by few settlers in
some particular neighborhood, was it fair,
or just, on that ground, TO assail all others,
and deny them the benefits to which they
were entitled? Was it compatible with
Justice to make whole class responsible
for the indiscretion of few individuals I?
The gentleman from Kentucky had
thought proper to complain, too, of the or.
ganzation of the committees, having, per.
haps, especial reference to the Committee
on the Public lands. This objection, Mr..
G. thought, came with bad grace from
that gentlemen. 1.-The would look back 10
the journals Of the Senate two or three
years ago, when the Senator from Kentucky
and his political friends had majority in
that body may if he would cast his eye up
on the columns of one Of the daily papers
Of this city, published day or two since
he would find that there were at least four
or five important committees at that time,