The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1839-11-29
SPEECH OF
Mr. Walker, OF Mississippi,

Fl u. s.. Jan. %, 1897.
Mr.. WALKER said, before replying I
) the indictment preferd by the HONORABLE
Senator from Missouri, chr. Benton, agains
the Committee on Public Lands, il is prope
to recure to the facts and circumstances III
; der which this controversy originated. A
an early period of the session, the Senate
from Ohio, (Mr. Ewing introduced reso
luton to rescind the Treasurey order. Thi
resolution was very fully discussed, and es
!, pecially by the Senator from Missouri, Mr.
i Benion,) bat Mr.. w. had taken no part il
this discussion.
In the progress of the debate upon the
resolution of the Senator from Ohio, sub
stitute was offered, as an amendment, b.
the Senator from Virginia, (Mr. Rives.
This substitute was advocated by that Sena
tor. as in consonance with the Presidenti
Recommendation, to render the Legislation
of Congress in the collection of the fedora
revenue, auxiliary TO the suppression of al
notes ola smaller denomination than twenty
dollars, and consequent enlargement oil
the circulation Of gold and silver. The Sen
ator from Virginia he regarded the Treasury
order as a temporary measure, to meet a
pressing emergency, and as having in a
great degree performed its office.
Mr. w. had still RETAINED from embarking
i'll the discussion upon this question. Sew
eral Senators, however, had expressed their
opinions, and great difficulties appeared TO
be presented against anv satisfactory adjust
ment of this question. Under these circum-
stances, several Senators now within the
sound of his voice, had proposed TO him Mr..
W. to refer both resolutions TO the Com
mittee on Public Lands. To this reference,
Mr.. w. said, he had at first objected, upon
the grounds that the Committee on Public
Lands was engaged in the laborous exam
inatiOn OF another question, and that the sub
lect of designating the funds receivable for
the public dues, belonged more appropriate
ly TO the Committee on Finance. Upon
further consultation. however, with several
Senators friendly TO the administration, Mr..
w. had at length reluctantly assented to
the proposed reference, which was accor-
dinghy made by the vote of the Senate, in
Guiding that of the Senator from Missouri.
(Mr. Benton.( No other repot than that
which was made, so far az Mr.. W. was con-
cerned, could have been anticipated; for To
every Senator with whom Mr. w. had con-
veFsed. he had expressed his concurrence IN
the provisions substantially OF the resolution
of the Senator from Virginia, (Mr. Rives,
and at the last session. when the Senator
from Missouri (Mr. Benton) introduced a
resolution repairing payments of the public
lands in gold and silver only, the Senate |
would we'll recollect that he (Mr. W. had |
then expressed his opposition to that resolu-
ton, and so bad majority Of the Senators |
now composing the Committee on Public |
Lands When, then, the Senator from Mis-
souri, voted for this reference, he could not
Justly have anticipated any other report than
that which was made by the committee.
When, then, did the Senator from Missouri
vote for this reference, and then denounce
the committee for making the only report
which he could have expected, in contOrmi-
" with thir previously ayowed opinions? Mr..
". said it became his duty, as chairman of
his committee, and as theirsorgan, TO report
bill containing substantially the provisions
IF the resolution of the Senator from Vir-
,inia. Again the subject had been discuss
I'd in the Senate, but MIR. W. had not par
icipated in the debate, and the bill, by
arge majority, was ordered to be engrosssd
or third reading; and now when by the
Usual of parliamentary debate, the contest
night well be considered as terminated, the
Senator from Missouri, Mr. Beuton,) before
he vote on the final passage, had made
cry elaborate argument against the measure.
To all this Mr.. w. would make no objection
tut when that Senator, having exhausted
he argument, or having none to offer, had
nduiged in violent and Incorporate denun-
iation of the sCommitaee on Public Lands,
nd Of the report made by him as their organ
1r. W. conld not withhold the expression of
lis good fortune to be upon terms Of the
indest personal intercourse with every Sen
tor, aud these friendly relations should not
e interrupted by any aggression upon his
art. And now, Mr.. w. said, he called upon I
De whole Senate to bear witness, as he
ras sure they all cheerfully would, that in
MS controversy he was not the aggressor,
nd that nothing had been done or said by
i'm to provoke the wrath Of the Senator from Z
Iissouri. unless, indeed, to differ from him P
! opinion upon any subject, constituted an q
fence in the mind Of that Senator. Iflp
lch were the views of that gentleman, if he v
as prepared to immediate every Senator Q
no would not worship the same images OF
Did and silver. which decorated the politi- y
il chapel of the honorable gentleman, Nj. ?
I. was fearful that the Senator from Mis- =
,uri would do execution upon every mem i
,r Of the Senate but himself, and be- q
IT here alone in his glory. Mr. ". said =
, required TO the remarks OF the Senator g
ON Missouri with feelings of regret, rather p
an of anger or excitement, aud that ne a
luld not but hope, that when the Senator g
IN Missouri had chImly reflected upon z
Is subject, he would himself see much TO y
oret N the course he had pursued IN rela- Il
q to the Committee upon Public Lands, e
81 much TO recall thathe had uttered under e
elinqs Of temporary excitement sir, p