The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-15
Congressional.


lands.
! Henry Clay moved to refer it back to the
committee on public lands, with instruction to
restrict the reduction OF the price from one dol
lar and quarter TO seventy five cents per acre
| to actlRl settlers and TO restrict the quantity
thus sold TO one hundred and sixty acres to each
purchaser.
The bill he said, operates on seventy millions
of acres of the public domain II quantity suf-
! ficient 10 make two new States. The Instant
ancous effect of its passage will be TO reduce
the price from one dollar and quarter TO seven
| ~ five cents per The difference, there
fore, between the resources of the Treasury un-
der the existing law, and by the operation of
this bill is not less sum than thirty five and u
half millions of dollars. He declared he was
as much opposed ever 10 any vital or radical
change of the land system but he now wished
to give his efforts to limit, if possible, the waste
OF the public treasure--io repress speculation
to prevent the transfer of the public property
into the hands of spectators, to be by them
re sold
II the committee would adopt his suggestion,
the effect would be that man could buy no more
than one hundred and sixty acres at seventy five
cents nor that unless he was and actual settler;
and he thought it would be no great hardship
10 such person, if he wantsd more, to procure
it al the present government price.
This motion was opposed strenuously by
Messis Walker, Clay of Alabama, and Benton.
Mr. Clay reoned with great spirit. H knew
(he sad) that there are sixteen seventeen Sen
ators ready to rise aud defend the system of po-
Icy now pressed upon Congress,-and what
was more iinportant to swell the vote upon il;
while i'll the absence of some of his friends, he
was here almost alone to battle against it. But
" solitary said he-(and the expression of tho
Missouri Humbugger in Clay's mouth crea,eda
general laugh solitary as | ann, | will endeavor
10 meet them in debate though cannot neutral
iZe their votes
The speech of the Senator from Alabama, the
eloquent Kentuckian truly said, was aimed at
hun personally, as il that person had some Sc
cret griet-sonie private luminosity which he
could not forgo the occasion to give utterance to-
He repealed that persons charges against him Of
having made the motion with view TO cause
delay, and said his former simple declaration 10
the contrary ought to have b=en sufficient among
tuen of honor. He showed from The course
OF proceedings on the measure which had been
Fiji ddu aus Ras aso ass al s & %
enemy 10 the new States " Sir, (said Mr. Clay
the Senator expresses what he wishes should be
the sentiment of The new States with regard to
me, not what Is in conformity to my course here
or else where. How have exhibited this en-
nifty? Have not steadily supported PROPOSE
tons calculated TO promote their real and sub
stantal interests Did ] not bring forward
measure Of the most beneficial character in re-
ference to them--the bill to distribute the pro
ceadS of the public land sales The charge Is
wholly untounIed as respects myself, and not
less so as respects the General Government. Its
policy he maintained, had been kind aud liberal
towards the new States. Thew had been foster
ed and encouraged not retarded III their growth
of population and the development oftheir re-
sources. In proof of this he enumerated va
riouS measures and many Instances OF grants OF
millions of acres for the purposes OF education,
public improvement, universities, county courts,
Sc Sc.
Mr. Clay repled,at great length,o the remarks
Of Mr. Walker He showed clearly that though
the BIZ restricted the amount sold al the redtc-
ed price to one section, yet there were no pro-
visions to secure that restriction. man might
purchase IN the uanle of his friends and relatives
to any amount, and there Is nothing IN the Dill
to prohibit this--uo oatli--no sccurty-no guar
an,ee of any description. -
But the administration party press the bill us Z
necessary meet the wants OF the treasury q
and make appeal after appeal on the score OF
the financial emborrassments OF the Govern
neut i it come to this, then = Alter all their
long course of prodigality-after lavishing NIL
lions in idle aud wasteful extravagance-when
tie sounds of their voices calling on the DIS
bursting n gents to say not how little, but how
much they could possibly conrive TO spend, are
still ringing in our ears--do they now ask US to
pour into their laps the rich treasuryof our pup
lie land, to he squandered with similar protes-
sio,s The administration places itself in the
attitude ofthe dissolute man, who, after exhaust.
ing all his own resources in riotous living, would
ask for the family parimony to furnish the means
OF probability. "a
Mr. Clay contended that The argument drawn
from any anticipation of increased revenue was
altogether fallacious Three Millions and
half of acres are fully sufficient to meet the de
demands of purchasers. The market may be
glutred hut no sales will be made beyond that
amount. 4a 81 At
| He animadvertec' severely upon the looseness
with which papers from the department were
brought into the Senate by Benton and others
and a,temp,s made to set them up as the proper
basis for Legislation Instead of the proper,
pnrliamen,ary ana dgnifed course OF call.
inc on the Secretary officially for information,
senator goes to one of the clerks of the depart
ment. and asks him to prepare certain tables for
him by certain day. The clerk, in conformity
with this verbal request, sends statement which
he admits to have been prepared in a great hurry
and without making the examination he would
have made had time heen allowed; and on the
faith of such document from an irresponsible