The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-26

us rapidIy nor The unavoidable changes in our land
system which must follow in It's train. Their won
derfn growth is indeed one ofhose realities almost
| beyond the grasp Of Imagination. When go back
| tweniy-seven years 10 the period when ] first be-
| came a member Of the other House, and compare
| what the new States then were, 10 what they now
| are | am lost in wonder and amazemenf. Their
| growth Is without example. There Is nothing IKE
| Il in history Al that time there was but a single
new State, (Oho.) exclude Kentucky, Iennes s
| see and Maine all Of which have been admined
since The adoption OF the Constitution, and limit my
remarks TO those which have sprung up CD Inc pup
lie domain.
House, Jeremiah Morrow, an honest and sensible
man who was az that time al the head OF The Com
mitlee on Public Lands, and had the confidence OF
the House so completely that his voice was he law
on all subjects connected with them. SO lille in
terest did they, at that time, excite. There were
then lhiry-two Senator's in all, OF which Ohio had,
Of course two; that is, the one sixteenth OF the
whole. In the electoral college she had Three votes,
which made her weight about The ene-hilleth IN
that body-a weight scarcely felt or estimated IN The
political movements of the day.
Such at that time, was The infant and feeble con-
diton OF The new States. Since then, in period
but little exceeding that allotted TO single genera
ton, 10 pass over the stage OF life, how wonderful
the change Instead of one, as then, there are now
nine new States; and 10 the place OF two Senator's
in ihirty-two, we now have eighteen in hfy-iwo;
making, instead Of one-sixteenth, more than third
OF the whole, and already three Territories Flori-
sion. When admitted, which must be shortly, there
will then be twelve new States with wenty-iour
Senators in ihy-six which will increase their rela-
tive weight in This body 10 three-sevenths oi The
whole.
But as wonderful as has been the increase in this
body, il will be still So after the next census, in
The other. IL will be taken next wear, and new APP
porlionmen Of the members will be made under the
Constitution; when, instead OF single member,
being less than one in a hundred as was the case
iweniy-Seven years ago, The representation OF the
States will then stand 10 the old at least as forty
To sixty two-ffths OF the whole, as calculated BY
a friend familiar with the subject, and in whose ac-
curacy have entire confidence. The new States
having, as they will then, three-SeyenthS in this, and
two- his in the other House, WILL OF course, have
relative weight in the electoral college, or the same
thing in the choice Of President compounded of
the two, that Is, iye-twellihs of The whole. So much
for the past.
Now il we turn to the future, we shall find The
cause OF this amazing growth so far from being ex
hausted weakened is acting with increased force
and urging forward the growth OF those States with
accelerated instead Of a decreasing, velocity; so
much so, that The past changes in the last twenty
seven years will appear as nothing, compared with
/ what will take place in the next twenly-seven IN
less some unforeseen occurrence should intervene TO
! reard their progress Ii my memory serves me, our
population, twenty-seven years ago was about seven
millions; and our annual increase then that is the
| excess of births over deaths including emigration
about two hundred thousand, estimating our growth
| at three per cent compound. Since then our popua-
ton has increased OF less than nine millions, ma
king The present probably about sixteen which, on
the same data will make annual increase at this
time but little short of half million; the greater
part of which will find their homes in the new
4 States.
will not enter into minute calculation as to the
effects OF this great increase on the relative weight
OF The and old States the next succeeding
sus, in 1880 II is sufficient say that it will give
decided majority to the former, both in the House
and in the electoral college, and OF course, in the
L ltI,, a.,
generation and halt, the centre of political power,
as between the old and the new States, will have
passed from the former 10 the latter.
/ Now, with these unquestionable results before us,
ask, not whether it would be wise TO continue the
old system; no. sir fair holder question ,riA be
practicable? And If not practicable scould ii be
IN struggle 10 continue it, til orerfaromn By The force
of unavoidable and irresistible causes? | ask, what
would be the effects of such struggled Would it
not be TO excite in the first instance, luminosity and
dScord between the ola and States, and, in the
end, to overthrow the entire land system, with the
certain loss, ultimately, Of the public domain2 l
shall not on this occasion attempt formal discus
sion of these points Ipropose in order illustrate
! simply to show how vain and dangerous would be
the attempt 10 hold on TO the present system under
these great and growing changes, by tracing its ope
! ration under single aspect its bearing on The Pre-
Sidental question.
/ To have clear conception Of this, we must bear
/ in mind, that after the next census the new States
will have hye-fiths Of the electoral college and of
4
controlling voice in the election OF President He
who keeps this in mind, and understands the work
| ings OF the human heart and Of our system must
see, that in the Presidential e0atea tor such it must
ever BEL The great point, hereafter, will be TO secure
their favor; and that this best be done by favor
ing their peculiar views and policy in reference 10
the public lands. Now one OF two things must fol-
low: either all the candidates will enter into this
competition, in which case the struggle will be who
shall so farthest and its consequence to give the
vote 10 him who may bid highest. 1t is easy 10 see
how this would end. The public domain, the noble
inheritance OF the people of this Union, would be
squandered or rather gambled away in the contest ;
and would thus be made a, the same time the means
OF plumber and corruption, and of elevaiing 10
power The mos, prohgate and audacous
But instead of all the candidates seeking the Ia
Vor OF the new States, part should court their in
teresl and The others that Of Abe old States the train
OF events would, indeed be varied but the ultimate
result would be the same. On this Supposition each
Of the candidates would resort TO means best calcu
lated 10 secure the section on whose support he might
rely. Those looking 10 the new States would push
TO the extreme the favorte policy of those States in
reference 10 the public ands while the others would
take the opposite extreme in favor of the old States
Now, when we reflect that the new and the old States
must necessarily, from their different position and
relation TO the public lands entertain very different
views OF the policy that ought 10 be pursued in rea
1 ton 10 them, in almost every point-so much so
that The shall consider that but as the demands Of
justice which the other shall regard as nonng short
Of open plumber, as we have witnessed in this dis
\ cussion-we may form some conception of the vio
lence OF the conflict which ensus in the case
supposed. We have mad, even in this early stage
and on this very question: some indications of what
we may expect. The most violent luminosity and
hatred would follow, and every man. I've his motives
ever so pure and patriotic, would be regarded the
friend 'c the enemy Of the or the old States as
his opinions favored the policy of the one or the
other The final termination Of the conflict would
not be doubtful Whatever turns of fortune might
occur, in It's progress, the States must in the
end, prevail. Their relative increase is far more
rapid Than the old so much So that after lS5O-hat
is, alter the third Presidential election from The
next--'hey would be left, as have shown. in undis-