The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-19
WHOLE NO. 1923

tbs States II vote sgains, it, then is might be said
nat sm In favor OF assuming the debts Of the States
To avoid this want the resolution TO express the
baked truth, and in form that will not require any
plantation do not wish part in any farce that
hereafter will require mo TO "defae my position"
the phrase is here
Mr.. President am decidedly 10 favor of distributing
the proceeds Of the public lands among the several
States. TO be expended in railroads. canals and for the
support Of public schools Sir. the public lands are
distinct property Of the United States not revenue and
should not be considered revenue any more than
other property Of the Union. The proceeds of those
lands should not be wasted squandsred by the ord
nary expenses Of the Government but should be kept
ass distinct and separate fund for great and useful pur
poses BY distributing the proceeds among the States
TO make railroads. canals, aud schools only change
the FORM but do not lessen the value nor was IT, but
place u where permanent income may be re<eived for
the use Of US and poser,y forever II spend those
lands by the ordinary expenses Of Government shall
be like prodgal farmer who does not raise his own
living, but sells part Of his farm every year support
himself in idleness and riotous living, and in the end
leaves his children poor, and without land; and what
should think Of him Sir, il ne proceed 10 parting
with lands for the ordinary expenses Of the Govern
msnt they wilhs wssssd, ana possosty viii have
source but taxation for improvements and The support
Of Government
Sir is It not better TO make these improvements than
to expend the money do, by doing il out to
The States make these Improvements if we will
let them have this money They will tho whole
together to be beneficial to all Sir, wish
railroad from the Ohio to Charleston, South Carroll.
ma, and, if you will make this distribution the States
many now here will live to see it completed
S know the kind OF feelings Of the honorable Sc
nator, and cannot but hope he will make this
amendment, so as can vote with him on the resou-
ton.
Mr.. GRUMPY chose to retain the words
Mr.. WEBSTER again moved an adjournment;
which was lost by vote Of ~ to 10.
The question then taken the amendment Of
fered by Mr.. PsENTIss, when there appeared for 1t O.
against 2S follows
YEAS-Messrs. Belts, Dixon, Knight, Phelps
Prentiss Rugges-6
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown
Buchanan, Calhoun Clay, Of Alabama, Culhbert, Full
ton. Grundy, Hubbard, King Linn, Lumpkin, Moulon,
Nicholas, Norvell, Pierce, Roane, Robinson, Sewer,
Smith, Of Indiana Strange, Sturgeon, Tappan, Wall,
Williams, Wrlght-2S.
Mr. RUGGLES then moved to amend by striking
out or State purposes Mr.. r. assigned as
that the debt recently incurred by the State Of Maine,
in defending her frontier might be considered State
debt and, by this resolution the future payment Of 1t
debarred
Mr. WILLIAMS said, as his colleague had objected
to this resolution and he intended to for it, he
wished to give reason for so doing He considered
the debt incurred by his State defending the frontier,
not the debt Of Maine but the debt Of the United
States which would he expected, be paid without hest
tauon by the General Government
Mr. BENTON. Certainly. The boundary Of Maine
was The boundary Of the United States.
Alter some further remarks by MessIs. RuGGLES
and WALL
Mr. NORVELL said that the defence of the State of
Maine The defence OF The United States. The pro-
lection Of the boundary Of Maine tho protection Of
the boundary of the United States The expenses in
Cured in that defence and protection were national ex-
penses and he could tell the Senator from Maine CIR
Rugges) that, if he here to claim reimbursement
Of the moneys expended in the maintenance Of her
boundary rights against a foreign Power, the
ground Of it's being local object State purpose,
he would in his judgment, 60 back without success.
The worthy colleague Of the Senator (Mr Willlams)
had taken the right view OF the subject The resolution
against the assumption of the State debts contracted Tor
local objects State purposes, had reference to
such cases as the defence Of the State against foreign
aggression.
Mr. RUGGLES demanded the yeas and nays on his
amendment but they not ordered, and it
gdtived without division.
The question was now taken on the first resolution
reported by the committee, which Mr. GRUMPY
asked the yeas and nays, and it carried 80 l.
follows
YEAS-Messrs Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Buchanan Calhoun Clay of Alabama Cu,hbert. Dixon,
Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Hubbard, King Linn,
Lumpkn, Mouton, Nicholas Norvel, Pierce Prentiss,
Roane, Robinson, Sewer, Strange, Sturgeon, Tappan,
Wall, Williams, Wiight-30
NAY-Mr. Smith, Of Indiana.
The second resolution was then read.
@ Resoiped, That such assumption would be highly
expeden and dangerous TO the Union Of the States.
Mr.. DIXON observed that, having voted for the first
rcsoution and intending, he did, to vote against the
under consideration, well the other two yet to
be considered he deemed it proper to state briefly
of the reasons which had induced him TO adopt that
Il. AZ. L, ia
il in a very few words. He said he had voted for the
first resolution because he nothing OF substance IN
1t but abstract, negative proposition against the as
sumption BY the General Government of the State
debts. And, an abstract proposition, he admitted
there might be injustice IN one Government or one IN
dlvdua paying o. assuming the debts OF another; yet
there might be circumstances under which that would
be neither UNJUST improper And although he could
in the views of Senators opposed to the policy
of such assumption the present occasion, 1t was
merely relation to the abstract question as now pre-
scented Future exlgences may present the ques-
ton varied in its relations to recommend very
dlffercn, conclusion lie therefore wished to be under
stood as voting what he considered one Of those alb
stract propositions which always have been and always
will be qualified and controlled by attending crcum
stances. But (Mr. ID. said, he should vote against
the other resolutions although it might be considered
that they were only affirmative Of the one preceding
Blu, Che sad) their Office seemed to be to reenac, by
relation the first resolution and that in connexon with
new and much stronger expressions. If the subse
quent resolutions merely to dsapprove of the po
hey Of the assumption OF State debts, IT was no more
than had already been passed upon to that end aud
vet he would moi say that that policy even If adopted,
would cndsngor the Union OF the States; or that II
would asserted in the third resolution, he utterly re-
pugnant TO all the objects and purposes for which the
Federal Union was formed.
Mr.. ID. said one Of his objections to those resolu-
tons was that however strong they in language,
We, more intended than expressed by them. And
that after ALL they rather resolutions against dis
tributon than against assumption. Mr.. ID said while
he advocate for assumption OF the States debts,
he was decidedly in favor OF distribution Of the pro-
a. Al. ~. tho Gtatos