Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-02-13

or bill was calculated TO close the whole land
question. Why, sir, does not the Senator sec
that il falls great, short Of meeting the desired
object? Can he shut his eyes 10 HE fact that the
garment he has made is entirely too small for the
body he designs to put 1t on? HIS bill applies to
the lands J. ing IN The new States alone-one
hundred aud sixty millions Of acros-mhile the
whole quantity of the public lands is over one
thousand millions OF acres, shown bg the re-
port which | have read. The great hlec,s Of
the Senator, he has declared, are to get rid Of
this agitaiing question in Congress, to withdraw
Executive patronage, and, finally, to settle the
land question. How vii! The bill Of the Senator
effect these desirable results? As have said,
1t touches less than oncslX'h Of the public donna in
The land system, with all It's machinery, must
still be kept up; Congress will have Just as
much Legislation, and the patronage will be about
the same. If such bill had been passed.
But sir, foFbccr 10 push The argument IN the
Senator's bill further at this moment. shall have
occasion to examine 1t N It's proper order In the
course OF my remarks. OGr land system has
been Justly euloglzcd by Senators on all sides Of
the Chamber. When we compare il with the Svs-
TENS OF other countries, how high does II stand
~ the comparison; OF even contrast it with the
manner OF the disposition of the public lands, By
granting large tracts upon credit 10 individuals
or companies, as was first adopted by this Gov
cIameni, and how pre-cmincnt does our present
system stand. SlIil It Is becoming TOO great in
magnitude, too extensive IN It's demands upon The
Legislation of Congress, and too much connected
with the various affairs Of the nation. There
seems to be u universal deposition and desire 10
make changes, either in the manner Of the ud-
ninistraton of the lands, or in the disposition of
the funds proceeding from the sales The debt
of the Revolution has been exliuguished; the
lands ceded by the States have been liberated
from that charge: and new state 81 the qucs-
lion has been presented by these considerations.
propose to notice the different propositions
that have been made for the disposition Of these
lanes. III as brcIt manner as can. and show
how they stand At the commencement OF the
last Congress OF the administration Of Mr.. Nd
ans, | took my scat as member Of tho House OF
r. presc u'ative5. At that time. the question OF
graduation and prc-emption were the iavoriies !ur
discussion. Well, SIR pre- cmpton Jaws. in some
shape, have been passed from that day to this,
and We now have one before differing some
wha, in character from any farmcr law 81 ich
VIII speak hereafter. Bat, SIR, tho graduation
bills have shared Il very different fate. Not
session Of Congress has been held without discus
sing acting upon a graduation bill in some
shape other. General Jackson came into pow
or the tide Of unbouu3ed popularity; his
frIeuds were devoted to his person; and his par
tisaus sustained his measures with great uuanill
Ity. He was most decidedly in favor Of gradual
ton; but he held II Up, as did ms adhcrcnts IN
the West, as the antagonist measure 10 the dis
trihuuon principle as CARR out in Mr.. Claws
land bill; and when The President defeated that
ure. Well, sir he held the station for eigh, wears,
and at the expiration OF bis 'crm Mr.. Van Buren,
came into power. Like his predecessor, he, too,
recommended graduation. The Secretary of the
Treasury favored it a financial measure; his .
parlsans in the West he'd il Up to the people as
an administration measure. At the last session .
of Congress the bill passed the Senate about the
same time the pre- emPtion bill did; they went to
the House together the presumption bill was
passed, and the gradaatlon bill slept the table
There was power enough to pass the su5Freasu-
~ bill and the pre- empton bill. but the gradua-
tion bill was forgotten Thus, sir, twelve years,
including the administration Of General Jackson
and Mr.. Van Buren,, have passed away and the
graduation bill stands precisely where it did |
when ] came 20 Congress first. Frem this am
led to believe either that there never any ser
Gus intention Of passing il By those who clamored
the Ioudest for ii--that it merely held up t.
the gaze Of the people the opposition measure 70
distribution, for the purpose OF defeating the lat
ter measure; or the people opposed to it.
and the dominant party knew it, and were afraid
10 pass 1t. And let me say 10 the Senators now.
That have no, the least idea i, ever will pass
unless IL shall be connected with The presumption
md distribution principles, upon terms Of com
promise OF the whole subject. The objections
hat urged against the graduation bill are
irs', that it unsetieS the land policy; secondly.
t reduces the price of The real estate of the Gun
try; thirdly, the principle of graduation by the
limo the lands have been in market, is arbitrary
10 and un Just, inasmnch rs the tables Of sales
shows that lands which have been long in market
sill fad purchasers n the minimum price of one
!oliar and twenty five cents per acre. These OBJ
ects entitled 10 due consideration; and. !
viii briefly notice them As to the first ohjec-
ion, IL wall depend entirely en- a prior question;
hat Is. Would the change be for the better? If
90, there can he no objection On that ground: as
requent changes have been made. and the land
system has been much improved by them. In
stance the subdivision Of the tracts, the introduc-
lion Of the cash for the credi; system. the reduc-
lion of the price from two dollars, which
he minimum 10 one dollar and twenty five cents,
me present minimum. The second position il,
that il reduces the price of the real estate Of the
country. This assumption think rather specious
han substantial. /, would certainly tend 10 sell
he land, and cause il to be improved at 4 much
ior I,x h., would hr. md