The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-28

Buren, administration. IL would seem thetIhs landed
revenue, Of which the gentleman from Missouri talks
TO US so solemnly has done little but feed their
sagance. There nothing rely upon it, that pro-
notes extravagance in expenditure us 10 feel plenty
OF money In ones pocket. A laugh do not want
ms Government TO have any such feeling wish Al
70 nave nomoney flowing insensibe into ITS possess
sion want il 10 have none but hat il gets by tax
auon-so that the People may know and feel where
'ie money comes from Give Government an
Income independent OF taxes and the People do not
ne "na' they are paying. Such mode OF h'iing
the government Golfers must be dangerous. do not
desire y to continues and hold therefore, that jus
,e "nd expectancy alike require that this great sub
Ject OF the public domain sha be settled as soon
possible Giye the amPlest provision you please tothe
10 do H. and will do il freely and checrf,lly: bur
whiie DO this would at the time do justice and
discharge my duty TO the States by giving their just
shares IN the proceeds Of the whole domain.
hold this TO be greatly preferable to the scheme Of
cession opposed by the Senator from South Carolina.
was, Confess, greatly surprised by many Of the de-
aonsfraftons OF that honorable Senator. He reduced
the value Of one hundred and sixty millions of
ct the public lands, lying within nine States OF this
yerses the position that each Of that land is worth
dollar and quarter, and holds on the contrary, that
not an acre of 1t is worth that price
INF CALHOUN here explained He had meant to
De understood that the lands were none OF them worth
dollar and a quarter cash in hand value and that
none We're worth that but such rs could now be pur-
chased ia markell
The Senator thinks that he can reduce the total
saiue OF the whole domain TO its value as a sum in
hand; and he insists that this sum- put out al interest
VIM bring us moro than the lands will Why what
Is the value Of land covered with the ocean which no
man can drain Or what is the value Of land with
no human being 10 cultivate it enjoy the fruit of IL
W hat Is the palues in hand Of land so situated D.
u e he Senator concludes that because such land IL
That is the substance Of his argument What IS the
selling prICe of land under the sea n0t drained M
land at present inaccessible to settlement No
can get at the one, or wants the other-and while
things so remain, il has present value all. But
would prudent man, OF prudent Government there
lore, part with It for nothing2 The value of thing
consists in the Of it-that is the value Of land,
ana mat only. Its value Deepen Is the demand for
It. Will the demand advances we must COZ, ent our
serves TO wait When il comes to be wanted, then it
will have its value.
Il is dsgraceful to witness the manner in which
matters are now proceedngto the sale Of yalua-
BILE lands postponed it has lately been. The sale is
advertised to take place in the midst of cold inclemen
weather, and, when this is complained of the Secre
tary then writes most gracious letter declaring that,
though he Is IN very great want of money yet he will
condescend to put of the sale little longer. The
treasury wants little money; does not know where
to get T. until is resolved to get up pre- enption
law: then Mr. Secretary in all haste advertiscs the
lands for sale, at time proper improper, matter
just as spendthrift hastens to sell of piece of his
patrmony to-day 10 pay for the extravaganza Of yes
ana 10 get what ne needs tor more cxtraVa
gance tomorrow.
The whole basis Of the honorable Senator's argu-
ment is perfectly idle and visionary To talk of the
present value of 160 millions Of of land when
every body knows that not than five millions of
it are wanted in year What demand is there for
go millions of of land What is the price
such tract will bring if put up to sale Had we
not better husband il and sell it of, little by little,
1t is needed Can we not hold the property and sell
il off for homes settlers as homes are needed Can
W nOt keen IL FIR misip WI they will
homes tool This is not subject to which to apply
the calculations of annutes. The land is not want
ed now, and therefore there is ground which to
calculate its value at this moment
But this notable scheme Of cession ia to at
stroke all our evils This to put end to angry
Debates this to put far away the danger Of the lands
falling into the hands of the settlers, of the States.
No more eaousies are to be felt between and old
States; more Executive patronage in this body or
elsewhere; more landed brides TO be offered by
ambitious seekers of the Presidency-nothing of all
this is to be felt any morea all is TO be at an end
and moreover the cesson to bring you in more money
for your lands!--[A laughl Now, differ entirely
from the learned Senator in all these calculations
will show you how il is he makes the land produce
money by calculating, in tie first place, what
the land would fetch if set up at auction when
wants to buy, and then contrasting this with what we
to get for it from the States to which to cede
it, But will this remove solitary evil Of all those
he has enumerated The States will be our debtors
and they are to promise to pay. Can the gcntemans
the Interpretation and in the compliance with this
tract We have here individual States asking us for
graduation and presumption laws, and 1t produces a
vast deal Of prolonged and angry debac if we suhs
tue money for land, will that diminish the debates
Shall we not have all the angry controversy then we
have now : And more Now the General Govern
ment acts individuals il grants pre- empton TO
and b. and il has them in its power and yet he says
there is the utmost danger of resistance and OF our
losing the lands: hut give up the whole and take
State bond and then all will be peace and quietness
Why, will there not be much danger when all who
might oppose authority consolidated into one,
when we could deal with them as individuals, and
take them one a time 2 Can act with
more effect than single man II is so easy to
deal with States and TO compel them TO fulfil their en-
gagements Was il found so in the days OF the Con-
federation Under the Confederation you acted on
States-on States who had made promises; and did
the plan work well Was it perfectly easy to raise
the respective quotas OF the States, even under the
most urgent pressure of the wants of the Continental
army, fighting for the liberties of us ALI No; 1t was
found to be contest OF Government against Govern
ment, and it was found that Governments ale not as
likely TO pay as individuals; and if they refused, It
was much harder to them. Hence that form of
government was changed; and Revolutionary
tolefathers were Sd idle or unjust foolish" 10
think they gained by the exchange and the Federal
Constitution stands monument of their wisdom to
this day. But now, forsooth, VIC TO travel back
again to the principles Of the old exploded Conicdera-
ton We 10 give up the land which Is ours, and
in the sale and management of which we have to do
with individuals only; and TO convert this vast
and wide landed inheritance into debts of particular
States do not dstrust the honesty Of the States,
their good intentions; but we know that it is not al
ways convenient 10 pay day. Do debtors ask
indulgence as to terms TO time If we take these
State bonds are we perfectly they will never be-
come subject OF controversy May the States not
say the progress of graduation is too slow it keeps
people waiting too long; give modified gra-
duation law with shorter periods Of reduction that
we may get the land al nine pence the much
the soonerl His peace-making proposition only
changes the ground of controversy il does not
it, Its whole operation is to part with all the grounds
of controversy we know and look out for new
If discard nj prescnt N nown Shall we leave the