Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-02-27
WHOLE NUMBER 52S.

tof permanent pre- -empicn, and he therefore has
tened TO submit, the proposed measure. Sir, the
significant tile preixed this bill, If IL shall
not be interpreted as ironical upon its worthy
benehciarles, has least that aspect in reference
TO one OF the great parties engaged IN the recent
PRESIDENTIAL struggle. Certainly, sir, either tho
OH or lis titie, or some other associations, havo
produced, IN this debate. no, htIe rallery a.
gains, the emblems adopted for good cause by the
Wings in the late contest. The freigh, with
which this preemplion vessel is laden, is accepta-
bic to my constituents, but they like no. the flag
under which she sails. In a word, sir, il cannot
be concealed thai this measure IS INTENDED 10
reach the action of the coming Administration,
and either to force that admin non a n
tagonlst POSITION, obnubilate its glofies nv rh.
which The country was ripe eight years ago as
now. 1t matters not 10 me, however, whether
this consummaton be achieved under the star of
Gen. lllirIson, whether II he the concomiiant OF
that series Of CONSERVATIVE and patriotic measures
which 10 restore the character of the age and
to elevate our Institutions or ether, now urged
by Influences longer to be resisted, the
measure has been prccipltated upon us BY Tho
stern virtue which is ie't and appreciated. md,
may add feared in The character OF Gen. larri-
son, aud by that powerful voice of the people
which has pronounced his election.
Connected with the subject OF a hnal settle.
ment of the land question, proposed by the
bill, two antagonist measures have been present
ed 10 the Senate. That ontained IN The amend
men, Of the honorable Senator from Kentucky,
Mr.. Crttendcn] proposes To grant To The actual
settler. whose estate shall not exceed the valuo
OF $1,000, the right Of presumption 10 any guam
tity Of land not exceeding $50 acres, and 10 dis
tribute the proceeds Of the sales Of the public
lands among the several States Of the Union in
just and equitable proportions The other, pro-
posed by the honorable member from South Caro-
linz Mr.. Calhuon1 conternplatcs cession Of the
public lands to the several States within whose
limits they lie, upon conditions, the principal OF
which are, that the States shall annually pay 10
the General Government six'y-five per cent. Of
the gross proceeds and that the ccssion "shall DO
in full of the five per cent fund or any part there
of not alreadv accrued 10 any Stale; and the SAID
States shall be exclusively liable Tor all charges
that may hereafter arse from the surveys, sales,
and management of the public lands and ex,in-
enlistment Of the Indian title within the limits Of
aid States respectivcy.' 1t also provides that
the States may pass pre-cmption and graduation
laws. l shall frs, consider the amendment OF the
Senator from South Carolina.
object to this scheme rs uusetlling the whole
land system, approved by the experience OF forty
years. destroying that uniformity which has
contributed SO much not only TO the security Of
titles, but ID the value of Improvements made up
tho newly purchased ands 1t transfers tho
munimenis Of lite from the archives Of this Gov
ernmon, to the custody of the Executives of tho
several States, the forms of conveyance Of course
to he devised by the authorities Of these States.
1t creates responsibilities unknown to tho
Constitution, and dangerous TO revenues.
Who can believe that the States will meet pecun-
iary engagements Of this kind with promp,,,udc:
Your laws cannot enforce their collection, and
Your only reliance is upon the faith Of the States
In original engagements OF the several States
with the world, their pighed faith will be suffi
cient guarantee for the redemption OF any pecun-
iarv obligation Bat here the very DIFF
ferent This proposition creates relations between
the States nd the Federal Gov rnment, not very
dissimIlar to those which existed under tho old
articles of Confederation. principal induce
ment for ahOi Ishiug the old Confectionery, was be-
cause acquisitions for money, (even fer go serious
a consideration the payment OF the Revolu-
tionary debt J made by Congress upon the States,
were not regarded The failure of n single debt
or Stato 10 meet engagements imposed by this
measure, would produce dissatisfaction, and justly
ike rernissncss the part of Others. In every
aspect Of The case the relation Of debtor aud cred
ltor between the States and this Government is
10 be deprecatcc but when that relation IS relied
upon to supply considerable portion OF our cur
rent revenue, 1t can result only in cisaser and
disappointment until the sense Of obligation shall
Ultimately be broken. But one experiment; 81 tho
kind has betn made since the era at our Constr
tuition and that was in IN. act Of 1885, deposit
ing forty millions Of our surplus revenues with
The States. From the moment tina, this act was
passed md II contravention of ITS very terms,
the sense Of the nation has pronounced u n DIS
ubnian. and not a deposte act. That fnnd Cor
RI her so much Of il depository has ceased
10 belong o the resources oil The Federal Cow
eru:nen,, and he who would treat II as such. sub
ices himself to the just animadverson OF every
practical man.
Ba, #. for any purpose. and particularly for re-
venue purposes, is unwIsc and hazardous 10
involve the States in a condition OF indeb'cdncss
o the Union, how is the argument strche he"e"'
and the danger increased, when the CONSIDERATION
Of ina, Indebtedness IS the price Of their own do
maia! Some Of the States have already asserted
iha, The proprietary interest Of this Government
in these lands and the authority necessarily as
sumed ln consequence thereof IS IN der"pa''3n OF
I,.ve nj leas, 10 Alabama and Missouri. They
have been advocated by prominent, members, both
upon this floor and in the other branch OF Con-
oress can regard this amendment IN no o'hef