The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-06

rate Of purchase does not diminish AZ The land has
been picked and euled but, the contrary, those
Janus "heh nave been longest in market are most
freely Sold IN proportion 10 the quantity in market
Thus, lands are more rapidly taken up in Ohio than
in Arkansas for the obvious reason that dense no
pulatIon makes inferior land more valuable in the
midst of it, than fertile districts Ia unnhab
ed country. There is but million Of of ned
States land now remaining unsod IN Ohio, and even
TINS Is diminishing with accelerated ratio. II there
lore may be we'll assumed that from this source the
United States may enjoy revenue OF 1--WE millions,
un,n very much the largest portion OF the domain
witin the nine States is disposed of and long before
,nat period Florida, loway, and Wisconsin will have
Drought their contributions the general fund, and
Aehuea the period Of this income to future genera
uohs. reasoning upon data known to be correct IN
,h'Iy years from this time the demand for the public
lands WIN be In proportion TO population increasing
at the rate OF two millions year
but there are other serious objections To this amend
inent ana invoke the attention OF Senators from
cry quarter OF the Union to that which am about to
state The proposed mode Of disposing of the public
lands Is altogether and to unequal
IN its operation. What insist is that there shall
be at any rate perfect equality that there shall not
be discrimination and bounties in favor of one State
and against another but here there is degree OF in
equality which, were there other objections, would
be sufficient TO compel my decided dissent. 1t is pro-
posed to cede the public domain to each Of the States
respectively within whose territorial limits they lie Ii
is given TO the States, not to individuals II given
TO them, not being all the States, but as being part
only OF the States oil the Union onoulu " DC ceueu
TO all the States II would be violation Of the original
cession and of the Constitution, as the advocates of
this measure contend II is to be coded TO the States
not in proportion their contributions to the public
burdens, or in proportion to their size or population
but simply as States. And what will be the result
between one of the States and anoher} Ohio ex-
ceeds Missouri in population four TO one and how
does this amendment propose 10 distribute the public
lands between these two States The share OF Mis-
sour Is TO the share of Ohio as more than twenty
eight one, making the population Of Missouri receive
over the population of Ohio more than one hundred
to one Can Ohio stand by and see the public domain
given away in this proportion Nor is this all; for
the million of acres which Ohio gets is of lands
which have been in market for more than forty years
and have been picked and cued during all that time,
while the thirty millions which are given 10 Missouri
consist OF fresh and fertile lands but recently surveyed
Now let me ask, what will Virginia getl She
tributes to the public burdens six times as much as
Missouri. Missouri is to get 80 per cent OF thirty
millions. How much does Virginia get Nothing
This is not thirty millions to one Is thirty millions
to nothing Besides Ohio has now passed her chry-
sails condition. She has now become of the old
States of the Union million of acres is nothing
to her, But this amendment gives her her dividend
but of million of old and refuse land, while gives
Missouri her dividend of thirty millions of new land
oil the very best quality
Let look little at the operation Of this
scheme in its details. | have here the report Of the
learned Committee on Public Lands made at the last
session, stating the quantity of public lands within
million of acres of second, third, and fourth rate
lands, while Arkansas has forty-three millions Of
Mr. Seye-, across-Yes, and il is rch,l
Yes, Arkansas is rich; and this is one oflhc schemes
to make the rich richer and the poor poorer Arkan
has fotythree times much of the public land as
Ohio; at the same time Ohio has million and half
of inhabitants while Arkansas has one hundred thou
sand. Thus, one hundred thousand people are to be
benefited the rate of forty three millions of
lanJ-rich land as the Senator tells us-while mil
lion and half Of people in another State benefit
ed at the rate of million Of refuse land Arkan-
is get two hundred and fifteen TO each in
habiant and Ohio one-third of one acre being diff
ference of six hundred and forty five in favor of Ar
kansas, Each inhabitant of Arkansas therefore, will
get six hundred and forty five times much each
inhabitant of Ohio. And SO of the rest. Michigan
has thirty one millions Of acres to Ohios million
Yet she has less than one hundred thousand inhabi-
tants. The proportions are enormous. The original
cession said that the avas Of the public domain werc
to be shared among the States according to their
raj portions of the general charge and expenditure.
Yet here inhabtant of Arkansas Is TO get six hun
dred and forty five times much as an nhabant OF
Ohio; or if you regard the two States, oneSgets
forty three times much as the other
But it docs not stop here. New States of the Union
are selected beneiciares are they then, to be
fined to the avas Of the land they receive Not at
all after receiving that they then to in and
be common sharers with the rest of the States We
TO give them all their own lands, and portion in
besides Virginia is TO get twenty sixth part
of half of these lands, and Arkansas after having
got her thirty millions, s TO share this
twenty sixth part With Virginia should really hepe
if the land must be given away, it will be rate
more reasonable than this. The entire quantity of
lands remaining unsold within the States enumerat,d
in the Senator'S amendment is 81 600 900 acres
half Of this will be n 0O0 third is so
And the bill gives these OO00 900 to nine States the
other States to get no portion of it.
could run out this illustration yet further but |
refrain. >Er pede, Hercuiem. These are sufficient
These are to striking views, but they not the
considerations which weigh most heavily upon my
mind and which should be most glad to see removed
ifthis amendment to be adopted and is ever to be-
come law. In arguing this whole question feel the
difficulty ofour situation arguing against the wishes
and expectations those who 10 recere The benefE
The nine States who TO get this magnificent dona
ton have eighteen Senators amongst those whom |
addressing who have, Of course, direct in
terest in the adoption of the amendment than any Of
the rest of us. This, of itself presents powerful
motive to secure their support TO the measure and
this fact alone ought to make us pause before we hast
ly adopt the plan. The benefit to be granted is not
to all, but peculiar to hem-it is exclusive
as to us They are to be benefited TO be in
iured In abiding to the strength Of the motive here
presented as likely TO band together eighteen Senators
in support of this scheme, mean to make perso-
nal offensive reference to those Senators It is
motive likely to act all men placed in their circum
stances They desire, very naturally, and very pro-
pery to benefit their constituents and under the
pressure of that desire, with such opportunity for
its qualification the understanding even OF the strong
very likely to be warped in It's conclusions, and
scduced believe that the measure Is perfectly Just and
proper We must cntreat gentlemen situated as
do now enreat them, to raise their views from the I'M
mediate interest of their constituents in such cession
as is nov proposed TO just administration OF the sa-
cred trust which has been conded TO them for the be-
neft of the entire Union. Is il rights ust-lsit
find their own peculiar interest In our
loss and sacrifice throw myself upon them, that
they will consider this subject in enlarged point of
view Especially do wish Ohio to do this, who is
passing out of her state of minority and becoming OF
ripe age Will Ohio consent thus to squander our
common patrimony 7 ] put it 10 Indiana who is soon