The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-06
DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC LANDS
THE FINANCES, &c.

DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC LANDS,
THE FINANCES, &c.
The great speech of MIR. CLAY, of Kentucky,
demands some further notice at our hands, than
was given in Saturdays paper and in anticipa
ton of full report, we present to our readers
the following account of some of his principal
points.
He expressed the belief that the Adminstra-
ton fully intended to do nothing for the country
at the present session; and he fastened upon
them the responsibility of having occupied the
very heart of the session, with the general dis
cussions that have arisen upon the pre-emption
BILL There was no necessity whatever for the
Introduction of that measure; as pre-emption
bill which was to continue for two years was al
ready in operation. Had il not been presented,
the Instructions moved by his colleague, Mr..
Crttenden, in favor of the distribution system,
would never have been urged, and the time that
has been spent upon the debate might have been
devoted TO the dispatch of public business. He
had hoped that the coming Administration would
at least have been allowed a fair trial; but, in
stead Of that, war has been begun in advance.
Every measure deemed necessary for the hap
piness and prosperity of the nation, has been vi
olently denounced. The proposition to raise
revenue by taxing luxuries--the proposal for
called session--the repeal of the Sub Treasury
the distribution system-eyery measure to re-
gulate the currency--in short, every thing de-
signed for the public benefit, has been fiercely
condemned in advance, by men whose own Adj
mlnistration has brought the country to the very
brink of ruin He deprecated this state Of things,
he was for peace and harmony, if possible
''but," said he, "if, gentlemen, you are for war,
come on Macduff come on p
Mr. Clay puta stopto the panic cry got up by Mr..
Wright, Mr. Calhoun and others, that the exer7
else of the power to distribute the proceeds Of
the land sales, would lead the way to claim Of
authority to lay taxes for the purpose of divi-
ding the revenue so raised among the States.
He showed very clearly that, while there was
no authority given to raise revenue for distribu-
tion the power of Congress to dispose Of the
territory of the United States was complete and
unrestricted, save by wise and enlightened dis
erection. In this part of his argument, he re-
viewed the history of the public domain, to
prove not only the right of the Government, but
also, the obligations now resting upon it to make
the distribution. The object Of the original
cession of the lands, was stated at the time to
be, to cement the Union of the States, and to
pay the debts of the revolution. This was
clearly the understanding. Had the cession not
been made, this Union, perhaps, would never
hovo 81 IL
inequality and injustice Of Mr.. Calhoun's pro-
ject, Mr.. Clay showed what contrast it pre-
scented to the character of the original cesson of
the lands. 10 gave to all the States, the benefit
Of that common domain which had been won by
the common sacrifices and common exertions ;
while Mr.. Calhoun, on the other hand, proposes
to give up to nine States the whole of these be-
nefts, and thus to do that which was near being
the cause of preventing the establishment Of the
Union, when seven States had land and six had
none.
The eloquent Senator laid down two import
ant propositions-frs that according to the very
terms Of the deeds of cession, there was an as
signment to the States of separate use of the
funds drawn from the public lands; they were
to be administered by common authority, but
after the revolutionary debts should be extin-
guished, they were to be administered for the
use Of the States, and for no other purpose
aohGteUer. Secondly, it being impracticabe,
under the Constitution, to execute the deed of
trust according otis terms, it becomes the duty
of Congress to distribute the fund in some other
way, and there can be no more equitable basis,
than the rule of federal numbers, which has
been proposed.
Mr.. Clay showed how beneficial the distri-
button system would be, in relieving the States
of the necessity of imposing direct taxes upon
their people, and how just and proper it was
that this land debt should be paid 10 them. and
that the wants ofthe General Government should
be supplied by imposts upon Foreign luxuries.
In this connection he spoke strongly in favor of
taxing wines and silks, and entered into a num-
Der if statements showing that in our trade with
France there was balance against us Of about
seventeen millions, at the moment when we are
allowing all articles of luxury manufactured in
that country, to be imported duty free. He had
no hostility TO France. He had indeed showed
his friendship, by causing a discrimination TO
be introduced in favor of the silks of France,
against those which are brought from beyond
the Cape Of Good Hope. But, he wished to see
something like reciprocity esta blished. He re-
peated, that the proposed taxes would be chiefly
borne by the weather. classes, and here he ask
ed, in what attitude do those who have proclaim