Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-30

when they will want homes THIS is not subject
TO which to apply the calculations Of annuities The
land is not wanted and therefore there ground
on which to calculate It's value at this moment.
But this notable scheme Of cession is TO at a
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 jealousrs TO be felt between and old
STATES no Executive patronage is IL be felt IN this
body or elsewhere M landed brides 10 BE Of
Tered by ambitious seekers Of the OF
all THIS IS TO be felt any nore-a all II be al end
ano moreover, the cesson to bring you in more mo-
ney Tor your lands Now, differ entirely from the
learned Senator in all these calculations will show
you how itIs ne makes the land produce more mo-
ney; ny calculating, in tie first place. what the land
would etch, Il set up at auction when wants tn
buy, and then contrasting this with wha, 10 get
tor It from the States TO which cede It. Blu,
will this remove one solitary evil of all those he has
enumerated The States will he our debtors, aud
they are TO promise to pay. e.. the gcneInan 5
perspcacity see no possible matter Of controversy
in the Interpretation and in the compliance with
this contract. We have here individual States ask
ing US for graduation and presumption laws, and
It produces vast deal of prolonged and angry de
bate; if we substitute money for land will that dimn
ish The dcbaies' Shall not have all the angry
trovcrsy then have now? And more? Now, The
4 General Government acts individually it grants pre-
rmp,lon TO ard b. and it has them in power and ye
ne says there the utmost danger OF resistance, ana
Of our losing the lands; but 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 our authority are conso
dated into one, when could deal with them in
diylduals, and take them at time, Can we &C;
on mass with more effect than on single man: Is
t SO easy to deal with States and to compel them Ia
fulfil their engagements: Was it found 50 in the days
Of the Confederation; Under the Confederation you
acted on Stacs-on States who had made promises
and did the plan work well: Was il perfectly easy 10
the respective quotas Of the States, under
the urgent pressure of the wants of the contnen
tai army, fighting for the Liberties Of rs all? No. II
found to be contest of Government against Go
vernmen and il was found that Governments are mt
rs likely 10 pay Individuals and, if they refused, it
vas much harder to them. Hence that form
of Government was changed and our Revolutionary
io-ciatbers side, unjust or foolish as To
think they gained by the exchange and the Federal
Constitution stands 4 monument OF their wisdom to
lh,s day. But now, forscoth, ere 10 travel back
gain to the principle Of the old exploded Confederation
We to give up the land which is ours, and III the
sale and management Of which We have 10 do with ind
vduas only; and to convert tins vast and VIDE
landed inheritance into debts OF particular States. do
not distrst the honesty of the States their good
entlos but know that It is not always convenient
pay ,o.day. Do debtors ask indugcnc Ia
terms 10 time; II take these State bonds,
we perfectly they VIII never become snhjrct
III controversy May the States not say the progress
Of graduation is too slov keeps our people waiting
loo long, give 4 modified graduation law with short
periods of redncuon so that we may get The land
a ninepence the much the sooner HIS peace.
mixing proposition only changes the ground Of contro
vrrsv does not il. Its whole operation is 10
nar with all the grounds of controversy know and
look out for new Of dscord al present un-
known Shall we lcase the ground sc have long
ircd and with every foot Of which familiar To
plunge INTO a Of troubles new and unr:ed' say
And then arc 10 purchase all this trouble at
prize.
A few years ago the proposition Of the honorable Se-
nn,or was give up half The public lands Was this
fair, to surrender by ccsson To the use Of few that
which is equally The property OF all: 10 pacy the
carors of nine States, shall we give up one half OF
$50 coo 900 acres Of land Is not such price rather
high; And have RICH. TO pay II hold we
have The entire scheme seems 10 me 10 be one
Of the Widest most wascinl, most visionary concep-
tons that ever entered into The brain of statesman.
But the object IL thr scheme IS To get rid Of ESecu-
tive patronage. Now | am not advocate Of ESccu-
tive patronage. But, let ask, what vast patronage
will there be exerted by giving away, in one SINGLE
act Of generosity, entire momty 81 Tie public DO
main Seldom indeed, is individual SO fortunately
placed as 10 be able By single act of munifcencr
10 make present Of eighty million Of land-a
vast and royal donation, To he Yet the honora
bl, Senator while making ths popular largess oi
eighty million acres Of land belonging to the whole
Union is terribly opposed To patronage; and he tells ns
as of his administrations, that IT we refuse 10
make this gift nine States viii he able TO seize and
carry off the whole property in body, against The will
of the other seventeen Sn.es. The demonstration,
confess, does not 10 me appear to BE- very logical
do not believe these States wall ever be unjust, 80
rapacinus so proga;e attempt thus 10 seize upon
the property of their ellow.c But II there IS
such great and imminent danger that these States will
thus seize upon the lands, If refuse 10 cedc them
annot the honorable gentleman suppose on The same
ground Of reasoning, that the Sfaes may tear up tr
bonds if we do cede them IL he considers them
90 utterly unprincpled impuden and shameless a.
ri1fp -
which, belong 10 the whole family 81 con!ederaed
States what will there be TO restrain them from va
caiinu their bonds after have surrendered the
lnnd into their possesson' One part of the gentleman
argument supposes the States To lie all virtue and good
faith the the other all rapacy and violence. There Is
treat danrer imminent danger oil our losing the Whole
domain and We must give it away before the STATES
take il BIZ fnrce but when the entire lands shall be con-
vnred into the snpe OF bond, then these States are
u BIZ nj, purity all honesty, all fidelity For my part II
seems 10 me that il we cannot depend on these nine
Stocs for their iulGment of their constitutional obga-
tom 10 the Union we cannotdcprnd OH any voluntary
enrancmcnt they may now enter INTO
| apurchcnd no such danger. do not call upon the
Senoie n cede the publrc domain any such ground
If that is To be the ground OF our procedure say let
The lands 90 will not be one to encourage the spoil
.rs | viii never be one to say this thing must be
done and will be done On their own heads be 1t.
will take neither part nor lot m the responsibility
reneal that have no objection Whatever to consent
n nreemption provided the rights nfal the States can
be respected That is all ask That was all my amend
ment proposed | am sensible that have occupied
too much of the time oftc Senate, but challenged ana
called ou, as have been who had offered pro-
position so outrageous, enormous, 50 1Oons'5ons,
,ho, shrank from all attempt &c defend 1t, could no,
refroin from saving word in explanation ard reply
Tine whole subject / know is perfectly stale. Not
word can be SAID npon it that has not been better
said already Yet, as my proposition was pronounced
an cnormity, wished TO show that did not shrink
from lis ayowal and defence. The enormi'y Of winch
have been guilty is simple act of obedience to the
instructions Of my State Legislature The plan is be
fore the country, and denounced as may be- and out
rageous as has been called, it is plan which has
received the public appreciation wherever have been.
Nv own State has passed solemn resolution giving
The seal of her approval. In offering it here, have
bu, obeyed her voice, and no denunc'at'on however
l,nd and swelling, shall aside from the course
she has marked out for 10 pursue. She under
stands her interests; she judges calmly she asks no.
thing but her plain, recorded right; and ask nothing
more in her name.
Mr.. BENTON said that part ofthe remarks oil the
Senator from Kentucky mir. Cr,endfnl were 'ni s