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

carolina Tor President in 1886, and remarked
'ha'' aiier what that gentleman had said Of the
aoerratlons OF South Carolina, there was no
lear that she would ever commit such mistake
again
ms extraordinary language, we believe, ex-
ci'eo 'ne astonlshment of every individual in the
SENATE Mr. Mangum himself said he had no
words TO express his surprise, and he repealed
'he insinuations against him in proper spirit.
rad the motives which the Senator from South
oarolina imagined been actually imputed 10
MN, he would trample them under his feet as
he would scom the man who would dare 10 utter
them. In regard to what had been said by Mr.
calhoun as not to descending to notice him. he re-
phed, that feeling himself as humble as any
member OF the Senate, he still did not admitth
the senator from South Carolina would need to
aesceaa TO hun in regard to any thing that con
stitutes real worth. Had the dishonorable mo-
yves which were spoken of been imputed to
hiin ne would not have said that he would not
descend to notice the Senator from South Caro-
INA For as man Of honor he would have felt
bound to notice him. He denied that he had
made any personal assault.
Mr. Calhoun here rose and said. that besides
other exceptionable things, Mr.. Mangum had
remarked that the Senator from Massachusetts
demolished In one moment, an argument which
II mad taken him (Mr. CO. week 10 prepare
MIR, Mangum corrected this satement-what he
had said was, that Mr.. Webster had placed the
power Of Congress over the public domain on
so firm basis, that Mr.. Calhoun, if he prepar-
ed himself for week, could no more move il
than he could the Allegany mountains with his
hnger. AS to his name being used in South
Carolina on memorable OCCASION Mr.. Man
gum did not imagine that the same honor
anouid be conferred on him again; but he added
while he had a place in the National Councils
neither the terror of poloer nor he fatterv
% tapor should seduce him from his course
He entertained the same opinions now. as he
did at that time, and he would sooner be beneath
the earth, than fail into he arms Of those rho
developed The poioer against Which he then con
tended. After this personal scene, Mr. Web
ster made few cogent remarks in reply to Mr.
Calhoun. He admitted, with the Senator. the
importance Of removing the grounds Of popular
complaint. That Senator had quoted the senti-
ment Of Mr.. Burke upon the subject, which had
long before, however, been expressed BY Lord
Bacon and is become quite common place Ii
as easier to remove ground of complaint than
to reason people out Of the justice and expe-
diency of what they desire. 1t was in this
spirit he supported the distribution policy. The
Old States are complaining, majority Of the
people OF the new States are complaining
and he called upon the Senator from South
Carolina to act, in the spirit of the remark
which he had quoted, and remove these com
plants. Mr.. Calhoun had urged that the power
OF Congress to dispose of the public domain,
must be limited by "the nature of things"
Who, said Mr. Webster, is to Judge of the
nature of things2 The Senator after all would
be required TO come back to the doctrine of
"a sound and enlightened discretion" which
Mr.. w. had contended, limits this general power
over the public domain as it does other powers
this branch of the subject with great copious-
ness and ability.
As 10 the exercise of this discretion, he had
hardly supposed that there would be any diff
Guilty with regard to lands purchased since the
Constitution went into operation. The territory
had become public property by purchase, and if
there was power to purchase, there must also be
authority to dispose.
Mr.. Calhoun had argued that the distribution
system had corrupting tendency, because the
funds would be given to the Legislatures Of the
and not to the people themselves. Does his
own proposition get over this objection Does
he not propose give to the Legislatures? The
States cannot act but by Legislatures, nor can
the latter but by majorities