The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-28
FURTHER DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

|
the mention Of one Of the earliest and most
cioseiy reasoned speeches Of the session in OPP
position TO Mr. Benton's Land Bill, made by
Mr.. HUNTINGTON This effort Of the new and
enlightened member from Connecticut has been
hlghiy complimented in various quarters. Mr..
iiuhtington's objections 10 the permanent pro-
spective presumption system proposed by Mr..
Denton Were these, among others;
That II would operate injurously upon the
interests Of the bona Jide settler, whom alone
the friends of the bill seek to protect
That 1t would encourage and enrich specula
tors and capitalists.
IL would give the selection of the best lands
to those who have no interest to become actual
residents
II would encourage fraudulent nominal set
tiers
IL would eventually abolish the sales of lands
at auction.
| II would convert the system of cash sales into
sales upon credit.
That II would greatly reduce the proceeds of
the public lands, and thus uniusy deprive the
Union OF the full value Of its property.
Mr. Huntington was in favor of limiting the
presumption right to honest bona fde settlers
upon the public lands, on terms similar to those
| proposed in the amendment offered by Mr. PREM
TIss, Of Vermont.
| The public domain, held in trust by the gene
raj government for the benefit of all the States.
lies in nine States, viz Ohio Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mi
chigan, and Arkansas.
| There have been sold, 81. OS3 l9l 81 acres
Granted for various purposes I65I4Oil O5 I"
Unsold, including lands unsur-
| veyed, I54497. 1855 O3
Surveyed, 1873, S03, 1902 I"
Unsurveycd, 53,207, l24.A
Received for lands sold $ll3,s23 1877 30
This subject being still before the Senate Mr..
Allen, of Ohio, on Monday last, occupied The
time of that body, with less reference to the sub
Ject in hand than to the causes of the results Of
the late election, attrbuting these results to the
bribery and corruption Of the American people,
and the money influence of Great Britain
These charges were just as stale, fiat and un-
profitable, as they were irrelevant, while the at
tacks of the member upon Mr.. Webster were as
rabid and ferocous, as they were mean, unman-
ly, and disgracefu to the floor on which they
were uttered But published libeller of Gen.
Harrison, in a minority Of $4,000 in his own
State, his empty voice was as harmless as the
dash Of foam against the rock Of Gibraltar
On Tuesday the voice of North Carolina was
heard to very good and pleasing purpose. Mr..
MANGUM, once the choice of South Carolina for
the Presidency, brought Mr.. Cahoun's cession
bill to the test of constitutional principles, as
| they are understood in the South, and found it
wanting. He showed it to be unworthy of
| friend of States Rights, while he secuted the
idea that either Of the Carolinas were capable
OF being corrupted or purchased by distribu-
ton OF the proceeds of the lands. N. Carolina was
the first to sanction the principle of Mr. Clay's
land bill, and she had, at various epochs, for
than2oyears consistently given Therapeutics
he was for providing for the deficit to be occa-
stoned by the withdrawal of those proceeds, by
tax on the luxuries Of the rich The present
system of taxation falls almost wholly on the ne
icessarres OF the poor man, and is unequal. But
he denounced the efforts made by his opponents
| TO get up panic in advance, in relation TO the
tariff.
Here Mr.. Wright made the singular statement
that, in his opinion, the distribution would be
adverse to protection!
| Mr.. Mangum noticed, in proper terms, the
personal assaults that had been made upon gem
tlemen who were supposed likely to fill high Of
hoes under the coming administration. The
following is nearly the substance Of that passage
in his speech which related to Mr. WEBSTER:
His tongue had not been tuned to the strains of
eulogy-strains of very different kind had flown
from his lips But he could not refrain from abiding
the fact that by way of prejudcing the public mind
against one gentleman reference had been made to a
former debate in this boby averrng that it said if
the enemy laundering at the gate of this Capitol
certain for three millions appropriation would
not be given. He well remembered the incidents Of
that time AT the opening of that session. one hundred
and fifty sail of French frigaes were our public
waters-reprisas asked by the President of the
United States, which if granted, we should have been
in war IN forty eight hours if the country could have
been forced into it, 1t was the desire Of one party
that the Hero Of New Orleans should have been
placed The head, hence that portion Of the regents
who were supposed 10 be averse TO Mr. Van Buren,,
h ad nothing to do but get into a French war, and
General Jackson would go in third time He fell.
then as he had SINCE that to break up the power Of
that dynasty indispensable to our liberties He
felt apprehensions Of with France, although we
might have triumphed at home, he apprehended defeat
abroad And suffer me to say Said Mr. M !, per chance
ought not that think in all earthly probability
der Providence that, war was averted by the ability
judgment, and sogacity of one man, sitting in Com
mittec ROOM in this Capitol [Mr. CLAy.l or
all the debts of gratitude due to that eminent citizen,
that growing Of his patriotic conduct that