The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-14

| gained by the continuance of the old system
But more This bill amounts TO a virtual repeal Of
the auction. That system applies only 10 new lands
recently brought into market. But Of what avail is
an auction if you proclaim TO the whole world that
they may get the land at the minimum price If they
will only and settle IT, and that before survey
The entire existing system is superseded by the nitro
ducton Of this wooden horse with all the means OF
injury with which il is fraught.
have described, but not with all that force n
which the circumstances Of the case would warrant
me- the difference between the old and longesablsh-
ed land system Of this country and the now and fear
| full experiment now proposed. You must have seen
that the change is TO be thorough and radical Now
put il TO the Administration Senators in this body
TO their candor-t their pariotismto Their sense OF
jusce-s il tight, the close OF the administration
of dismissed ministry, to Introduce new and total
ly different policy in regard TO OF the greatest in
teresls of the country Is il right is il fair that the
policy ofthe existing Administration now passing out
of power shall be made TO lap over on the new Adm-
nistraon without consulting them or paying the least
regard TO their judgment in the matter The progress
| of the Administration of the American Government
has developed in the practical operation of our system
a feature and Of the most profound import
ance. A different political phenomenon takes place
here from any thing which exists IN Europe. In Eu-
ropean constitutional Governments, when ministry
is dismissed goes out of office, the King or the
Queen, the case may be, yields TO the change OF
sentiment, and comes round with the nation But
here Administration may be dismissed and stu
/ remain for months IN potcer What IN such case,
| is il their duty to dol ] will tell gentlemen what
would do in the like circumstances. ! would institute
| no of policy J would simply keep the
political machine in motion. would grease the wheels
and repair and all its parts in state OF prepa-
ration for the performance of those high duties Tor
| which the whole constructed but would at
tempt nothing new in the permanent policy OF the
country, foreign or domestic. By such moderate
course alone can the evils of the anomaly to which
/ have advered be prevented ] would not ask gentle
men deny themselves fair exercise Of the Execu-
tive patronage from till the 4th OF March next
| | do not ask them TO do what done when Mr..
Adams expelled from the Presidoncy-l should
| say, lost his election. What did they do then The
Senate refused to pass on important Executive nomi-
nations till after the 4th of March, and then several Of
them were Withdrawn, and substitutes sent in by the
new President. The Senate refused him the consti-
tuona exercise of his official right from the time Of
his lost election till he went out of office. This do
| not ask. dare to say General Harrison when he
comes, will look those whom he finds in office, and,
if he finds that they honest and capable and faith
iu that they have not been noisy and forward poti
clans, brought their official influence in conflict
with the freedom of eections if any such there be,
augh) ] hope he will let them stand (though fear
there will be but few monuments Of the lberaty
! Of Wing Administration acting patriotic princi-
pies. (Sensation and remarks of "Thats fair" But
! If gentlemen expect that General HARRISON because
they choose to rush on and make appointments, with
a view TO thwart his Administration, will, when he
comes here, fear to do his duty, either they have
mistaken the man. General Harrison means to be the
President on the 4th Of March next, which his fel-
low citizens have elected him to be. And no prema-
ture bill stretching out of the policy Of this into
the next Administration, is going TO restrain him from
looking at those in office, and deciding for himself
whether they possess the requisite qualifications for
the discharge of their official duty.
But, TO come back lput il to gentlemen whether
il is right and fair TO make this great change in the
land system of the country at such time 4 Would
you like us to do it if conditions reversed?
/ But there other considerations which admonish
| us against egislatng this subject at the present
time. We have not yet officially received the results
of the census for the last ten years cannot there
FORE whether the States have filled up as ra-
pidy as we could wish Let us first what is the
number of their population that may Judge
whether any further stimuant is needed to quicken
the rate at which their numbers Increase know,
indeed that the result will show directly the contrary
From tables which caused to be carefully construct
ed nine years ago. il is shown that the population of
the new States increases at late vastly that of
the old Take single example. The population of
| Illinois doubles itself in six years. What, then, is
the ground for the adoption Of this new system
Does consist in some notions of charity TO the poor
have formerly adverted to that subject Where do
gentlemen get then right to set up eleemosynary laws
for the benefit Of the poorer portions of the communi
tyl But if they have, what will be the operation of
the system in this respect 1t is pretended to be for
the advantage of widows and orphans, orphans
eighteen years however) Is any gentleman here ig-
i
teal operation of such law Will a widow in
Maine travel all the way 10 Missouri that she may
receive the boon proposed 10 be given her by this lava
Will not its benefits be confined the widows of the
ocalityl In terms, to be sure it proposes to
the pre- empton all widows and minors But will not
the benefit, in fact, be limited widows and minors
residing in the States within which the lands lie
Surely. That, then, is the extent OF your charity
| am not very well, and do not feel very much en-
couraged by past experience in opposition to this bill
rs els Nv Inras nh ~. l.
norabe Senators would least pause before they take
such leap.
| There are other consequences on which might
| dwell We have heard that this bill and another al
he'd to II are to inc rease the and believe
that one Of them was pro orn.a sent to the Commit
tee on Finance on that ground. The new plan is TO
increase the resources OF the impoverished cxche-
quer; but have already shown that, for the present
at least the revenue will be diminished instead of in
creased by 1t; for the amount vested in the public
lands under this law will be on credit of one or two
years, and cannot into the Treasury till the end
of that time And those disposed to make such in
vestments will avail themselves of the credit there will
be sales To but an nconsiderabe amount for cash and
a consequent diminuton of the proceeds during the
present year. Therefore with an exhausted Trcasu.
ry, with a vast national debt asccrianed and unasrer
tanned besides large amount be soon redeemed of
reasary notes outstanding and running interest
1t is now proposed instead of replcnshnp the emptv
Golfers OF Mr. Secretary Woodbury. by an imposition
at once OF duties on luxuries to increase instead of
removing, the existing deficit in our pecunary re-
sources
Our land system heretofore has been the admiration
OF the world for Of lis best and nobes features
VIZ the perfect security it gave to the land titles of
our new settlements. No who had eyes to see
the marks upon tree or upon d stone stand
ing IN prairie, could possibly mistake the limits of his
own tract and no other man could have color of
right to disturb him the ground of his title Sect
| RlTY-absolue security in land titles-has been one
OF the highest blessings in the States. But are
you sure that this will continue be the case under
your new presumption law Do but conceive how it
will work Imagine that new district Of rich and
/ choice hos hrnV Ma lad