The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-04
SPEECH OF SENATOR SMITH,
or INDIANA.

'oh i'uttu may Cone iHtO power hgatil
SPEECH OF SENATOR SMITH,
or INDIANA.
We woul like TO lay before our readers the entire
speech of Mr. Smith ON the land question, il the
press of other matter, and the length of the speech
did not compel to confne ourselves to few
extracts. Mr.. Smith was evidently at home in this
debate, which has been Of the animated and
able discussions of this any former session of the
Senate
COURSE OF POLICY TO BE CHANGED.
Previous to the views which intend to submit up
on this subject the Senate will pardon If notice
the closing remarks of the Senator from Arkansas,
(Mr. Sevier,) who has just taken his seat That Sc
nator, taking, as he generally does, clear common
sense view Of the relations between and efec.,
has just told that the incoming party must do
thing to meet the expectations OF the people; that
must bring up and support new measures; that it
must not sit down in the seats ofthe outgoing party
and fold its arms that the people have been led to be-
eve that new measures were to be adopted that the
doctrines Of the out going party to depart with
them in their retirement that the measures under
which the Government has been administered were
hostile to the interests of the peoples and, says the
Senator, if there shall he change the days of the
incoming or Harrison party are numbered il will 90
out at the end of four years by larger majority than
~
his position and thank him for the honesty and candor
of the admission he has made; be has honestly and
conclusvey solved the mystery which surrounded the
recent result the political campaign in the minds of
Senator'S and especially in that Of the honorable
Senator from Missouri, Mr.. Benton,) who declared
n few days ago, that the result mystery which
he could not understand The Senator from Arkan-
perfectly understands il and concur with him,
that If the incoming party pursues the same line of ge
neral policy that the ruling policy of Mr.. Van Blu
1av will he mn IA 1avs uuuht In he
numbered. The people have condemned that policy;
they have wied that those who support it shall no
longer fill the highest offices within their gift they
have wed that different policy shall prevail they
have selected their agents for the purpose of carrying
out different policy; those agents stand pledged to
do so, and it would be direct violation of faith the
people to refuse TO conform to their will it would be
such breach of faith ought to number the days Of
those who should presume upon such dangerous
pertinent trust, however, that there is for
alarm from any quarter on this subject. merely
ticed the remarks Of the Senator say that heartily
concur with him; and, far as am concerned, the
charge shall have no application.
OLD AND NEW STATES.
The Senator from Arkansas also intimated that the
States would soon be strong enough TO make their
laws on this subject without the aid of the other
States of the Union. This he thinks may take place
by the year eighteen hundred and fifty. The Senator
from South Carolina chr. Calhoun also predcatcd
portion Of his remarks upon the same hypothesis.
Here, again, compelled to dissent toto from the
positions assumed by those Senators 1t seems to me
that the Senators overlook most important fact, in
order to arrive at their conclusions that Isl that the
States becoming old faster than new; or in other
words, that the old States increasing faster than
the new ones--I use the words old" and new in
their confined acceptation II the Senators consider
all States that have been and that may be admit
ted into the Union since the adoption of the federal
constitution they right but that is not the use
they desire TO make of the terms they refer to States
having border interest in common, growing out of
their frontier situation, and the quantity OF public
lands within their limits. In this sense, does it not
strike those Senators that the danger the other wayl
that the old States must increase in the proportion and
that the power to control legislation this subject
must ultimately, unless settled soon, lie with them
Ii looks SO to me- and have heard no argument to
shake this view of hecase How stands the with
Ohio How with Indiana ay, Indiana, that was but
few years ago upon the ext eme frontier The for
mer longer claims TO be new State, and the latter,
so far the land question is concerned scarcely
be said belong that class of States others fol-
lowing rapidly; and in few years more, all the pre-
great States in the valley of the Mississippi, will
be in the very centre of the Union of States and not
even the western ofthc old States, the am
discussing the subject Is it, then, wise in the Sena-
tors from the extreme frontier of the States called the
States, TO raise any question founded upon local
considerations exclusively, this great land question:
/ submit these remarks in spirit of Kindness for
these Senators, and all, know that | have ever
stood by them when the interest of their States in
question. But, sir, ! must be pardoned for saying,
that never hear these local and discriminating ques-
tons agtaied here elsewhere when they can posi-
by be avoided without deep ofthe improperly
Of the course Let us remember that are brethren
of the same family, embarked in the same vessel, bound
to the same port. Let us never forget our motto,
Omitted we stand, divided we fall" We must have
confidence in each other Deriving our existence
from the race united together by the same patr-
otto love of country acknowledging the same Supreme
Being and cherishing the same free constitutional
form ofgovernmen should we not have full confidence
in each other and should not avoid every thing cal
cua,ed to excite angry feelings, or cngender sectional
hostiltesl 1t may not become me 10 lecture old Sena
tors on this subject but shall rest my defence on
the importance Of the position and the impression u
has made my mind. will dgress no further, but
take up the subject under consideration as had orgl
nay intended before was decoyed from the path by
the remarks Of the Senator from Arkansas which
have thought proper TO notice
FOREIGNERS.
leone now Mr. President to the more important ques
ton of pre- empon embraced by the bill before US
As have already said laws this subject have been
passed from time TO time, differing in some particulars
from the bill before u.s. which will look into as pro-
rress with the argument; but before give my views
upon the question, desire TO say lew words IN reia
lion TO my vote against an amendment to the original
bill which excluded foreigners from the benefits OF
pre- .emption Ii has been argued Ivy Senators that
the restriction should have been Incorporated IN the
bill They contend that persons who have no lnle
rest in our Government, and who owe allegiance 70
foreign Power ought not to have the benefits OF law
which they contend grants exclusive privileges
There is much force in the argument, and, were there
not countervailug considerations lshould be disposed
to 90 with them; but, sir, Jet be remembered tha.
preyous 10 obtaining the benefits of the law, resi-
dence, improvements on and cultivation Of the land
are req usite on the part of the pre- emptor THIS
considered tantamount a declaration of bona hde
intention on the part of the settler to become ci'zen
of the United States; indeed it is one Of the most