The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-03-04
mR. CsiTTasDEN's SPEECH.

on the amendment proposed by dr. Cal
houn 10 tie permanent Prospective Pre-.
emption BEL, in the Senate, January
u, 1911.
Mn. CRTTENnES rose aud observed,
that he bad hardly ever felt moro surprised
lhaa in listening to Ibe amendment proposed
by the Senator from South Carolina. 10
oGorug the ameudmeut which he himself
bad proposed, his simple aud unobtrUsiye
purpose had been merely 10 pu, on record
tue views he entertained, and what he was
wiling to do oa THIS So Jet Of Pre- emptiGn.
lie had been DESTROYS hat his views should
cot 10 misunderstood or perverted, and he
bad drawn up aud offered his amendment for
tho purpose Of showing tbs, he was wiling
10 20 for Pre- emp;Iou, il Il vas combined
a!th a just distribution ameug the States 0!
The proceeds ofiLe sales oflhe Public Lands.
For lhaso Two nsnspres, If united, be was
wiling 10 vote. lie lad been DESTROYS Of
putting this on record, aud that was his
~hols purpose IL oGslpg his amendment.
lion said Mr., G. Inc, not but NY pro.
poaitlon itself has been deuoVuecd 10 all the
variety oil epltl!ct which The elegueaee oftle
honorable Senator could supply. Il has been
pronounced to be die, unjust, or foolish"
Tbs vas the seuteati2us condemnation
passed upon il by tho Senator from South
Carol;ca Mr. Coiaaun.) Tho Senator from
Missouri MIR. DaG;on) had directed against
II storm Of ept;bo,s yat more ponderous.
According to the thunder Of that geutle.
mans elocu,lon, tho propagation was "enor.
mons I" " aORStrousi I" So monstrous aud
SO enormous was It, that shraoh from all
attempt at defending It, and tbs hoperabIa
Senator did not wonder Now these afsn
men:aiIFe eplihals Of the Senator will,
rather imagine, mako 90 very great impress
sion on the understanding Of the country,
. or Of the Senate. Il is not by oplthes that
either Of these gentlemen, hleh US they may
believe themselves TO stand, can put DOVE
measures in lhis body. Greet as may be
thuir power Of animadyersion, il is not CT
Ihat power that tho fate Of this measure
is to dspoud. The gentlemen may suppose
that shriEb from the very thought Of Go
Tending my anendment, because DO not
choose 10 occupy an hour or two in debate
on what? On measure now bstogo the
Senate? Not a, oil. The bill bsiore US IS
10 grant Prospective Pre- omption Oh the
PubIlc Lands. Did tho honurabe Senator
expect | was about 10 take up the time Of
this body in unfolding the advantages and
Disadvantages Of measure Of this kind
To him, al least, all such discussion must
be IN an eminent degree, ll4;, stale, and IN
profitable. Pre- empilon and graduation
have been abunduutly argued, both now
aud heretofore there remains bat enc mere
proposition TO be considered, which Is dis
trbuuop. Is that to DO debated now =
Does the gentleman suppose thai am going
to debate tba, question With the vain hope
Of carrying II DOW Surely not; and vet
because have abs,alned from this, am
accused Of shrinking from the defence Of
my amendment thought that it would
be abusing the patience Of the Senate If
should attempt such a thiug. And though,
from the manner of the honorable Sonator
from Missouri, my frankness mus, have sur.
pfIsed the Senate, be has multiplied repe
,:ion o.. his thanks for NY proposal Of
measure perfectly stale from repetition,
Tha propositions have boon repeated for
years. What Is there about them so
mons,rous2' lsit Pre- emplion? Is that
so alroclous? Is it Dtstribatlon! Is that
idle, unjust, or foolish y If it bs, LEI
Congress take the burden of these denu1.
Citations on themselves, Presumption laws
We have passed again and again, aud bill
for Distribution passed both The Senate and
tlouss Of Representatives by triumphant
,paloritIes, and would have been the law of
tho land long ego, bot for most exiraordiu.
airy and unparalleled instance of Executive
lnlerposluon. Was this The measure that
vas so monstrous,' so enormous" so
outrageous" as TO deter any gentleman
from even an attempt at lis defence
But the honorable gentleman from Mis-.
souri, seems to consider this proposition so
monstrous and So outrageous, as a measure
over " Cunning that | viii now say word
or two on that point. Ii is, on my part, ne
cunning proposal. have very IlttIe Of that
quality in my composition; 1t is thing
knew not IN my public course 10 work by
cunning, is thing leave 10 older and more
practised politicians than myself 1t was
moi my purpose or intention 10 do any thing
cunning, when offered the amondmcni to
the present bill wished as have sad, to
put my exact position Gu record, that all
might sec II. do moi see any thug so We,
ny cunning " IN this. | knew, before |
had said q word that all who wlIl not yield
their unquestouin- essent to depredatIous
on the pubic lands may calculate on being
denounced here, as enemies Of those hardy
and adventurous men y ho are our precursors /
10 subduing the wilderness. never was
their enemy. am the SOB Of n Pre- emp.
toner, and was myself born Oh Pre- emp,
ton, and if have been restrained from 90.
ing the foil length with gentlemen 90 this
subject, il is from no enmIty towards the
Pre.emptioners, but from sense Of duty TO |
T.I