The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-06

poor, stand before the country how do they
treat the poorer classes AT one time they bring
forward proposition 10 reduce the price Of la
Dor. Is this to benefit the poor Az another
time they object TO measure for equalizing
more nearly the burdens of Government, by tax
ing Injuries. Is this to benefit the poor2 AT
which would most effectually prevent the neces-
sily of resorting in some of The States, to direct
taxes: namely, the measure Of distribution. Is
this their friendship for the poor2
Mr.. Wright had argued that the debts of the
Revolution had not been paid from the public
lands-then they must have been paid from other
funds of the people-and if So il is an additional
reason why the people should be reimburse by
receiving the proceeds Of those lands which were
given for the purpose of extinguishing those
debts. Mr.. w. had also charged against the
Public Domain various items Of expense, and
especially the expenditures for our Indian rela-
tions-this was truly contingencies view of
the subject. Our expenses for the Indians grow
out Of the most solemn obligations TO protect and
take care Of those tribes but if the lands are to
be charged, is there nothing with which they
are to be credited2 are they not TO be credited
with the great advantages flowing from the ac-
QUESTION Of Louisiana, and the navigation Of
the Mississippi. Is the sovereignty of that
State nothing is the sovereignty of Florida no
thing are the customs, are the wealth and ex-
haustless resources Of Revenue there opened up,
not to be taken into account2
M c.I,1
negative proposition brought into the Senate at
the last session, on the assumption side by the
General Government of the State debts. He cha
racterised it as a vindictive, malignant, Danton-
like proposition. No Senator had ever suggest
ed such an assumption, and the wanton course
of the Administration party was calculated to
impair the credit of the States at time when
some Of them were deeply embarrassed. The
Government could not assume the debts of the
States, but there is a vast difference between
paying debts for them, and paying to them what
| is justly due. He said he cordially responded
to the sentiments expressed by Mr.. Webster,
some days ago. on the subject of State debts and
State credit. He was proud of those sentiments
-he was proudof the eloquence with which they
had been clothed and enforced. They were no
BILE, high-minded, patriotic and worthy of his
distinguished friend There were some who
seemed DESTROYS that the States should violate
their public engagements. He would repel such
wish as disgraceful to the man who could en-
tertain it. No State could lose its honor without
bringing some degree of disgrace upon thewhole.
The fate of the different States said he, is ours,
their honor is ours, give them what belongs to
them, and let their credit remain pure and un-
contaminated.
He pronounced the charge which has been
so frequently rung into our ears of late that the
late election was carried by foreign influence, a
foul, malicious, atrocious libel upon the country,
its character, its Institutions, and upon liberty
itself. He treated with merited contempt and
ridicule the pretended proofs brought forward to
substantiate this charge, such as the Missouri
correspondence with some London banker, &c.
The truth is, the men in power have administer
ed democracy 50 badly, that they find themselves
without credit at home or abroad, and now they
come with whining complaint, that they have
lost credit here, because they have none at all
in any foreign country
| Mr.. Clay closed with most animated and
eloquent appeal in favor Of distribution as a
means of Strengthening and perpetuating the
Union. Years may roll away, and yet the
land fund will, if wisely administered, still con-
tinue unexhausted and our children, to the latest
posterity, enjoy its advantages. 1t is, indeed, a
measure of Peace, Of Amity, and of Union
i On Saturday, Mr. Calhoun made another
elaborate effort in defence of his project of CEs-
SION; and seldom have the peculiar characters
ties Of the Senator's style of debate been more
strikingly exhibited. In advocating his own
proposition, and controverting the views of his
| opponents, he really gave no more satisfactory
reason for his opinions, than that he Mr.. John
] G. Calhoun, was pleased to hold them. He
1 made bold assertion, and called ii demonstfa-
ton. He stated irrelevant facts, and declared
they established his theory; and answered OBJ
iections by the simple denial of their force and
correctness. 1t was all dogmatism and sophis
try from beginning to end. Having concluded
his argument, Mr.. Calhoun referred, in very
deliberate manner, and with an air so solemn as
to excite the attention Of the whole audience, to
some remarks which he said had been thrown
out against himself personally, by Mr. MANGuM,
of North Carolina. He did not state what the
remarks were of which he complained, and we
were at loss to know what he could allude to /;
for though Mr.. Mangum opposed his proposition
with great vigor and effect there was nothing
in his remarks to which any body could attribute
an offensive character.
Mr.. Calhoun, however, went on to speak as if
his sensibilities had been particularly excited.
He could not think the Senator from North Ca
rolina had any ersonal hostility towards him.
Mr.. Mangum rose promptly and with great
frankness disclaimed any such feeling. Not
withstanding this manly and candid disavowal,