, 1841-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL
PROSPECTIVE E-EMPTION BILL
SPEECH OF MR.. LINN,
OF MISSOURI.

lands among the States. Mr.. LINN ad-
dressed the Senate as follows:
Mr., PRESIDENT: As this seems to be a day
of general settlement OF accounts and mis-.
understandings, l desire 10 say a few words
in order to prevent the possibility of any mis-
take in regard to my course on the important
question now before the Senate. The hon.
crabs Senator from Kentucky (Mr. CLAr]
was in an error when saying that had re-
marked, that under no state Of things that
could present themselves. would vote for
the proposition of the Senator from South
Carolina GMr. CALHoUS to cede, under GER
tain conditions, the public lands to the States
in which they lie.
Now, sir, | have never committed myself
thus far against cession although determined
to vote against it when presented as an
amendment to the pre-emp'inn bill. But
more am | opposed, and decidedly opposed.
10 the gentleman's mr.. CLAr] well known
proposition for distributing the proceeds of
The sales Of the public ianis among all the
States. will watch, sir. all these dIfferen,
propositions with care and deep Interest
when they come up rs naked questions, and
rive nv vote according 10 the dictates of my
Judgment. and the interest of nv constituents.
Having voted for one distribution bill al
ready, sir. | think il. more than pr ''.'r'.' t
shall be the last-events since rhr' TIE nj
verv clearly proving lis wiS'"n. Wr,n
friend from Kanturkv Mr.. CRIrTEN EN-
moved his amendment "r rrSp'n!I 'ns "t i"-
srruc,iuns to the Commute" nn Pa lie Lands
10 report Il till. me feature of HhIcli shnuii
he ,hr dr<rrhn,''n u 81 ''e. I promptly n'd
instantly T.ss n u,v ;.,'e cd reG'-a ih.t
would ncrg Il 81. 'nt r1.- 10; ,-
i'm. s., : -"- Hons, - ~r-. s
cer! r ,ia s:'r, 49, r.""" u.s.
t.c,rit %. .. r'n.= .n-.F. "nr '-
9ns 90. 80 rr:"->- ' -
f.. uti-,,ar-. ~ '.,'- = . '~.n g;
Tor Ii wa n, - - II b. " 4"
be- taken from I!.r criH,nu tU.,.! III L." Uu-
ion. that they should lie drv"red t" hi IA and
important national objects, 10 which, think
thew Justly and properly belong; and shonli
the Senators Mr. C~RIrTENsFN] prOP"SlrI"ri
prevail. il is NV fixed Denomination then L"
present mine. aud press II with all the zeal.
en- v al ability. in my power 10 COM
mind.
do not know. sir. how far a member can
gnin cnndemning or characterIzing measures.
and still not be personal to the mover
There is some delicacy due to others, and
some limits. or ought to he. 10 the use Of
epithets, which. although applied To meas
ures, were made often 10 stick 10 persons.
TIE honorable member from Kentucky
TMr. Clay this morning, IN the C urse at
debate, thought proper to speak # the reso'
Iu,ions against the assumption of State debts.
and for which ! voted. as wanton. cruel, Dam
ton and Robespierre like, and even traitor
GUS to the States. should be very sorry 10
use such epilhets, TO mark the character OF
the proposition to distribute the proceeds of
the sales Of the public lands. But If such
epithets and appellatIons were strictly in or
der, without meaning any thing personal 10
an individual, or diSrespectful 10 the Senate.
/ would be glad to be informed Of it, so that
| NAV avoid a breach of order; nor do | wish
such information for self-proteciion against
violent or harsh language. for the man that
can give harder blowsin that repectls welcome
to all the advantages he can gain; but this body
OF grave men should be the last TO resort to
denuncistory language, and even on this &C.
casion, when there might be some justlfca-
ton for it, | will not resort to harsh words to
mark with disapprobation the proposition Of
the Senator fiom Kentucky [Mr. CLAY] to
distribute the proceeds of the public lands,
although presented at n Ime when the
Treasury is empty. and when The aspect Of
affairs was warlike and threatening on every
hand. know, sir. this is a iavorite project
of the Senator from Kentucky, and the pivot
upon which many political events will he
made 10 turn, ami that to sustain It he would
strain every energy ofhis soul; but IN my opln-
ion this is the last moment in our history that
a proposition should be made to alleviate any
portion of our revenues. Rather. sir, increase
them for great national objects.
Mr.. President, did not my colleague. "A
few DAYS since, in the mos, snlemn nd mr.
p~ressive manner. saw that h. would n"i 4
this permit Huns. If to speak rs he
though, Of the dangers that at present en-
vironed US?
know him, SIR. to be one OF the bravest
men that God ever made. and II may seem
something like vani,y and presumption in ne
to saw any thing on this subject otter such a
declaration. But. SIR. | r,ust and will speak
out. now. rs heretofore. and warn the cnun-
trv nj its danoo, and defencpIess condition,