Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-06-26
Vol. =.

stration which would deliberately trea
with neglect and contempt the manifest
sentiments of their constituents. 1t die
not imagine that an Administration could
be so formed as that, although smarting un.
der a terrible but merited defeat, it would
in the spirit of the ancient fable, doggedly
hold on to power, refusing to use it, or to
permit others to use il, for the benefit OF
the People.
We have Just had read to US a lecture
from the honorable and highly respectable
Senator from New Hampshire, (Mr.
PIERcE,) which ought to have been exclu-
sively addressed to his own friends. He
tells us that we are wasting our time in
party debate, and that measure is always
got up at the commencement of every ses-
sion on which general political battle is
fought, to the exclusion of all important
public business. There is some truth in
the charge; and, if it be wrong, who ought
to be held responsible for it! Clearly
those to whom the administration of the
Government has been entrusted, and who
have majorities in both Houses of Congress.
What has been the engrossing subject at
this session? The permanent pre-emption
bill. Who introduced it, and why was it
introduced! Not my friends, but the Sen
ator's. And it has been brought up when
there is an operating pre-emption law in
existence, which has long time to run.
After the debate had been greatly protract-
ed, and after one Administration Senator
had notified the officers of the Chamber
that they might get their lamps in ORDER
and another had declared thai they were
ready to encamp on the ground until the
bill was passed, why has the debate been
permitted to continue weeks longer, with
out explanation, and to the surprise of
every one on this side of the Senatel Why
has more than half the session been con-
sumed with this single and unnecessary
subject | would ask the Senator, who
assumes the right to lecture us all, why he
concurred in pressing on the Senate this
uncalled for measure? Yes, sir, my worst
fears are about to be realized. Nothing
will be done for the country during this
session. l did hope that, if the party in
power would not, in some degree, atone for
past misdeeds during the remnant of their
power, they would at least give the new
Administration fair trial, and forbear all
denunciation or condemnation of it in adj
vance. But has this been their equitable
course! Before the new President had en-
tered upon the duties of his office, gentle
men who have themselves contributed to
bring the country 10 the brink of ruin,
they will pardon me for saying it, but the
truth must be spoken) these very gentle
men are decrying beforehand those meas
ures of the coming Administration which
are indispensable, and which they must
10 no To br
public happiness and prosperity! The
honorable Senator in my eye (Mr. WRIGHT)
said, in so many words, that he meant to
condemn this measure of distribution in
advance.
[Mr. WRIGHT shook his head.
have taken down the Senator's words,
and have them here on my notes.
Mr. WRGnr. If the honorable Sena-
tor will permit me, will tell him what
said. said that the course Of his friends |
had forced the consideration of this mea-
sure on US IN ADVANCE.
Forced it on them in advance! Howl
Projects to squander the public domain are
brought forward by friends of the Admin
stration, in the forms of granuation bill,
by which fifty millions in value of por-
ton of it would have been suddenly ami
hiIated; pre-emption bills, cessions to few
Of the States of the whole within their
limits. Under these circumstances, my
colleague presents conservative measure,
and proposes, in lieu of one of these waste
full projects, by way of amendment, an
equitable distribution among all the States
Of the avais of the public lands. With
what propriety then can it be said that we,
who are acting solely on the defensive,
have forced the measure upon our oppo-
nents! Let them withdraw their bill, and
| will answer for it that my colleague will
withdraw his amendment, and will not, at
this session, press any measure Of dstrbu-
ton. No, sir, no. The policy of gentle
men on the other side, the clearly defined
and distinctly marked policy, is, to con-
denim, in advance, those measures which
their own sagacity enables them to per-
ceive that the new Administration,
faithful to their own principles and to the
best interests of the country, must bring
forward to build up once more the public
How, otherwise, are we to
account for opposition, from leading friends
of the Administration, to the imposition of
duties on the merest luxuries in the world!
1t is absolutely necessary to increase the
public revenue. That is incontestabe. 1t
can only be done by the imposition of du-
ties on the protected articles, or on the free
including those of luxury; for no
one, believe, in the Senate, dreams of
LAYING direct tax. Well; if duties were
proposed on the protected articles, the pro.
position would instantly be denounced
as rcviving high tariff. And when
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