Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-26
rwENry-sIxrH CoNGREss---2d SESSION
PROSPECTIVE PRE- EMPTIoN BILL
IS CONTINUATION.
IN SENATE Tuesday, January IL, l64l.

who shall nhabt and cultivate the same, ana raise
log cabin thereon, being the special order OF tile day.
was taken up, the question being the PROPOSE
ton by Mr. Crttenden TO recommt the bill, with IN.
siructons to report bill 10 distribute the proceeds OF
the sales of the public lands among the States, winch
Mr. Calhoun offered to amend by substituting Dill TO
cede the public lands to the States IN when 'hey e'
upon certain conditions.
MIR. CALHOUN said: regard the question oil the
public lands to that of the currency, The most Dan
gerous and difficult of all which demand the attention
of the country aud the Government at tins important
iuncure of our affairs. | do not except Protective
renced, that measure again be adopted, when
has done 10 corrupt the morals of the country
public and private to disorder its currency deranEe It's
business, and weaken and endanger its free institu
tons, than any other except the paper system, win
which il is so intimately allied.
In offering the amendment propose, ] do not intend
the Justice of the eulogium which has been
often pronounced our land system IN the course
Of this discussion. On the contrary, believe That IL
was admirably adjusted to effect It's object, when hrst
adopted but it must be borne in mind that measure,
20 be perfect must be adapted 10 circumstances, and
that great changes have taken place. The lapse OF ty
years, since the adoption OF our land system Al hat
time the vast region now covered by the new suites,
which have grown up on the public domain, belong
ed to foreign powers, was occupied by numerous
Indian tribes, with the exception of few sparse settle
mens the nconsderablc tracts to winch the te oil
the Indians was at that time extngushed. Since then,
mighty change has taken place. Nine STATES nave
sprung up if by magic, with population not less,
probably than wo-iils of the old States, and desti-
ned to surpass them few years in numbers power,
and influence. That change so mighty should SO de-
range system intended for entirely different condi-
ton Of things to render important changes necessary
10 adapt il present circumstances, Is no more Than
might have been anticipated. II would indeed, have
been miracle had il been otherwise ard we Ought
not therefore, to BE- surprised that the operation oil The
system should afford daily evidence that Is not only
deranged but deeply derangcd and that IT'S arrangement
is followed by train of evils that threaten disaster, IN.
less timely and efficient remedy should beapp'ed.
would ask those who think differently, and Nlo believe
the system still continued work WELL il evil
that after session. for the last len or twelve
years, Congress should be engaged IN anEf and deep
" agitatng discussions, growing out OF the pubic
lands, III which side should be denounced as the
friends, and the other the enemies, vi the States
Was the increasing violence Of this as':on, from
year 10 year, and threatening ultimately rot only the
loss OF the public domain, but the tranquility and
peace Of the country, evil: Is it wei that one
third Of the time oil Congress is consumed III legis
ating on subjects directly or indirectly connected
with the public lands, thereby proongi;g the
sons propor,ionally, and adding t. the expense mp
wards of 5000 O30 annually, Is 1t evil hat the CO.
vernmeni should halt the lands wilma The limits
Of nine members Of! this Union, and which they
can exercise authority or control: /, u nothing
that the demand of many States should be under
the exclusive legislation and guardianship Of this Co
vernment, contrary 10 the genius OF Tie Constl-
tution which, intending 10 leave 10 each Safe The
guat;on OF lis local and peculiar concerns delegated
the Union those only iii which all had inter
est: Ii 10 all these be added The vast amount Of patron
age exercised by this Government through the medium
Of the public lands, the States AID through
them, the whole Union, and The pcrnl,ious nilu
thereby brought 10 bear all other Subjects Of
legislation can il be denied that many and great evils
result from the system operates, which call
rnr. aud NJ pflrf
But why should look beyond The question before us
to prove, BY the confession of ALL that there is
deep disorder in the SYSTEM There three
measures before the Senate, each proposing important
changes and the one, the other receiving the sup
port Of every member Of the body; OF those who
cry out against changes. II is too late, then, 10 deny
the disordered state Of the system The disease ad
mtted, and the only question is, what remedy shall be
applied.
object both to tho BILL and the amendment proposed
by the Senator from Kentucky, Mr.. Cri,'rnden,l he
cause, regarded remedial measures, they both
inappropriate and inadequate Neither pIc.emption,
distribution of the revenue, received from the
public lands, have any possible effect IN correct
ing The dlsordercd action OF The system | put the
question, would the other contribute in The
smallest degree 10 diminish the patronage Of the Co.
vernment, tho time consumed On questions growing
ont OF the public lands or shorten the dua,;on of the
sessions, withdraw the action I'll the Government
over so large part Of the domain Of the States,
sane Independent footing with the old States and their
representatives arrest the angry aud igatng dis
cussions which year after year distract councils
and threaten much mischief 10 the country Far
otherwise would be the effect IL would iut increase
the evil by bringing into decided conflict tie ntc
rests Of the new and old States OF al the ills that
could befa hcu the former would rcgara the distrbu
ton as the greatest while The latter word look the
pre-empon SYSTEM proposed by Tie BILL little short
Of an open system of plumber II we mag lndge from
rrI ,f
the debate.
As then neither can correct the disease, the question
is, what remedy can; | have given 10 this question
the most deliberate and careful examinations and have
come to the conclusion that there IL, and be,
n,.dy short of cesson- to the States respective
" within which the lands situated. The disease
lies in ownership and administration; and nothing short
of parting with both reach it. Part with them, and
Won will at once take away onc.tIird Of the business
of Congress- shorten lis sessions in the proportion,
with corresponding saving OF expense Top OIL large
and most dangerous portion Of the patronage OF the Co
vcrnncnl arrest these angry and agatng discussions,
which do so much to ALLEVIATE the good feelings of the
different portions Of the Union and disturb the general
course of legislation, and cndanger ultimately the loss
of the public domain. Retain them, and they must
continue, almost without mitigation, apply what pallia-
tvrs you may. 1t is the asu!lcient anc only remedy.
Thus far would seem clear do see how it il pos
sble for any 10 doubt that cesson would reach the
evil and that it is tho only remedy that would. Ii, then,
there should be any objection only be 10 the terms
or conditions Of the ccsson. If these be adjusted
as TO give assurance that the lands shall be faithful
ly managed by the States BY this Government, and
that all the interests involved shall be WE'LL better
secured than under the existing system, all that could be
desired would be effected, and all objections removed 10
the final and quiet settlement of this great vexed and
dangerous question In saying all objections, hold
that the right of dsposng of them as proposed, espe-
cally when demanded by high considerations of policy
and when il can be done without pecunary loss to the
Government, as shall hereafter show, cannot be fairly
denied The Constitution gives to Congress the un n
limited right of dsposing of the public domain, and OF
course, without any other restrictions than what the
nature of that trust and of cesson may impose,
neither of which forbid their cession in the manner pro-
posed.
That the condition can be so adjusted, cannot
doubt l have carefully examined the whole ground,
and perceive difficulty that cannot be surmonnt
ed l feel assured that all which is wanting is to at
tac, the attention of The Senate I" the vast importance
great and growing evil, resulting from the application
of the system exists 10 that portion of the pub
lie domain lying in the new States. That done, the
INF of hodv will loss