Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-14

| ~"s''ns and the authors oil that suffering now
| augh TO soorn their Tor not being able
!" pay the debts Of thel6 contraction.
lie believed all that was believed by those who
passed the distribution law, and he would adhere to
IT. But he could not believe with It's enemies OF
uncertain friends, that any specific pledge was ne
Se>sary on the part at this great nation to raise a
| lean of seventeen millions OF do'lors-a no
more To such a nation than ten dollars would be To
any gentleman IN this body. All the imaginary
hangers which had been 50 aruully paTaded, had
neen cot up 10 Tighten Congress into repeal OF
'hls law-u was al, ire OF straw all mere flame
aud smoke.
| MIR ArcLsr, rose and addressed the Senate FOR
some time his observations were audible in the
Reporters gallery. When distinctly heard, he was
understood to take the ground that from the mo-
ment of the cesson OF the public lands to the Ge'
neral Government down Ia the present time, all
claim on the part OF the States, separately to the
property IN those lands had ceased. The lands
had became the property OF the General Govern
mcnt. He contendcd that after free exercise at
\ the right of this Government TO dispose OF the
public domain for the last fifty years, it would now
tie IN vain dispute its control the whole sub
lec, aud that IN any court of justice competent to
! decade between the States and the Government. Il
would be decided this RICH, is indisputahle. The
only question then, that ever can arise with regard
To the disposal OF the public domain, IS question
OF expeGiency. The present question one OF
two alternatives: whether The wants OF the States
or the wants ol the General Government shall have
priority IN the consideration.
of the which he and his colleague had given on
one OF the resolutions of the late Senator from Ken
lucky recently under discussion in the Senate.
Neither he nor his colleague had any purpose or
idea OF voting Tor repeal OF the distribution act;
thetr whole object was to carry out the provisions
OF the law. and conformity with the act itself TO
restore the land fund to the Treasury. that the
necessity was apparent OF transcendng the limit Of
tar u prescribed 10y the compromise act. But while
he justified and went hand r hand with his colleague
~ 40 n
public lands TO the public Treasury, he could rot
concur with him IN the proposition authorize the
snteihe pledge OF the public domain for any loan.
, lie considered such pledge woull be q stigma on
tic honor and credit Of tho country.
Tic asked, would any gentleman tell hm where
'hcre was an instance OF airy Government entitled
to high character, having offered pledge for ras-
ing means the very offer Of which implied n con
sciousn6sS Of being out of all credit He for one
would rather the loan should fail altogether than give
} h's sanction TO such stigma on the honor Of the
Government; Already had the other branch oil
Congress- this session, Ivy large maioriies rejected
THIS proposition; and now the Senate is asked In en-
sraii u on this bill, with full know ledge that II
must go back To the other lcuse to encounter this
r1sctor, so sisnally foreShadowcj. The question
n's Is eet~een the party IN power and their aiver
SailcS, whether principle ln contended for shat
| AZ ast he surrendered up. lie did not think this
"asthe proper occasion to press this question The
question OF restoring the land fund properly belong
Gu 10 Tie occasion OF bringing up the bil! for he adj
4
cur. Already did the hill before the Senate embody
m IT'S provisions an ample and comprehensive pledge
that Of the revenue aEd resouces OF the Govern
meni. VIVA, was there IN the uncertain revenue
from these anis, which last wear scarcely exceeded
ssVnoOn, which would be preferred n specific
pledge Nv capitalists, 10 the pledge Of the whole re
sources OF the Government OF great nation like
TINS
lie next adveried to the circumstances under
which the Wing party came into power; and de-
tSNrIner feelings N i'm Inv he
Wings tainted with broken promises occasioncd
10y Wig measures being thwar,ed and defeated by
one whom he wished he could ohliterate from his
memory. lie did rot, when he saw such q cond
ton OF ms government care whether the losn could
be raised or not: he meant to give his vote IN such
aiorm rs would no, leave a Treasury note IN exs-
tcnee within l2 months.
The object Of the amendment offered Ivy the Sc
naior from Mississippi, (Mr Walker,) is TO force
this pledge down the thro,,s of wings under the
prctence OF PATRIOTISM for the sake OF passing this
indispensable loan ti. He, for one, would not be
forced INTO any such display Of patriotism.
Mir Buchanan commented at some length on the
remarks lust made by the Senators from Kentucky
lMr Cfittendenl and from Virginia MIR Archer.I
lie confasted the present declaration OF the Sena-
tor from Virginia MIR Archerl against pledsing the
pUoHc amos, with the resolution offered 10y his COL
| league rs an amendment 10 the resolutions Of the
/ ate Senator from Kentucky, while under consider
alton, and tor which the Senator mir Archerl had
/ soIemny recorded hs vote. But It the Senator
was opposed 10 pledges, why did he eulogise the
ol,l now under consideration, which givesa specific
/ pledge OF not only the sood faith OF the Govern
men, but Of the whole revenue OF the country, for
/ The payment Of the interest and Ultimate redemption
Of the deotl lie did not see how the Senator from
Virginia could reconcile such Inconsistencies. lie
would, however, pass that, and advert 10 the re-
marks OF the Senator from Kentucky fMr Critten-
den That Senator had charged him with haunting
the Wing party. lie never did taunt the Whs
party-he had only stated facts The Senator says
'h' anu Distribution measure IS the great and pro
mlnent Wing measure. And what sort of = land
OIL dd the Wing party pass at the last extra ses
som a land oil which restores the proceeds Of
the lands to the public Treasury II the tariff should
I've even raised 10 only twenty per cent ne
cessity Of trlnscending which was perfectly we A
known at the tme-and yet a land bin was passed
good Tor nothing, and holding only promise TO the
ear, hut denying It TO the hope. The Senator also
charges the late Administration with having incur
red The debt which the wings are now ca. led on 10
discharge. Had not that Administration brought
down the expenditures Ia twenty-five millions and
prepared tor a further reduction TO twenty millions
The country could have got along in the condition
IN which u was left by Mr. Van Blu en- on the Itt e
March, lS4l, without any debt Here Nc Bucha.
nnn entered INTO a review Of the condition Of the
Government al that period and ccntrasted il with
I'VE existing state OF things. The Senator from
kentucky lMr Cutenden) had dealt ia generaltes,
ahu Wfo"n all reSpons biIity on the Executive OF
the present Administration. Bot had not the Whig,
8 majority IN Congress, and had they not passed nj
their measures except the Bank Bills, aud forced
upon the c. untry ciXieen millions Of debt in thirteen
mon,hsf And now hey propose a permanent ex.
pendture Of twentysiX millions OF dollars. He
had stated but facts, yet he was accused OF haunting
the Wings. IL was impossible for the gentlemen 10
escape the responsibility they seem 50 ANXIOUS 10
shnt upon their own President. They have the
majority and the purse strings IN their own hands
and II will not do for them 10 fly from their respon.
sibhY by turning round 10 tauut him with having
tainted them.
Mr. Crittenden remarked that when he spok, Of
The gentleman taunting the Wing party he ONLY
meant that he intended Ia laugh az them and the
distress-that he merely amused himself wi h saving
SUCH things as that he would notnproich the Wing
party with inquiries Of wha, had become Of Their
promises OF retrcnchment and reform.
lie commended that Notwithstanding the figures
produced ny the Senator from Pennsylvinin, 10
prove That the average expenditures Of the late AID.
m nis'r1 ion were but tweniy,ei-ht millions. the
feil expenditures ave ngtd thirty five millions ex
raordinnry and ordinary. lie enumerated the
available means Of that Administration, with
view OF showing the aggregate on which he based
MS estimate lie made no particular charge against
any one, but he did really believe, IN his own back.
woods ignorance, that this amount Of expenditure
was not absolutely necessary. lie really thought
there vas room for great reirenohment.
Nr Buchanln observed, he was roidy 10 ioin in
the Work Of rotrenchmeni, and asked why thoy did
not 1cginl
u was work oftime; he would do what he could
about this retronchmen', for he honestly bell, we'd II