Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-04-05
In SENATE,
Uednfsday, March 80, 1912.
apDrpS or THE Day

ORDERS OF TIE DAY.
Mr. Clay g resolutions taken up as the unfnsh-
ed business of Yesterday, the question pending being
on the adoption of nlr. Rivcs 5 amendments
Mr.. CLAY considered it very unfortunate that the
question OF revoking the land distribution had been in
troduced in this discussion. lie deprecated the agita
ton of such question. lie commended that there
hundreds of thousands of Democrats in the country
who went with the Wings in favor of the Distribution
law And for what is this proposition of resumption
made: To meet, by contribution of one million,
deficit in the public Treasury of fourteen millions
Pass tariff law ample enough for revenue, 10 meet
equitable administration of the Government That
would establish public credit; but he would not say
that money could be obtained good terms when
the credit of the Government untarnshcd. DO
not gentlemen already see the consequence of disturb
ing question that he hoped and thought settled
forever, Change, and nothing but change, seemed TO
haunt the minds of gentlemen, in relation to every
sure passed at the session. The agitation OF this
question OF distribution had already brought up the
question Of the involabllity of grants of land. He
once for ALL would say, that if the grant not con-
summaied By transfer and possession is in the power
of the cruntor 10 take it back. The shock of taking
back the money less than that of taking back the
land. Garry any Of the propositions of the Sc
naor from Virginia and the whole repeal of the system
is carried
What had been the argument throughout the agita-
ton Of the measure of distribution from the beginning
but that the possession of the lands was but in trust for
the States' He alluded 10 those lands ceded by the
several States lie Gened mat the grant 10 Inc new
States of FIVE hundred thousand acres land each in
dependent of the Of distribution. Such PROPOSE
tons had been always resisted the grounds that in
the final and general adjustment of the land question,
the matter would be settled, but that it should not till
then Ifany State had proved the right granted by the
Distribution act, there would he admitted, be right
not revocable; but he believed scarcely more than
or two States had taken any action on the subject
He dwelt al length the spectacle of unstable
legislation which would be presented TO the countryby
the propositions pressed upon Congress, and de-
picted, in strong terms, the Executive and his advi
MIR. RIVES would have been happy if he could have
been spared the necessity of saying any thing TO pre-
vent the discussion. Fle was, however, obliged to de-
clare that much of what the Senator had said, was
said without the slightest foundation 1t was he, and
not HIMSELF (hIr r. who had come forward to unset
lie legislation He appealed TO every member of Con-
qress 10 say the Distribution act ever could have been
passed but for the insertion of the clause restoring the
land fund under the contingencies now existing Is
it not the Senator himself by his proposition in these
resolutions 10 revoke that clause who comes forward
10 unsee legislation: He desired to speak with all
due respect for the Senator from Kentucky. he en-
tertained for him the highest respect politically and
personally and this respect he believed he had mani
tested in all his relations towards that honorable Sc
nator; but al the same time he must be permitted 10