The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-07-26

is to be offered up as sacflilce upon the aitar
Western Interests, for having done what he con
sdered to be his duty in respect TO the greater In
terest of the whole Union. Sir, if the Senator
from Kentucky (Mr. Clay) stands conspicuous as
the object OF attack in this debate, would ask hi:
honorable colleague, (Mr Crittenden) tcho placed
him IN that condition? Has he not, abore all 9th
eyS, at all times, and upon all occasions, when
the subject of the Public lands has been the topic
of discussion, taken the lead in denouncing these
'LAWLESS INTRUSIONS' upon the public do
main, as he is pleased to term them' Has he not
in fact, to use his own expression, battled it for
days together, "softary," if not "atone," against
pre-emption and graduation bills, when scarce
ly man of his party would venture to the rescue'
These things considered, Mr.. President, and how
can it be matter of wonder surprise to the Sen
ator, (Mr. Crittenden) that his colleague should
be met by the Senators fLom the new States, upon
the ground he himself has seen fit to occupy, so far
10 advance of his associates, to have left them
almost out of sight behind him' Mr. President,
during the progress of the debate on the pre-emp-
ton BILL at the last session of Congress, the hon.
orable Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Clay) indulg-
ed in expressions towards the settlers of the new
States who had gone upon the public lands for the
purpose Of procuring homes for themselves and
families, which, in my opinion, they did not de-
serve; and as they were repeated on more than
one occasion during that protracted debate with
the utmost deliberation, | took note ofsome ofthem
at the time that they were uttered, IN the precise
terms employed5 By the speaker as understood him;
and as wish to to these expressions, for the
purpose of showing how far, in this respect, the
honorable Senator (Mr. Clay) may or may not
have been misrepresented, as is supposed by his
honorable colleague (Mr. Crittenden) 1 ,ciH re-
fe, to them as Itook them do,cn, and leave the
Senate to judge whether we of the new States, or
the honorable Senator's colleague, have had the
most cause to complain of Misrepresentation
@y-The honorable Senator (Mr. Clay) said, when
discussing the merits of the pre-emption bill, and
of those who were to be benefited by its provl-
sons, in the debate of the 27th of January last, ac
cordlng to my memorandum, that he kIae,c Ofno
lr,c, or principle Of p'0priety, which authorized
US to give away the public lands as bounty to the
poor-as a bounty for the UiOlatiom ofhe laac;
that he viewed it (he pre-emption bilD as license
to a set Of LAWLESS INTRUDERS to go upon
the public domain, and prevent its sale in the man.
ner prescribed by law; that he looked upon the
whole system of pre-emption as a SYSTEM OF
HEARTLESS, SCANDA-
LOUS, FRAUDULENT SPECULATION;
that it was. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, Exc
CRADLE FRAUD; system that TAINTED,
and PURIFIED euay one
,Uho tOuchedit; 05- that these men (the settlers
upon the public lands) might, with equal propre-
ty, SEIZE UPON OUR FORTS AND AR
OUR SHIPS UPON THE OCEAN,
or PLUMBER THE PUBLIC MONEY IN
THE TREASURY, and appropr'ate the $pOils
among them, as thus to seize upon the public do
main, and hold it against the just demand of the
Government. Such, Mr.. President, are some of
The expressions in which the Senator from Ken
lucky Mr.. Clay) INDUCED at the late session Of
Congress towards the settlers of the West. But it
S said that he has been misrepresented-
lilly misrepresented; and that language has been
attributed to him on the occasion referred to which
he never uttered. This, sir, to some extent, may
De true have seen some newspaper reports of that
lebate which contained expressions which do
lot remember to have heard in the terms supposed
o have been employed; but the differences dra,cn
ore, nevertheless, in most instances, corret logi-
al deductions from the premises, as admitted to
lave been stated in the debate. As, for example,
he Senator (Mr. Clay) did not say, in so many
cords, that the settlers upon the public lands were
'uGteS but he did say, that they might, with equal
ropriety, hare seized upon our ships on the ocean,
nd hold them against the lawful right of the ma
ion, as thus to seize upon the public lands, and
efeat, by unlawful combinations, a just competi-
ion at the public sales in the manner prescribed by
aw. And what is this but CHARGE OF PI-
tACY? And what else is man who commits an
vert act of piracy such as the Senator (Mr. Clay)
las described, but pirate? He did not say they
we're robbers; but he characterized them as rob-
ers, assimiating their supposed offences to sci
me of the public forts and arsenals-to plum
ering Of the public Treasury and what is this
ut ROBBERY or LARCENY, according to the
circumstances of force or no force, in despoiling
he Government ofits property'
App. Gong. Globe, page So, 1889.
By the National Intelligencer, and the explana-
on of Senator Young, therefore, it is conclusive
proved that Mr.. Clay characterized the Settlers
n the public lands
AS LAWLESS RABBLE.
AS set of PIRATES. .
As gang of TRIEyEs.
As band of ROBBERS. .r.
If he did not call them by these names, he gave
lem these characters, and he proudly said, he
ould not be deferred from doing his duty IN resist
q their claims by menances, or by any consider
ions personal to himself He moved, as we have
en-, an amendment, requiring Mr.. Van Buren to
I'VE the settlers removed thereafter. To show
ow far he would have gone, we copy from the
ational Intelligencer OF the 5th February, 1888,
lrt of "a discussion which took place between him
I'd the lamented Senator Linn, of Missouri, on
n 9th dav nf January 1898