The true Democrat., 1854-04-18

These are facts which cannot be denied, though gentlemen who wish to receive revenue from the public lands will hardly be willing to acknowledge them. have stated the burdens, expressions, and 1 may say, tyrannies under which we have suffered for years, yet we have never protested against them. But the decla- ration made by the distinguished Senator from Michigan this morning, comes with peculiar pleasure to us who have labbred so long under crying exhaustion of this description, which has been forced upon us by the peculiar policy of the government of the United States, the owner of our soil. l rose simply for the pur
 pose of calling attention to that declaration, so that 1t may attract our consideration at once, and may attract the consideration of the country.
 Sir, the people of the new States have con- tributed more, in proportion to their popula- ton, to the support of this government, than any other people in the Uni.ee States. This is eminently so of my own State. If you go to the Land Office and examine your public re- cords, you will find that that State small as is its population has paid millions of dolars into the public Treasury In return for thu how much have you expended for her? Why sir, if we come here and ask for small appropriation of public lands for any specific object Within the limits of our State, great outcry IS rased, and we are regarded as plunderers. I'm means which those who come into our State b1lg with them is taken from us, and thus we areimpo- vershed; and when we incur a State debt which we happen to be unable to pay, We are reproached by those who have impoverished us. They forget that it was occasioned by their legislation, and that We are willing to Nax ourselves to meet our obligations
 | bopo tbot avary man from, tho nnr- i States will unite and struggle together, unh the day shall cease when this government shall make the public lands a source of national re- venue, and thus tax us longer, and that they will mark those who wish to retain such a source of revenue.
 Mir. Bayard. When l yielded the floor on the motion to take up bill No. 227, it was merely as courtesy to permit this bill to be in- troduced and referred; but like the principles of this bill, abusing the constitution of the United States, that courtesy IS abused. l do not mean now to enter into the discussion of this bill in an irregular manner, for It Is entirely contrary to any rule or order that ought to prevail in a deliberative body. The bill is introduced for ! the purpose of reference, and here we have a full discussion upon It's merits; and not only a discussion upon Its merits; but the Senator from Arkansas appealed to the sectional feeling of the {. country upon 1t. Sir am opposed to sectional appeals, whether on the subject of slavery or oi the public lands. The honorable Senator re- marked that he hoped the people of the new States would put mark upon the men who opposed the principles which he advocated.- | Be 1t 50, Mr. President, although as to myself cannot say that have any higher aspirations than the honorable position which occupy; yet, whether l had or not, no fear of any sentiment, ! or any opinion existing in any part of this country, or of any individual man, will ever make me yield to what l believe to be an un- constitutional principle. 1 will endeavor to I consider this bill fairly and calmly. 1 hope, land l know, l shall be willing to do full jus 4 tce to the western or land States. But 1 am very sure that if, in my view of the constitu- ton, they seek to take that which Is common 4 property oi the Union, and assume a ground that we are now to'glve up our property, and cease to look to 1t as d source of revenue; If they do that i'll violation of the constitution, no public opnon of the west, no public opinion or 1 private censure here or elsewhere, will ever drive me from voting against the bill, and ex- pressing my opinions upon the principles of justice which l5 violates. 1 do not say that it does violate these principles, for l have not ex- amlned the hlI but 1 speak of the enunciatioI of the sentiment which the honorable Senato. has disclaimed, not as a personality, but in its effect calculated to deter a fair examination of the principles of the bill before it has actually been reported upon by committee, or cone before the Senate for proper discussion.
 l MT. JOHNSON. will not detain the S. na.e by discussing the bill at this time. I dd not say in the beginning that it was supported ! only Gy delegates from western States On ! the contrary, know that some Of its warmest and most ardent supporters are to be found in the old States 1 rejoice that such is the case 1 favor the bill myself. 1 shall favor it through out, so long as 1t is kept within reasonable bounds. 1 do not wish to prolong the debae. 1 wish merely to say that the expression whcht l used in the former part of the debate was ot l intended to be personal, certainly not to he l Senator from Delaware. Perhaps my phraso- ] logy was not sufficiently guarded. 1 trust, le- vertheess, that we shall be permitted gratefully to recollect those gentlemen whose enlarjed and liberal spirit prompts them to legslate Ip- on interests which are vital to us, that we slall 10 more be oppressed by the attempt to deive a revenue from the lands that lie within the limits of our State. 1 may urge upon all, though in doing so may be guilty of iteraion ' that we are entitled to great consideration rom this government. The fact should be pr,ni- fnently presented that we have already pail in- to the public Treasury more than the public lands ever cost; nay, sir we have paid millions into the public Treasury over and above al the expense of the original purchase and ol the subsequent management of the public l4nds And the Senator from Delaware should not forget the very striking fact that the General Government is still possessed of an immens. do- main, although it has derived from the public lands $60,OO0OOO more than the cost of the whole, including the expense of survey and sale.
 THE EUROPEAN WAR.