Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-06-22
Mr.. Lindley's Speech.

The speech of Mr.. Lindley will be found on our
first page, and will be universally read. The Ne
braska question having been extensively dscu ssed
he spent but little time talking about that but pass
ed to subject in which his constituents were
more Immediately Interested: grants of public lands
for internal improvements. On this subject, he &C.
cupies the true whg ground. Mr.. Letcher, of
Virginia, followed Mr.. Lindley, and gave the dem
ocratie side Of the question. We append few ex-
tracts from his speech, and ask the voters of this
District to read il in connection with Mr. Lindley's
and then decide whether Lindley or Flournoy is
best suited to represent the District, and which
would be most likely to procure land grants
Flournoy stand with the democratic party, whose
position is defined by Mr.. Letcher, Virginia DEM
ocrat-
Mr.. LETCHER said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: l had no particular desire to
address the committee tonight; but as the gentle
man from Missouri, Mr.. Llndley,] has seen fit to
renew the attacks which have been so frequently
made, in This House, of late upon the State from
which came, and as he has INDUCED in very free
comments upon what he is pleased 10 characterize
as "Vrginia distractions" and upon the conduct
Of her representatives in resisting land schemes,
have felt called upon to say something in de-
fence of the State in which have the honor, in
part to represent upon this floor, and in vndcation
Of the action Of her representatives upon this sub
iect.
Sir, the representatives from Virginia have been
repeatedly charged with illberaty, in their oppo-
sltion of land schemes, which have been brought
before this House, for the benefit not only OF The
west, but Of other sections Of the country. The
representatives from Virginia; believe, ''that Con-
gress has no power to appropriate directly or nd-
recty, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands
to the purpose of internal Improvement They
consider that the lands were coded to the general
government for the purpose of being sold. and that
the proceeds arising from their sales, shonld 20 in
to the treasury for the purpose of meeting the COM
mon expenses of the several States of this Union
in the general costs and charges. And, whenever
these propositions come up, in accordance with
the principles which our State has ever professed,
and upon her representatives have acted, they
will be found in opposition to them.
However unpleasant it may be to place them
selves in opposition TO the friends Of such schemes
the representatives from Virginia will hereafter be
found precisely where they have heretofore been
found. They will always be found zealously,
warmly advocating the doctrine that the public
for which Congress might not legally appropriate
money directly from the treasury. "The lands are
as much the property Of the Union as the money in
the treasury. The cessions and purchases of them
were as much for the benefit Of the collection
of the money. The Constitution, as well as com
mon oCSllS W NC lSCDSlllLe
and if the money only be appropriated to speci.
fled Objects it follows that the land can only be SO
appropriated" Virginia has been consistent upon
this subject. Her representatives now are advoca-
ting the doctrines which their predecessors have
uniformly advocated on this floor and elsewhere.
As the representatives of the gallant old State of
Virginia, State that has always has been true to
the principles of the democratic party, we do not
come here TO beg favors at the hands of the feder-
al government We do not come here asking that
alternate sections Of the public lands shall be given
to us, or that distribution of their proceeds shall
be decreed to aid us in the construction of railroads
or other works Of internal improvement; but we
come here demanding that the government shall dc
what it obliged itself to do when the deeds of ces-
sion were made, and she became the common trus-
tee and bonnd herself to execute those deeds faith
fully, and fairly and justly, and honestly, in ac-
cordance with their spirit and letter.
In the present condition of public affairs at home
and abroad, wisdom and sound policy it seems to
me, would dictate the duty and proprety of hus-
banding the public lands. The signs Of the times
indicate general war abroad, and il is not impro-
BILE that we may become involved in it, and if such
should be the result, our commerce must be affect
ed in greater or less degree. The revenue arising
from imports must be diminished and we shall theI
be compelled TO look TO the lands, or some othe,
source, for the means of supplying the deficiency
The veto of the insane bill comes most opportuney
and furnishes evidence 10 the country Justify thu
conclusion that the President will not permit III,
public lands 10 be squandedered in future, as they
have been for some years."