establishments, to withdraw most of their troops, and to surrender all hope of success.

[SENATE.

I must protest against the application of the public lands to this object. It is several years since things have been The last annual report of the American Colonization So- taking that turn. Mr. KING, of New York, the most conciety proves and establishes the inability of their efforts. spicuous author of the Missouri question, first proposed Look at their own statements. At page 41, it is stated, it in the Senate. His resolution was submitted in 1824, and correctly stated, that the annual increase of the black but led to no result. The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. population is from 75 to 80,000 souls, and that it will re- CLAY] now moves it in a more formal and determined quire this number to be annually carried off to check the manner. The managers of the Society have themselves growth of that population among us. At page 10, it is stat- looked to it, and have curiously mixed up a calculation of ed, and correctly stated, that the arrival of 1,000 emigrant wordly gain, a question of profit in a moneyed point of negroes in any one year would be the ruin of the colony! view, with this devotion of the public lands to their favorthat even that small number of new comers would make ite object. At page 23 of their last annual report, after a revolut on, and require an armed force to keep the claiming an appropriation of the public lands, they go on peace among them. Here, then, are two facts, which to add, that it should not be forgotten that, whatever apput an end to the illusions of this scheme. Seventy-five propriations should be made by the Government to this thousand per annum must go, before the increase of the object, the greater part would be expended in giving emblacks is checked at home--before we can feel any na- ployment to our shipping and to citizens of the United tional advantage from it; and the arrival of 1,000 would States. Thus philanthropy and wordly gain are to go destroy the colony, and put an end to the project! Can hand in hand; the shipping interest and those employed in argument, or commentary, add to the force of these two conducting the scheme are to get the greater part of whatfacts, presented by the managers of the Society themselves ever is expended. The public lands of the West are to in their last annual report? fall into the current which is sweeping off every thing

furnish money to enrich the shippers, as well as to buy lands to be given as a donation to the negroes carried to Africa; and all this in addition to furnishing as much as will defray the expenses of the State Governments in all the old States.

Individuals may give their money: benevolent persons else. Farmers of the West are to be required to furnish may follow the impulse of their feelings in bestowing their annually millions--compelled to pay infinitely more for recharity upon this project. Their money is their own, and fuse land than citizens of Maine pay for first choices, to they may do what they please with it. But can legislators and statesmen follow the same impulsions, and act in the same manner, with respect to the revenues of the people? Can they commit this Government upon a scheme of African colonization, without counting the cost in life and money, and asking themselves if the success is to justify the Mr. B. concluded with showing that the question was expenditure? The total English expense in the fifty years of now between the plans of the two committees—the Comher experiment cannot have been less than eighty or ninety mittee on Manufactures, which was for keeping up the millions of dollars. The destruction of life has been appal-price of the lands; and the Committee on Public Lands, ling. The description of Edmund Burke has been real-who were for reducing the price to one dollar per acre ized, that it was a region where the gates of death stood for fresh lands, and fifty cents per acre for such as had open day and night for the reception of its victims. Go been in market five years, with a right of preference to vernors and judges, soldiers and mariners, all go. Our actual settlers; and he called upon all the friends of the colony is on the same ground. It is not only within the West to stand forward and show their friendship on this chartered, but within the settled limits of the British co-occasion, by voting down the plan of the Manufacturing lony; the mortality must be the same when our establish- Committee, and sustaining that of the Public Land Comments equal theirs. If this scheme is followed up, and mittee. this Federal Government becomes committed to that scheme, a territor.al government must be sent to Africa. A detachment of the army and of the navy must be sent there, and courts armed with strong criminal jurisdiction. If left to themselves, the colony will be in civil war before it reaches 20,000 souls. Violence prevails all over the world. The second man that was born killed the first. Murders, seditions, revolutions, go on every where. Can it be expected that this medley of negroes, part from America, part from Africa, some full blood, some half blood, will realize the visionary speculation of human perfectib.lity, and be kept in order by moral restraints, and the The proposition was opposed, on the ground that the miki punishment of interdiction from the use of fire and printing of the extra number of copies would be to circuwater in Africa? For the Roman punishment by exile is late erroneous information, as the bill would probably be the highest now known in our colony. No! these re-amended in its progress through the Senate. straints will soon fail. They will fail as they did in the The motion was negatived, as also was a motion by Mr. British colony before it reached 20,000, and require all MARCY to print 300 extra copies.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29.

THE TARIFF.

The bill from the House, to alter and amend the several acts imposing duties on imports, was read twice, referred to the Committee on Manufactures, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. POINDEXTER moved to print an additional number of copies of the bill, for the purpose of extending information of its details through the country.

the machinery of a strong Government to keep the ne Mr. GRUNDY then offered a resolution requiring the groes in peace. Who is prepared to establish that Go-Secretary of the Senate to prepare a statement of the du vernment in Africa? To spread our constitution across ties imposed by existing laws, and those imposed by the the Atlantic, and beneath the equator, and stretch it over bill which had now passed the House of Representatives. a race for which it was not made? Who is prepared to Mr. TYLER suggested that an estimate of the amount expend a hundred millions of money in this attempt, and of revenue which would be cut off by the new bill be emto send the sons of our farmers--the soldiers and mariners braced in the statement. of the republic—to perish on that pestilential coast? Those Mr. GRUNDY suggested that this information could who are not prepared for these things should stop at once, only be obtained from the Treasury Department. The and refuse to commit their Government upon a project information called for by his resolution would be neceswhich must involve all these consequences, and, after in-sary to enable the Senate to act on the bill. He presumvolving them, must end as the British attempt at coloniza-ed the Committee on Manufactures would be able to retion has ended, in demonstrating its total impracticability. port the bill on Monday or Tuesday.

As a Western man, as a citizen of one of the new States, Mr. CLAY moved to amend the resolution, by calling VOL. VIII.--73

SENATE.]

Death of Mr. Mitchell.--Portrait of Washington.--Harbor Bill.--Public Lands.

[JUNE 30, 1832.

for a statement also of the rates of duties imposed by the The resolution was then ordered to be engrossed, and two bills reported by the Committee on Manufactures of read a third time. the Senate.

The amendment was accepted by Mr. GRUNDY as a modification of his resolution, and the resolution, as modified, was then agreed to.

DEATH OF Mr. MITCHELL.

HARBOR BILL.

The Senate then proceeded to consider the amendment made by the House to the harbor bill, disagreeing to an amendment of the Senate relative to the bridge over the Wabash river, at Terre Haute, (Indiana,) and the Senate

A message was received from the House of Represen-receded from their amendment. tatives, by Mr. Clarke, the Clerk of the House, announcing the death of GEORGE E. MITCHELL, one of the Representatives from the State of Maryland, of that House, and that his funeral would take place at 5 o'clock P. M.

On motion of Mr. CHAMBERS, the Senate then came to the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Senate will attend the funeral of the Hon. G. E. MITCHELL, one of the Representatives from the State of Maryland, this day at 5 o'clock P. M., and, as a tribute of respect for the memory of the deceased, that the Senators will go into mourning, by wearing crape on the left arm for thirty days.

On motion of Mr. CHAMBERS,
The Senate then adjourned.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30.

PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.

On motion of Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, the Senate took up the resolution for the purchase of the original portrait of George Washington, by Rembrandt Peale.

[Whilst this amendment was undecided, Mr. TIPTON, of Indiana, said, the House of Representatives having disagreed to the amendment, he wished the Senate to recede from it. He said he should be very glad to see this bridge constructed, provided this could be done without interrupting the navigation of the river. A portion of his constituents were anxious to have an appropriation for this bridge: another portion of them, and, he thought, a smaller one, were opposed to it, fearing that it would injure the navigation of the Wabash; but the provision of the bill which the House had stricken out, protected the naviga tion of this river. It was not his design to speak of the action of the House, nor of the motives of those who produced that action; nor would he give a history of this bridge in the Senate, and in the other House; he would, however, remark, that it had twice passed the Senate, first in a separate bill, containing an appropriation for the ment to the harbor bill, the one now before the Senate. Cumberland road, and latterly in the form of an amendHe was opposed to endangering the passage of this bill at for continuing the Cumberland road in his State, and for this late period of the session. It contained a provision other important works of internal improvement, and he hoped that the Senate would recede for this time, and let the bill pass.]

PUBLIC LANDS.

The Senate then resumed the consideration of the bill to appropriate, for a limited time, the proceeds of the public lands.

Mr. F. moved to fill the blank with 2,000 dollars. He founded his motion, first, on the accuracy of the likeness, and, secondly, on the nature of the subject itself. He stated the opinions of Judge Marshall, Judge Washington, and other distinguished men, as to the accuracy of the resemblance. He considered this work as a conception of taste and genius, and the value of these efforts of genius, in dollars and cents, must depend upon the taste of those who purchase. He had no doubt that many painters could be found who would paint a portrait of Washington for 250 dollars; but this was the work which it would be most becoming the dignity and taste of the Senate to possess-Mr. BENTON resumed his remarks in continuation, the portrait of Peale. It was not the price of the canvas against the general features of the measure, as unjust to or the oil which was to be considered, but the value of the new States. He contended that, by the distribution the immortal mind which was portrayed by the painter. proposed of the proceeds among the several States, Mr. SMITH stated that Stewart received only 1,000 Indiana, though she paid as much as Ohio, would only re dollars for his best portraits; and he would have no objec-ceive half the amount as her share of the sales; in like tion to give 1,000 dollars for this. Stewart had engaged manner, Illinois, one-fourth; Missouri, one-fifth; and Alato make him a copy for 600 dollars, but it could not be bama and Mississippi, in no proportion to the money paid obtained from him.

The question pending being on the motion of Mr. MOORE indefinitely to postpone the bill,

by them severally. That it was also unjust to the old Mr. WEBSTER said that he had taken his idea of Wash- States, and to the people of the Union generally, as it ington from the portraits of Stewart. He admitted the would keep up the price of the public lands above their merits of his picture, and said that if it was to be regarded value; and that it was a plan much less beneficial than that as an original, which he supposed it was, the price ought recommended by the Committee on Public Lands, which not to be in the way. An original head of Washington, would make a reduction in the price of one-half. He adby Stewart, was lately sold for 1,500 dollars, and the pur-verted to the modes proposed by the bill under consider chaser would not listen to an offer of 5,000 for it. Ination, for the application of the proceeds by the States England, if its character were as high as it is here, it would to various purposes. That for the purpose of the African fetch a much higher price.

colonization, he contended, was visionary, chimerical, and totally impracticable; instancing the failure of an attempt by the British to establish a colony at Cape Coast Castle, Sierra Leone-its total failure, from the mortality of the climate, &c. Their plan of colonization at Liberia would in the end also result in failure from various causes, and in the interim could only serve to enrich the shipping inte Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN then moved to amend the re-rest, and to keep up the price of the public domain for solution, by adding a provision that the portrait be hung this and other purposes. In conclusion, he denounced it in a conspicuous part of the Senate chamber, under the direction of the President of the Senate, and that the expenses thereof be paid out of the contingent fund; which was agreed to.

Mr. WHITE thought that if it were the intention of the Senate to own the portrait, they should not cavil about the price. No private gentleman would think of giving less. His acquaintance with the original of the likeness had been but slight, but it was his impression that it was vastly superior to any other he had ever seen.

The words "of New York" were then stricken out, on motion of Mr. MARCY, who stated that Mr. Peale was not of New York.

as radically wrong and unjust.

Mr. MOORE said he would occupy a few minutes of the time of the Senate, in assigning the reasons which influ enced him in submitting the proposition now pending, and which inclined him to the support of the bill reported by the Committee on Public Lands.

I consider, sir, said Mr. M., that this is a measure of the

JUNE 30, 1832.]

Public Lands.

[SENATE.

very last importance: this bill, together with the report thing like gratuity or donation in the grant of the three which accompanied it, has been drawn with great care, per cent. fund for internal improvement, or in the grant and contains, apparently, much plausible argument and of the two townships for a seminary of learning, or in the sound reasoning; and both have been supported by forci- reservation of the sixteenth section in each township for ble and eloquent speeches by the honorable Senator from private schools. Sir, these were the grants in which the Kentucky, [Mr. CLAY,] and the honorable Senator from old States have already enjoyed an equal participation; Ohio, [Mr. EWING.] But, sir, I must be permitted to say they were made to encourage emigration, and to enhance that the provisions contained in this bill, and the views the price of the public domain, and these effects have taken by the report accompanying it, (though very impos-been produced. The citizen, emigrating from the old ing,) are utterly adverse to the interests of the new States. States to the new, finds the means of education in the viI cannot give my sanction to this bill, because it not only cinity of the university more in his reach; he concludes, fails to dispense equal justice to the new States, but con- of course, that it is an inducement to locate himself in this tains provisions which carry certain ruin and destruction to quarter; and, for this consideration, he gives a higher price their most valuable interests. It is true the provision for his lands; and, in like manner, when, by accident, the which proposes to give the new States ten per cent. of the sixteenth section proves to be a valuable one, he is led to proceeds of the public lands for five years, assumes the give a higher price for lands in this township, by reason appearance of liberality; but it is equally true that this of the prospects it affords of educating his children upon is a gilded pill, which, if taken, will prove the most fatal good terms; but this sixteenth section which has been poison. For, let it be understood that this proposition is spoken of so often as a gratuity or donation, is only reconnected with the one which gives to all the States their served from sale promiscuously, not selected, and, of proportion of the proceeds of the public lands, according course, it often happens (probably nine times out of ten) to their federal representation; now, adopt this provision, that it proves to be utterly valueless, located in a swamp and the fate of the new States will be sealed forever; their or marsh, nobs of mountains, or pine woods, not worth interest may then be said to be in the hands of hard one cent. Where is this liberality, then? taskmasters," truly. Can any person be ignorant of the But let us admit that these were designed as an equivafact that then it will be the interest of the old States to lent for the concession made by the new States, in exoppose every proposition for a reduction of the price, or empting the public domain from taxation, and the land pre-emption rights, and every application for relief, of any sold by the Government to individuals for five years after character whatever, in order that they may be enabled to their sale. Then, we say, that not only have the new realize the greatest possible speculation And, in that States given an equivalent, but ten times the amount of that event, the honorable Senator from Kentucky [Mr. CLAY] value, in thus exempting the lands from taxation; and this will be relieved from bestowing any further encomiums is capable of mathematical demonstration, provided any upon the very liberal enactments in favor of the new person will take the trouble to ascertain the amount which States; for I would venture the assertion, that acts of that would be realized, as a tax upon the lands exempted, at character would never, thereafter, grace your statute the rate which is imposed upon the lands of other citibooks. But, in that event, what States will be the great-zens.

est beneficiaries, let me ask? The same, sir, which derive But this is not all; in doing this, the new States have the greatest benefit from the tariff and pension bill; parted with a portion of their sovereignty, by which the while Alabama, a State which will furnish between twenty- General Government establishes land offices and exercises five and thirty millions of acres of the public domain, to ownership over the soil within their jurisdiction; by means be divided in the mode proposed, will receive about fifty-of which there exists a continual drain of all the circulatsix thousand dollars per annum; the State of Pennsylvania ing medium from the new States into the public coffers will receive two hundred and eighty-eight thousand one here. Is this nothing?

hundred and seventy-six dollars; and that of New York But the proposition embraced in his communication to four hundred and ten thousand one hundred and twenty- the General Assembly, by the late Governor of Illinois, eight dollars, (for I throw away fractions and cents.) Sir, and which was afterwards submitted on this floor, claimwill this do justice to Virginia and Georgia, whose liberality, ing, in behalf of the new States, the fee simple estate in I believe, gave all the territory out of which the new the public domain, has been denounced and censured. As States have been composed, with the exception of Loui- regards the proposition made here, and the individual who siana and Missouri? But Virginia is consistent with her- brought it forward, both have been sufficiently defended self--magnanimous Virginia gave an empire, without and complimented by the chairman of the Committee on counting dollars and cents, or claiming an equivalent; she Public Lands, [Mr. KING,] whose duty it was to render now forbears entering into this general scramble for any this tribute of justice. I will only say, sir, that, however portion of the proceeds of the public domain, although wise the project, or able the effort in its support, here she has a more legitimate claim than any other of the old it did not receive the least countenance. And if the object was to produce excitement among the people as an But it has been asserted that this Government has ex-electioneering scheme in Alabama, it failed to produce hibited great liberality and parental kindness towards the this desired effect.

States in the Union.

new States, in the various enactments in their favor, &c. But as regards the censure upon the late Governor To a certain extent, I agree this is so; but not to that ex-of Illinois, for having become a whole hog landmontent gentlemen have contended for. ger," I think the honorable Senator from Kentucky [Mr.

I acknowledge the liberality of the General Govern- ČLAY] has not, in this instance, observed his usual courment, as regards the relief measures by which she has ex-tesy, liberality, or magnanimity, towards an absent adver. tended towards a meritorious class of public debtors, the sary. Sir, I have the Governor's communication made to the purchasers of public lands, the favor of taking the lands General Assembly on this subject, and I cannot but think, purchased at a fair price, and saving them from the for- if the honorable Senator will read it with attention, and difeiture of both land and money paid towards it, which vest himself of prejudice, he will agree with me in opimight have proved ruinous to this portion of her citizens, nion, that it detracts nothing from the high character that but could not have resulted to the benefit of the Govern- gentleman occupies (and deservedly occupies) in public ment. But, sir, I deny, as one of the representatives of a estimation, for talent and capacity of the first order. new State, that there was any liberality in the terms pro- But gentlemen say we have complained, and for this posed and conditions exacted, upon which we were re- we have been censured in no unmeasured terms. Sir, is ceived into the Federal Union. I deny that there was any it a crime, or disreputable for those who, while in a

SENATE.]

Public Lands.

[JUNE 30, 1832.

state of minority, have been overreached, to complain of within the reach of this class of citizens to purchase; and that imposition, when they arrive at full age, by which whether, as patriots, they cannot demand it as a right of advantage has been taken of their minority? their Government. They are willing to give a high price What, sir, was the situation of the parties at the time of for that which is a drug on your hands, to reclaim the entering into the compact? They were in a territorial wilderness and forests by their labor; they are willing to form of Government; in a state of vassalage, deprived of make that valuable which is worthless, by their labor; all political rights and privileges; ruled and governed by they are willing to bring into active operation the latent foreigners; their governors, secretaries, and judges, sent resources of the country. Sir, to such of the citizens of from other States. On this floor they had no representa- this country I consider a freehold to be his natural inherit tive or voice, and in the other branch, in the humiliated ance; to such, a portion of the public domain should be situation of having a delegate with the power of present- as free as the atmosphere, or the light of heaven. Sir, it ing petitions and memorials, but not entrusted to give a is my deliberate and conscientious belief that it is not only vote on any question whatever. The Governor of these ter- the correct policy, but the duty of the Government, to ritories, too, possessing as much power over the people as make to every individual who is destitute, and the head of a king or monarch over his subjects. I allude to that pre- a family, a donation of a quarter section of land, on conrogative which gives the power to prorogue and dissolve dition that he shall cultivate and improve it; and that this territorial legislative assemblies, which, strange as it may liberal policy would result advantageously alike to the appear, has been exercised on more than one occasion. citizens and the Government. Well, sir, to be relieved from this tyrannical and op- But we have been called upon to "state what we mean pressive form of Government, the people were induced by by refuse lands." I answer, that land which has been in their representatives in convention to adopt the ordinance market for twenty or thirty years, and has not found a according to the terms proposed, by which they received purchaser; lands which have been picked and culled for admission into the federal family. But in doing this they that length of time; lands situated in swamps and marshes, have made great sacrifices, and given too high a price for embracing mountains, cedar nobs, pine woods, and pine the boon. And gentlemen would deprive them of the barrens; lands which, without some improvement, are unconsolation even of complaining. Suppose a minor im-fit for any agricultural purpose whatever, are truly “reprudently pledges his valuable patrimonial estate to a fuse," not worth the present minimum, and that their "Shylock," and by this means it is arrested out of his pos- price ought to be reduced. session when he arrives at maturity and discovers the imposition, will the honorable Senator say that it would be disreputable," provided he should complain that the "pound of flesh" should be required of him under such circumstances?

Now, sir, a few words in favor of the bill reported by the Committee on Public Lands, and the very able report which accompanied it. Sir, it constitutes no objection with me that the committee have thought proper to avail themselves of the important services of the honorable Senator from Missouri, and that his labors have entered largely into this production--they could not have drawn upon a source better qualified to render valuable aid.

Sir, I approve of the bill proposed by the Committee on Public Lands, because, in substance, it is the project brought forward some years since by the honorable Senator from Missouri, and for which he has obtained deserved celebrity in all the new States. Sir, I approve of it, because I think it recommends itself to our favor for many considerations; it proportions the price of the public domain to its quality, and adapts the terms of purchase to all classes of citizens; it enables the poor man as well as the rich to become a freeholder. And where can man find a welcome like a permanent home? A sanctuary which he is inclined to worship, so much as his own domicil? One which is so well calculated to make him proud of his species, and proud of the country in which he lives, and which will prompt him, upon all proper occasions, to be ready to defend it with his life?

Mr. President, said Mr. M., I will not detain the Senate longer; the subject has been ably discussed by gentlemen who have preceded me; but its importance, in connexion with the interests of those whom I represent, seems to have demanded thus much.

In conclusion, Mr. M. expressed his wish that the decision on the final question would not be urged until several Senators, who were now absent, and who were interested in the measure, should be present.

Mr. CLAY then rose in reply, and spoke briefly against indefinite postponement, expressing a wish that, in preference to this mode of disposing of the subject, the whole of the land subject should rather be postponed until the next session.

Mr. POINDEXTER thought that indefinite postponement was an uncourteous way of getting rid of the subject, without giving any decision as to the merits of the report of the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. KANE said it would be wrong to take the vote on indefinite postponement to-night, as the Senate was thinHe would therefore move to lay the bill on the table. After some further conversation, the question was taken on laying the bill on the table, and negatived, as follows: YEAS.--Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Brown, Ellis, Grundy, Hill, Kane, King, Mangum, Marcy, Moore, Robinson, Smith, Tazewell, White.--15.

NAYS.--Messrs. Bell, Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Dallas, Dickerson, Dudley, Ewing, Foot, Frelinghuysen, Hendricks, Holmes, Johnston, Knight, Miller, Naudain, Poindexter, Prentiss, Robbins, Ruggles, Seymour, Silsbee, Tipton, Tomlinson, Waggaman, Webster, Wilkins.--27

The question then being on the indefinite postponement, the yeas and nays were ordered.

Mr. KING complained of the want of courtesy in pressing the motion now.

But it has been said, and correctly, too, that in this country we have too much land for the population of the country. Can a better argument be adduced in favor of reducing the price, and adapting the terms to the condi- Mr. WEBSTER replied that there could be no want tion of the people to purchase? From the official docu- of courtesy in pressing this question. It was clear, from ment which has been referred to, it appears there are in the the late vote, that a decided majority of the Senate were new States one hundred and forty or fifty thousand per- against laying the bill on the table. sons destitute of lands. I submit it to honorable gentle-lution from the House to adjourn on Monday week, which men whether it would not be consistent with sound prin- resolution was to be taken up on Thursday, he thought it ciples of propriety and justice, that a portion of these right that the discussion should proceed, or the question millions of acres, which gentlemen advise the propriety of be taken.

As there was a reso

holding up for three hundred years, in order to realize a The question was then taken on the motion for indefigood price, should not be reduced and brought down nite postponement, and decided in the negative, as follows:

JULY 2, 1832.]

The Tariff--Public Lands.

[SENATE.

YEAS.-Messrs. Benton, Bibh, Brown, Ellis, Grundy, of the Lunds to colonization, internal improvement, or Hill, Kane, King, Mangum, Marcy, Miller, Moore, Robin- education; because all that was added to the mind or the son, Smith, Tazewell, Tipton, White.--17. improvement of a State was an addition to the aggregate intellect and wealth of the whole.

NAYS.--Messrs. Bell, Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Dallas, Dickerson, Dudley, Ewing, Foot, Frelinghuysen, Hendricks, Holmes, Johnston, Knight, Naudain, Poindexter, Prentiss, Robbins, Ruggles, Seymour, Silsbee, Tomlinson, Waggaman, Webster, Wilkins.--25. The Senate then adjourned.

MONDAY, JULY 2.

THE TARIFF.

Mr. BENTON said that if this bill was to be pushed through at the present session, the amendment directed by the Committee on Public Lands to be made to the tariff bill would be moved to this bill, to test the sense of the Senate as to the reduction of this heavy tax on the new States of the West. It should be determined by a direct vote, whether the new States, besides the support of the General Government, were to be saddled with the of the rest.

Mr. DICKERSON from the Committee on Manufac-support of all the twenty-four States, and to be the spoil tures, reported the bill from the House of Representatives in addition to the act imposing duties on imports, with a variety of amendments; which were ordered to be printed. Mr. DICKERSON gave notice that he should move the Senate to-day to take up the bill.

PUBLIC LANDS.

The Senate then proceeded to consider the bill to appropriate, for a limited time, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands.

The question pending being on the amendment proposed by the Committee on Public Lands to strike out "ten," and insert "fifteen" per cent., to be appropriated to the new States,

tor from Missouri was determined to bring forward the Mr. CLAY said he was very glad to hear that the Senawhole subject. "Come on Macduff." He had been desirous to have the whole subject disposed of; and if there was time for this general action during this session, he was anxious that it should take place.

Mr. POINDEXTER made some remarks in opposition to the Senator from Missouri, on the point that the new States were the spoils and the oppressed of the other States. He stated that the sales of the public lands on the Choctaw purchase in Mississippi would be opened next fall, and if he, in an ill humor because he could not get all he wanted, should vote for postponing this subject Mr. CLAY explained the operation of the amendment. to another year, his constituents would lose the benefit of Mr. GRUNDY said, if it was the intention of gentlemen the fifteen per cent. on the lands then to be offered for to carry this measure through at the present session, he sale. He could not place himself in that position before would, although reluctantly, go with them. He thought his constituents. the subject should be considered at home, before it was submitted to Congress. It was now for the first time brought here. He should now vote against the amendment, in the hope that the proceedings of the Senate on the subject would stop here, and that it would not be attempted to be urged through at this late period of the sesHe put a question to the Committee on Public Lands, if they intended to push the question through. He thought that to give the new States fifteen, or even ten per cent. additional, without going any further, would be extravagant.

sion.

Mr. GRUNDY adverted to the impossibility of getting through this question in the two weeks, or one week, which Congress may have to sit. He wished to get through the unfinished business which ought to be acted upon. If this bill was to be put aside, he would also vote to postpone the other bill from the Committee on Public Lands, for the reduction of the price of the public lands. But if this bill were to be passed upon, the action on the other could not be prevented. If gentlemen, however, were so eager to get at a discussion, let them go at it; but he thought that two weeks hence they would regret that they had done so.

Mr. CLAY said he not only wished to get through the question this session, but he wished to get the bill through Mr. KING asserted that although the dividend now this day; and, as far as he was in possession of the opi- given to the new States out of the sales of public lands nions of members, he thought this might be done; if professed to be five per cent., it was in fact but three per not to-day, he hoped the bill would be got through to- cent., as the additional two per cent. was to be directed to morrow, and that the tariff would in that case be postponed until this should be decided; or, after the tariff should be disposed of, that this bill would be taken up and passed. He concurred with the Senator from Tennessee, that if this whole subject could not be disposed of, it ought not to be decided in part. But he expressed his desire to act on the subject without further delay.

Mr. KING said he was himself opposed to the per cent age as it was reported. He was instructed not to press the reduction of the price of lands in this bill. He referred to the hardship which he alleged to bear on the new States, by their compact with the General Government, and which he said was admitted by the Senator from Kentucky.

the making of roads to and from the lands. He stated that he would not vote for this bill, even if the dividend were to be raised to twenty-five per cent. to the new States. He would not be bribed to give his support to this bill.

Mr. POINDEXTER asked if the gentleman from Alabama was bribed when he obtained 400,000 acres for his State. He repelled the idea that either he himself, or other Senators, were to be laid under the imputation of being bribed; and stated that although public lands had been on sale in Mississippi for thirty years, that State had received nothing from the General Government. He desired to act on this bill during the present session. Mr. JOHNSTON expressed himself in favor of going Mr. CLAY corrected the Senator from Alabama as to through with this bill at the present session; and rephed the opimons attributed to him. He had never admitted to the several objections which had been urged against the existence of hardship, but merely of complaint, and action upon it. He contended that, in looking so intently for that complaint he denied that there was any good at the reduction of the price of the public lands, there foundation. He stated that, if the lands were to be ceded was danger of loosing the advantages promised by this bill, to the States, they would still be exempted from taxation, while, after all, there was no certainty that the price as no State had ever taxed its own lands. He inquired if would be reduced. the Government was not justified in making as much as could be made from the public lands, without unfairness to the new States. He showed the superiority of the princ ple and inode of distribution adopted by the report Mr. JOHNSTON replied that the principle of reducof the Committee on Manufactures. He stated that all tion was not at all at war with the principle of distribution the Union was interested in the application of the proceeds of the proceeds.

Mr. BENTON insisted on the probability of the pas sage of a bill to reduce the price of the public lands, should this bill fail.