H. of R.] Duty on Sugar. [JAN. 11, 1831. (and he had been informed that the last advices from New dollars for the labor of each, exclusive of the value of Orleans placed it at that sum,) the profit, taking the molasses. Shall the hundreds of thousands of hands emwhole cost of the establishment at one hundred thousand ployed throughout our wide spread country in raising dollars, would exceed twenty per centum per annum. grain, tobacco, cotton, and other agricultural products, be But, suppose the medium sum of seventy-five thousand taxed four millions and a half of dollars, to enable twenty dollars be taken as the cost of the plantation, hands, &c., or twenty-five thousand to cultivate from eighty to one and estimate the product at four thousand pounds to the hundred thousand acres of land, at a profit of from sixteen hand, and he would venture the decided opinion that the to near forty per centum per annum? Surely justice forhands actually employed do not fall below that average, bids it. But some advocate for continuing the duty might estimating the sum of two hundred and forty thousand say, that the sugar culture cannot be profitably carried on pounds of sugar at five and a half cents per pound, without it. If he believed this to be the case, which he twenty thousand one hundred and sixty gallons of mo- most certainly did not, he, for one, should say it was high lasses at fifteen cents per gallon, and the result is the time the culture was abandoned. gross sum of sixteen thousand two hundred and twenty- Mr. H. said, that, among the motives which had urged four dollars, which, allowing four thousand two hun-him to bring this subject to the consideration of the House, dred and twenty-four dollars for annual expenses, leaves there was one, which, although it had been omitted at the twelve thousand dollars clear profit, or sixteen per cent. outset of his observations, it might not be immaterial to per annum. mention. He came from a State which might be consiWhere is the agriculturist, engaged in any other branch dered by some as having an interest in the continuance of of this widely diversified pursuit, who realizes one-third this duty--a State which, as she had gone into the revoof this profit from the capital and labor which he em-lutionary contest in defence of principle, was ready to ploys? Surely not the grain grower, of whose limited maintain it now. Yes, sir, it was for principle that Geor market and scanty profits we have heard so much; and gia made common cause with the oppressed of other coloas surely not the tobacco or cotton grower, who, with so nies, in that dark hour through which the sun of indemuch difficulty, brings the two sides of the leger to meet. pendence has risen on this continent. As one of her He said he had no practical information on this subject, representatives, I came here upon all subjects connected but, from what he had heard upon authority he did not with the tariff with clean hands. If I did not, I should question, two thousand pounds of sugar had been manu- not be her true representative. But, sir, I did not introfactured from an acre of cane, in one of the southern duce this subject alone for the purpose of addressing this counties of Georgia, and he had understood that a like House. I know not that any fact or argument which I quantity had been manufactured by some individual in could offer to its consideration, would have the smallest Florida, since the commencement of the present winter. influence upon the decision of the question now before it. But why go further into detail on this subject? If his cal- Sir, I had another and a higher motive--it was, that I culations were to be relied on, and he had little doubt that might from this place address myself to the practical good some one of them might be, the result is, that the manu- sense of the country, that, perchance, I might awaken in facture of brown sugar can be profitably prosecuted in the bosom of the laboring man, as he whistles over the hanthis country without the aid of a protecting duty. dles of his plough, the inquiry why this unequal and burdensome tax should be continued, mainly for the benefit of the lordly capitalist. [Before Mr. H. had finished his speech, the hour allotted for the consideration of resolutions expired, and he concluded his remarks on the following day; but they are given unbroken, above.] Mr. CLAY explained its object. It was supported by Messrs. CLAY, WICKLIFFE, PETTIS, and DUNCAN, and opposed by Messrs. VINTON and JENNINGS. But let us view the subject somewhat more in the aggregate. If one thousand pounds of sugar to the acre be a fair average, and, if it varies from the truth, he believed it was below it; and if a hand can manage five acres, and he believed, from his general knowledge of Southern agriculture in relation to articles requiring similar cultivation to the sugar cane, he can do so, we arrive at the conclu- The House took up the following bill: sion, that the land cultivated in cane does not exceed, and "Be it enacted, &c. That so much of an act entitled probably falls below, one hundred thousand acres, andAn act to provide for paying to the States of Missouri, the hands cultivating it cannot exceed twenty-five, and Mississippi, and Alabama, three per centum of the nett probably do not number more than twenty thousand. proceeds arising from the sale of the public lands within Taking then the whole product of eighteen hundred and the same,' approved the third of May, eighteen hundred thirty, at one hundred millions of pounds of sugar, and and twenty-two, as requires an annual account of the apthe molasses he should not estimate, because he had un- plication [by the State of Alabama] of the said three per derstood it would cover the annual expenses of the plan- centum to be transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasutation on which it was made, at least, the expenses of ry, be, and the same is hereby, repealed." cultivation-and the value of the sugar amounts to five millions and a half of dollars at New Orleans, and probably two millions, or two and a half more before it gets into the general consumption of the country. If we [The debate on this question involved on one hand the divide the five millions and a half between twenty propriety of relieving the States referred to from the thousand hands, the distributive amount to each is two mere formality of rendering accounts of the expenditure hundred and seventy-five dollars. If a like distribution of the fund in question, vexatious to them, troublesome to be made between twenty-five thousand, it is two hundred the treasury, and of no consequence in any view; and, on and twenty dollars each. Then is it just, is it reasonable, the other, the impropriety of altering the terms of a comthat the whole agriculture of the country should be bur-pact by a simple act of Congress, and the inexpediency of dened by a tax of four millions and a half of dollars?-for releasing the States from the responsibility for the just if the million and a half now received as revenue can be administration of these funds. In reply, it was contended dispensed with, and by its repeal the country would be that the provision of the act of 1825, proposed by this bill relieved from an additional levy of three millions now paid to be repealed, was not within the contemplation of the to the sugar manufacturers, the whole tax may now be compact, and for that very reason ought to be repealed, considered as operating for their benefit-that the hands because it imposed on the States a labor and expense to employed in manufacturing brown sugar in this country which they ought not to be subjected.] may earn for their employers the annual return of from two hundred and twenty to two hundred and seventy-five The question being finally put on its passage, it was determined in the affirmative--yeas 74, nays 45. JAN. 12, 1831.] Duty on Sugar.-Mileage of Members. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12. DUTY ON SUGAR.. The House resumed the consideration of the resolution yesterday moved by Mr. HAYNES, of Georgia, for a reduction of the duty on imported brown sugar; and Mr. H. having concluded his remarks- [H. OF R. in. It is sufficient to know for the present, that it is an article which enters into the general consumption of every family, and the revenue arising from it is not necessary for the support of Government. If there be a part of this Union more interested than any other in keeping on the duty, it is the South, because a considerable portion of the property there will be diminished in value in Mr. ALEXANDER said, that it might be considered proportion to the reduction. But, sir, we do not come unimportant by the House, whether the proposition now here to legislate upon considerations of this sort, to calunder consideration should be adopted, or no. Gentle-culate the advantage gained by the rule of three, although men should not lay this "flattering unction to their souls." it is a good one to observe in reckoning our accounts at For himself, he might be said to be almost indifferent as home; looking as we ought to the great and eternal printo the disposition that may be made of it, although he con- ciples of justice, which, pervading as they do all laws of curred fully with the mover in the object desired. Mr. creation, should be made to govern the actions of men! A. was tired of appealing to this House, with a hope of What, said Mr. A., is the prospect before us? The producing conviction upon the minds of those who were grandest spectacle ever before exhibited to the world! interested in keeping up this system of taxation. The A nation, after having borne patiently the burdens of taxtime is not long, when an issue must be made up between ation, growing out of two wars, now nearly freed from the people and the Government upon this question. debt; and the question is to be brought home to the peoThere is a point of depression, yea, and oppression, in the ple, whether they will submit to keeping up a system of physical as well as mechanical world, beyond which we taxes, merely to promote the speculative schemes of pocannot go without meeting resistance. A great portion of liticians seeking to establish a personal reputation upon the good people of these United States have borne the their ruins! That is the question, and cannot be avoided. ills of Government with a fortitude sustained alone by their What, sir, has been the effect of the reduction of duties devotion to the Union; but they can bear but a little while upon salt, coffee, and cocoa, made at the last session of longer. They have remonstrated and protested, again Congress? Why, it was opportunely seized hold of by our and again, until these have become "a by-word," are minister at London, at a time when our negotiation seemed contemned and utterly disregarded, and their only conso-almost at an end with that court, and urged with such lation is, to be told that they have the right to protest and force and argument, to show the friendly disposition of remonstrate again. Their representatives have brought the United States towards England, as well as a sincere forward here, proposition after proposition for a redress wish, on the part of the administration, to re-establish amiof grievances, which have been voted down without even cable relations between the two Governments, as to result a respectful consideration. There is, then, but one re in removing the restriction from the West India trade. A source left us we are thrown back upon the States and continuance of the reduction of the duty upon an article, the people for protection, who, alone, are sovereign, in the production of which the West Indies are so much where their rights are concerned. interested, must furnish additional evidence of that spirit which we carried into the negotiation for removing the shackles upon commerce, as perhaps to induce Great Britain to take off some of her duties which bear so heavily upon our productions. Let us then meet together like a band of brothers, discarding our local prejudices, feuds, and animosities, which have too often disturbed the harmony of our action here; forgiving and forgetting the past, intent alone upon doing justice to the great body of the people whom we represent, without regard to personal or political friendships. When Mr. ALEXANDER took his seat, Mr. WHITE, of Louisiana, obtained the floor; but the allotted hour being about expiring, the House proceeded to the orders of the day. MILEAGE OF MEMBERS. The States who have taken their stand under the banner of the constitution-not the striped bunting which has been hung up in this hall, to remind us only of their oppression can never recede without dishonor, and a shameful dereliction of those great principles for which they profess to have been contending, in behalf of the people. Is it not far better, then-more honorable and magnanimous in a self-willed majority--to appease the wrath of an offended and insulted people, by alleviating the burdens of taxation, rather than go on in a heedless, reckless course, leading to consequences which all must deplore? Sir, we have seen, within a very short space of time, the most important events occur which have ever happened in the history of nations. A day, yea, an hour, has achieved the grandest revolutions of which we read, any where, in times past. France has resumed her ancient constitutional rights. Russia, alarmed for her own safety, Mr. HALL moved to recommit the report of the Comhas lined her southern border with an army of two hun-mittee on Public Expenditures, made on the 7th instant, dred thousand troops. Sweden, Holland, all Belgium, is relative to the mileage of members of Congress; and Mr. in arms; and we have seen the failure of a single propo- CHILTON moved the following written instructions: sition in the Parliament of Great Britain, overthrow the ministry, and bring into power the friends of reform and economy in the administration of the Government--the friends of free trade! These important results have been brought about by a degree of oppression upon the people for centuries past, which they could endure no longer. We should learn wisdom from the examples of the times before us, and not permit ourselves to disregard results which must inevitably flow from certain causes. The same revolution is now going on here, although Mr. A. hoped to see it accomplished in a different way. Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Expenditures be, and they are hereby, instructed to report to this House a bill containing the following provisions, to wit: 1. That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Senate and Sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, previous to issuing certificates to the members of their respective Houses, for the amounts to which said members may be entitled for mileage to and from the seat of the General Government, to obtain from each member so applying for a certificate, a statement, according to the best of his knowledge, of the distance from the Mr. A. said he did not mean to enter into a considera- capitol, in the city of Washington, to the residence of tion of the amount of sugar imported into the United said member, computed upon the nearest route which States, or that which is produced here-the quantity con- may be conveniently travelled, and is necessarily and sumed, the capital invested, nor the number of plantations most usually travelled, from the one to the other point; that will be affected by the reduction. These are views which said statement shall be signed by the member makwhich will properly come up when a bill shall be brought ing the same. VOL. VII.--30 H. OF R.] Surveys of the Public Lands. [JAN. 12, 1831. 2. That said Secretary and Sergeant shall record said and he would ask gentlemen if they were disposed to statements, so made and signed, each, in a book to be by withhold the necessary appropriations, and thus retard him kept for that purpose; and that the Secretary of the the settlement of the Western country. With regard to Treasury, in publishing his annual statement of the the remarks of the gentleman, that the marks of the suramounts paid to members, shall distinguish between the veyors would be destroyed, he would say that their amount paid for the per diem allowance, and the amount marks-the metes and bounds described by them--would for mileage to each member, placing the number of miles last as long as Government itself; the gentleman might charged for opposite the amount allowed. make himself easy on that point. The surveys, said Mr. Mr. HALL moved to strike out all the preceding, from J., should be continued, and homes be thus provided for the word "bill" to the end, and insert the following: the numerous emigrants to the West. Mr. J. said it was "Making it the duty of the Secretary of the Senate true that in some Siates the surveys were sufficient; but and the Sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, there were territories to be peopled, and millions of acres with the aid of the Postmaster General, at the end of to which the Indian title had been extinguished to be every session, to make an estimate, as nearly as possible, surveyed. He considered that the sum proposed by the of the actual distance, in a direct line, of the residence of committee should be granted, as indispensably necessary; each member of the Senate, House of Representatives, they had shown a disposition to economize in reducing the and Delegate of a territory, from the seat of Government; sum recommended by the Commissioner of the General and that the mileage of members of Congress be com- Land Office; and, so far from reducing the amount proputed, and their accounts for travelling be settled, accord- posed by the committee, he was not certain that the whole ing to such estimate." sum asked for should not be allowed. He hoped, therefore, the proposed amendment would not prevail. These propositions lie over till to-morrow. Mr. CLAY, of Alabama, said he had hoped, after what had been said in explanation, yesterday, no further objection would have been made to this appropriation for continuing the surveys of the public lands, and, consequently, had expected no further discussion of the subject. Mr. C. said, the effects of withdrawing the appropriation which was proposed, would obviously be twofold--first, to check the tide of emigration to the West: and, secondly, to cut down and materially lessen this branch of the pubMr. McCOY moved to amend the amendment, by strik-lic revenue. If the public lands were not surveyed, they ing out $130,000, and inserting $60,000. could not be sold; and individuals would not be disposed Mr. McCOY opposed the amendment of the committee. to remove to this new region, and devote their time, He said the surveys proposed were not necessary. There labor, and money to improving and preparing lands for were lands already surveyed, and not sold, to the amount cultivation, of which they could entertain no hope of be of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred millions of coming proprietors, at least within any reasonable time. acres, and there was no good reason why one hundred Mr. C. said, the public lands, too, had been an importmillions of acres more should be surveyed and thrown into ant source of revenue. The receipts from that source the market. Some of the public lands, he said, were not had been gradually increasing, until they had grown to worth surveying; he was in favor of surveying as fast as an amount of no small importance. The amount paid by the lands would sell, and was disposed to authorize the purchasers during the year ending on the 30th of Septemsurveying of the good lands as fast as purchasers could be ber, 1830, was almost two millions of dollars; exceeding found for them. Mr. McC. again alluded to the great ex- by about half a million, he believed, the amount received tent of lands surveyed, and said, that a considerable por- in any former year. Mr. C. asked if gentlemen were distion of them would have to be resurveyed--such, for posed to change the present land system, and cut off this instance, as the prairie lands, in which fires very often important branch of revenue. took place, and burnt up the marks, &c. which had been placed there by the surveyors. Under his present impressions, he moved to strike from the amendment $130,000, and insert $60,000. SURVEYS OF THE PUBLIC LANDS. The House then proceeded to consider the amendments yesterday reported from the Committee of the Whole to the bill making appropriations for the support of Government for the year 1831, and they were all agreed to but one, which provided for the appropriation of $8,000 for the survey of private land claims, and $130,000 for further surveys of the public lands. The gentleman from Virginia [Mr. McCox] speaks of the large quantity of land already surveyed and remaining unsold. Mr. C. said, if the gentleman would examine a document laid before Congress two or three years ago, Mr. TEST said he generally had a great respect for he would find that a large portion of that quantity-perthe opinions of the gentleman from Virginia, who had haps thirty millions of acres--was sterile and worthless, just addressed the House; but he considered his motion and about eighty-three millions too inferior in quality to to lessen the sum proposed for surveys, to say the least command the minimum price. In the State from which he of it, inexpedient. He spoke of the public lands as an came, said Mr. C., good land, or that which was fit for increasing source of revenue, and made some reference cultivation, seldom remained long unsold after it had to the sales for the past year; and remarked further, that been surveyed and put in market; and he presumed lands to the amount of half a million of dollars had been that was very much the case in the other new States. No sold in the State of Indiana. danger, he conceived, was to be apprehended that good Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, remarked that he under- land would any where remain long in market for want stood the surveyors had asked for an appropriation of of purchasers. $200,000. The Commissioner of the General Land Office Again, Mr. C. asked if it be desirable in point of policy had reduced that amount; and the Committee of Ways that the public lands should be long settled and improved and Means had proposed to appropriate only $130,000 to before they were offered for sale. This would certainly provide for past arrearages, and surveys for the present be the case if the surveys were suspended; and Congress year. Under these circumstances, the gentleman from might again, and would properly, be appealed to, and Virginia was desirous of reducing the amount to $60,000. importuned by petitions, for the right of pre-emption. He had supposed that, in a short session like the present, Those gentlemen who were opposed to the pre-emption there would be no disposition, on the part of any mem- principle ought certainly, in Mr. C.'s judgment, to op ber, to introduce propositions for unnecessary discussion. pose a suspension of surveys. The lands would be settled What were the facts? A little over $100,000 was pro- as fast as they were acquired. It had been long the pracposed to be appropriated towards the surveys of the pub- tice to permit such settlement, and, when occupied and lic lands; it was necessary these surveys should go on; improved, the right of pre-emption had been, and Mr. C. JAN. 12, 1831.] Surveys of the Public Lands. [H. OF R. hoped always would be, accorded. Looking either to The Committee of Ways and Means had done their duty in the settlement of new tracts of country, or the interest of proposing the appropriation, and it was for the House to the Government, Mr. C. saw no good reason for with- decide whether the appropriation should be made or not. holding the appropriation. There had been none made Mr. SEVIER, of Arkansas, said he had witnessed with last year; in consequence of which, we were in arrears; regret the opposition manifested by the gentleman from for the discharge of which, as well as the expense of the Virginia to the appropriation for surveying the public present year, the sum proposed by the committee was in- lands. I am one, said Mr. S., who believe the appropriatended; which, we are informed by the honorable mem- tion for this object should be increased, rather than diber of the Committee of Ways and Means, [Mr. VER- minished. We are told by the Commissioner of the GenePLANCK, does not exceed the average amount appropriated ral Land Office, that the surveys of the public lands have for the same purpose for some years past. Mr. C. saw not advanced to the extent desired, in consequence of no no necessity for further remarks, and hoped the question appropriation having been made at the last session of Conwould be promptly settled. gress. We are told, from the same quarter, that, to meet Mr. STRONG said he did not understand the subject the expenses of the surveys made in 1830, and those which under consideration so well as he could wish, and hoped will be required in 1831, an appropriation of one hundred the gentleman who reported the bill would give the ne- and fifty thousand dollars will be necessary. With this cessary information to enable him to act understandingly. information before us, I am at a loss to account for the Surveys might be necessary in Michigan, Florida, Indi- gentleman's opposition. The department, I humbly conana, and perhaps some other State; but why ask for an ap- ceive, should be given the funds required. The departpropriation of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars? ment should have more than is required. Why do I think In 1828, but forty-five thousand dollars was appropriated; more than is asked should be given? I take for granted in 1829, fifty-one thousand dollars. In 1830, there was no the commissioner has formed his estimate for those surveys appropriation--the Commissioner of the General Land which he considers are demanded immediately; and in Office having informed the House that there was a balance this estimate I discover he has said the surveys in Missouri, of eighty-four thousand dollars on hand. He desired to Illinois, and Arkansas, have been made to an extent equal know what rendered the proposed appropriation necessary; to the present demand. It is not for me to attend to the and would also like to be informed of the necessity of interest of Missouri and Illinois: those States have their bringing into market so great an amount of lands as the representatives upon this floor, who can answer for themsum proposed to be appropriated would survey, in addi- selves. But of my own country I profess to have some tion to those lands already surveyed. The Commissioner little knowledge. I hope the commissioner will pardon of the General Land Office had designated certain sections me when I tell him the surveys of the public lands in Arof the public domain which it was expedient to have sur- kansas have not been equal to the present demand. I hope veyed the present year; but this survey would not require he will not persist in this opinion, when I assure him that the sum proposed to be appropriated. Why then grant so there are many counties containing thousands of inhabitmuch, unless we have abandoned all notions of economy? ants, which I have the honor to represent, in which not If any substantial reasons could be shown why the pro- one foot of the public lands has ever been surveyed. I posed appropriation was necessary, he hoped they would trust he will forgive me when I tell him that the surveys be given. of the very land bordering upon the capital of Arkansas, ment of that country. I must attribute his report to a woful ignorance of our wants. I must believe he has been too much engaged in his office to learn with sufficient accuracy the map of that distant and neglected country. Mr. VERPLANCK said, that since he had been a mem- and the most valuable of any we have, are yet incomplete. ber of the Committee of Ways and Means, he had often My constituents conceive that their interest in this partinoticed the singular contrast in which he was placed when cular has been grossly neglected; and for this neglect they here, and when in the committee room. There were nu- have complained, and do yet complain, of the commismerous demands before the committee, and their object sioner of our land office and our surveyor general. I was to reduce appropriations proposed to as small an am far from attributing any sinister motive to the worthy amount as possible; while here, in this House, that com- commissioner. I do not believe he wishes, by the mamittee was accused of extravagance. Such, in part, was nagement of his office, to retard the growth and settlethe imputation cast upon them by, the motion now before the House. The requisition made upon the General Land Office by the surveyors, for the present year, had been two hundred thousand dollars; the commissioner of that office, considering the sum too great, had reduced it to By examining the report of the commissioner, we disone hundred and fifty thousand dollars; the Committee of cover that a smaller quantity of the public land has been Ways and Means, in the fulfilment of what they considered sold in Arkansas than in any other section of the Western their duty, had asked for an appropriation of only one hun- country; that, including all of the public sales from 1822 dred and thirty thousand dollars. The proposed amount to 1830, there have not been sixty thousand dollars paid to would pay the arrearages of the last year, and leave the Government. Why has such an insignificant sum been for the surveys of the present year a sum averaging the received from the sales of the public land in that country' amount appropriated for surveys for the last eight or nine The commissioner himself ought to be able to answer the years--perhaps it would fall below that average--the al- question. It is because there has been but little good lowance, after paying arrearages, would leave about eighty land surveyed and in market. In what manner, sir, have or ninety thousand dollars. If gentlemen would examine, the surveys in Arkansas been conducted? You have given they would find that to be about the average sum appro- us no surveyor general to reside among us. priated for the survey of the public lands since the year in St. Louis, four hundred miles from our capital. He 1831. He resides Mr. V. then alluded to the valuable lands in Louis- knows nothing of the situation of our country; is governiana, the survey and settlement of which had long been re-ed entirely in letting out his contracts by the representatarded by claims of individuals having grants from the for- tions of deputy surveyors. These deputies know their mer Governments which possessed that country, and spoke own interest. Their engagements to survey are generally of the great desire of this Government to bring those lands in the prairies, and in the poor and barren sections of the into market. He said, if the proposed amendment now country. Sir, I do not blame them. They could not under consideration prevailed, it would reduce the appro- afford to survey the rich lands of Arkansas, covered with priation for surveys to about thirty thousand dollars-a cane, and almost impenetrable forests, for three dollars a sum altogether inadequate. He hoped this encroachment mile. To provide against this evil, at the last session of on the usual course of the Government would not be made. Congress, an act was passed authorizing the surveyor gene H. OF R.] Surveys of the Public Lands. [JAN. 12, 1831. ral to allow his deputies for surveying the good lands in the greatest prosperity in the Western country. The Arkansas, four dollars a mile. When such lands as these value of both public and private property was sustained; are surveyed--lands like these, upon which our settlements a circumstance that gave activity to the sales, and confiare almost entirely confined, you will perceive a very great dence to the purchaser. increase in the income to the Government from the sales of the public lands. Shortly after the war, this salutary policy was lost sight of. Immense districts of country were surveyed and sudAt the last session of Congress an act was passed grant- denly thrown into market, so that, at the close of 1825, ing, for a limited period, the right of pre-emption to set- there had been surveyed in all one hundred and thirty-eight tlers upon the public lands. That act is about expiring, millions of acres; and for the five last years, great quantiand but few of the citizens of Arkansas have availed them- ties have also been suryeyed, probably amounting to some selves of its provisions. And why? Because the lands forty or fifty millions more; the exact amount not known. upon which they live have not been surveyed. They of these one hundred and thirty-eight millions then surpetition Congress at this present session to continue the veyed, between twenty-three and twenty-four millions had act in force for a longer period of time. And why? Be- not been brought into market. At that time, the entire cause the land upon which they live has not been surveyed. quantity sold since the year 1800 was less than twenty Yet the commissioner tells us the surveys in Arkansas have millions-between 1825 and the present time, the sales been made to an extent equal to the present demand. have amounted to about one million of acres per annum. Let me ask the gentleman from Virginia what differ- We have not been informed what quantity of surveyed ence it would make to the Government if all the public land that is now on hand, has not yet been brought into lands in each State and Territory were surveyed during market. It is to be presumed it has not been diminthe present year. The information the surveys would ished since that time. The result of these facts is, that, afford would surely be desirable to the Government; and at the close of 1825, and probably at the present time, the I apprehend, at no future day, the cost for surveying quantity surveyed and prepared for sale, but not yet would not be less than it is at present. The honorable brought into market, exceeds the whole amount sold for gentleman seems to fear that the corners made by the these thirty years, and exceeds also the existing annual surveyors in the prairies would be destroyed by fire, and, demand about twenty-five times. That the quantity now as a consequence of which, the land would have to be in market, and seeking a purchaser, exceeds the annual surveyed again. If that gentleman had been in prairies demand more than one hundred times, and is about seven as often as I have, he would have known that these cor- times as much as the whole amount sold since the year ners are made of other materials than wood; he would have 1800. Now it must be borne in mind that the land system known that at each corner mounds were made, which fire is nothing more nor less than a great concern for vending can never destroy. There is no instance within my know- land; and, like any other article, if more of it is forced ledge, when the public lands have ever been twice survey-into market than can possibly be used, the inevitable coned, for this or any other cause. sequences of a glut in the market, a depression in the value What would be the consequence if you were to stop of the property of the public and of individuals, and the the public surveys? Would you not injure the Govern- derangement and distress incident to such a state of things, ment? Would you not deprive it of an annual income by must follow. We here, sir, get at the true cause of the no means insignificant? Would you not find it impossible growing complaints of the new States. Every part of the to keep off settlers from the public lands? They would Western country is oppressed with this operation, and come and occupy it, wear out the soil, destroy the timber, dissatisfaction every where prevails. The old settlements without paying a tax to the federal or local Government. are dissatisfied, because you crowd into market such vast This would be the consequence to the General Govern- bodies of land around them, as to depress the value of ment; and, by stopping the surveys, you would injure our the property they have purchased of you, faster than they They would live in constant dread and un- can add to it by their labor. A farmer in Ohio, who has certainty: they would make no valuable or lasting improve- devoted to his farm the labor of his life, and that of his ments, for fear of losing their labor. By such a course, family, can scarcely dispose of it at this day, with all its you would limit exportation, weaken the agricultural in- improvements, for as much as he paid you for it some terest, and, of course, the great resources of individuals twenty or thirty years ago. He has a right to be dissatisand the General Government. I shall trespass no longer fied with this unreasonable glut, and he is dissatisfied. upon the indulgence of the House. I hope the proposed While he expects you will sell the public domain, he has amendment will be rejected. a right to demand of you that you shall not so conduct Mr. VINTON said he was glad that the gentleman from that operation as to destroy the value of his property with Virginia had submitted his motion, and hoped it would out benefit to yourself. Good faith forbids you to do so. prevail. He was one of those who believed the operations The new settlements, if possible, are still more oppressed of the surveying department, for some years past, had by this state of things. On a sudden you have thrown gone to great excess, producing highly injurious effects into market a hundred millions of acres of land, extending throughout the whole Western country, and seriously de- from the Gulf of Mexico to the Upper Lakes, requiring ranging the land office department. It was time to bring many millions of inhabitants to convert them to use. back the land system to a healthy action; such as it possess- few of them are taken up, and very sparse settlements are ed prior to the late war. The survey of land was a step scattered here and there over the whole country. There preparatory to its being exposed to sale; and when sur- is not a surplus population in the United States that can be veyed, it would be forced into market, whether the quantity detached from their present situations and employments on hand would justify its introduction or not. It will to people the vast region of country thus open for settlehence be obvious that the surveying department really re- ment: nor can there be such a surplus for a generation gulates the proportion between the demand for land, and yet to come. These new settlements, therefore, fill up the quantity in market; and it is only by a skilful and judi- very slowly--and in the newest settlements the sales are, cious management of that department, that any just pro- generally speaking, the most limited in amount. The ocportion between the supply and the demand can be main-cupants see vast bodies of excellent land around them, tained. The land office commenced its operations under without any one to buy--every thing goes on heavily, and the present system in 1801. For the first fifteen years, they naturally enough think the Government retards their and up to the close of the war, the quantity of land sur-growth; and bring themselves to the belief that the counveyed, making due allowances for bad land, did not go try around them is not sold and settled on account of the materially beyond the demand. That was the period of price at which the Government holds it being too high. own citizens. A |