men from the western country have not perceived the tendency of such a course to rivet on them for ever the system which they consider so fatal to their interests. We have been told, in the course of this debate, of the painful and degrading office which the gentlemen from that quarter are compelled to perform in coming here year after year, in the character of petitioners for these, petty favors. The gentleman from Missouri tells us, "if they were not goaded on by their necessities, they would never consent to be beggars at our doors." Sir, their course in this respect, let me say to those gentlemen, it greatly injurious to the west. While they shall continue to ask and gratefully to receive these petty and partial appropriations, they will be kept for ever in a state of dependence. Never will the federal government, or rather those who control its operations, consent to emancipate the west by adopting a wise and just policy, looking to any final disposition of the public lands, while the people of the west can be kept in subjection and dependence by occasional donations of these lands; and never will the western states themselves assume their just and equal station among their sisters of the union, while they are constantly looking to congress for favors and gratuities.
What, then, Mr. President, is our true policy on this important subject? I do not profess to have formed any fixed or settled opinions, in relation to it. The time has not yet arrived when that question must be decided; and I must reserve for further lights, and more mature reflection, the formation of a final judgment. The public debt must be first paid. For this, these lands have been solemnly pledged to the public creditors. This done, which, if there be no interference with the sinking fund, will be effected in three or four years, the question will then be fairly open, to be disposed of as congress and the country may think just and proper. Without attempting to indicate precisely what our policy ought then to be, I will, in the same spirit which has induced me to throw out the desultory thoughts which I have not presented to the senate, sugest for consideration, whether it will not be sound policy and true wisdom, to adopt a system of measures looking to the final relinquishment of these lands, on the part of the United States, to the states in which they lie, on such terms and conditions as may fully indemnify us for the cost of the original purchase, and all the trouble and expense to which we may have been put on their account. Giving up the plan of using these lands for ever as a fund either for revenue or distribution—ceasing to hug them as a great treasure—renouncing the idea of administering them with a view to regulate and control the industry and population of the states, or of keeping in subjection and dependence the states, or the people of any portion of the union, the task will be comparatively easy of striking out a plan for the final adjustment of the land question on just and equitable principles. Perhaps, sir, the lands ought not to be entirely relinquished to any state until she shall have made considerable advances in population and settlement. Ohio has probably already reached that condition? The relinquishment may be made by a sale to the state at a fixed price, which I will not say should be nominal; but certainly I should not be disposed to fix the amount so high as to keep the states for any length of time in the debt of the United States.
In short, Mr. President, our whole policy in relation to the public lands may perhaps be summed up in the declaration with which I set out, that they ought not to be kept and retained for ever as a great treasure, but that they should be administered chiefly with a view to the creation, within reasonable periods, of great and flourishing communities, to be formed into free and independent states—to be invested in due season with the control of all the lands within their respective limits.
TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS 1ST SESSION, SENATE. February 4. L. Ii . Tuzeiv 11, from Va. appeared and took bis seat. A large number of'pi titions, memorial i, Sec. were presented anil referred, and many reports received from committees. The vice president laid before the senate a letter, Ir msmitting abstracts of the returns of the militia of the U. States, as required by the act of the 2d March, 1803, ec in addition to an act, entitled an act more effectually to provide for the national defence, by establishing a uniI'oii militia throughout the U. States. 1 ' The vice presiden' also laid before the senate a report hiei engineer, showing the result of an examination of the route for a road from Washington to Fredericktown. by way of Newmarket, and also of the route I', way of tiockville. Several private bills which originated in the senate were ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, as was the bill "To authorize the president of the United States to divide Indian agencies in certain cases." [it authorizes the president, at discretion, where the same person is agent to two different tribes, or hands, or pans of the same tribe, to divide the agency and appoint an agent to each; provided the sums allowed to each, shall not exceed the sum allowed to the original agent 1 The senate resumed the consideration of thfe motion of i'>lv- Foot, in relation to further surveys and sales ot the public lands. Mr. Rowan rose and addressed the senate about two hours, and then the senate adjourned. February 5. A number of petitions were presented, among then several on the subject of Sunday mails. Mr. Grundy moved to lake up his resolution, suspi tiding the subscription to Gales Js Seaton's proposed publication of do< uments, and that it be referred to the committee on the contingent fund. Mr. Chambers moved for a special committee. < i i i - fe rente to the committee on the contingent fund—, noes 21. So tee motion was rejected. Mr. Woodbury rained the library committee, and it was r ferred to that committee, with all the documents relating to the subject. Aj es 20, noes 1 8. The chair presented a letter relative to a new application of power to rail roads, which was laid on the table. The chair submitted a report from the secretary of the treasury, containing the annual statement ol the foreign commerce of the United Stales. Mr. Chambers presented the petition of Gales ic Seaton, which was referred to the committee on tire library. The resolution offered by Mr. Foot, was taken up, and on motion, postponed until Monday. The following among other bills, principally ofaprirati character, were passed to a third reading. To alter the time of holding the circuit court of the United States for the district of Maryland; To authorize surveyors, under the direction of Ihe secretary of the treasury, to enroll or license ships or vessels employed, in the fisheries or the coasting trade, in certain cases; Authorising the accounting officers of the treasury to pay to the state of Pennsylvania, a debt due to that state. Adjourned. February 8. Mr. Livingston offered the following resolution. Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of revising the laws impo:ng penalties for military offences, and that they particularly inquire into the expediency of abolishing the punishments of deaths fur the crime of desertion in time of peace, and providing some other penalty for the offence, [Agreed to next day.] Mr. Ellis communicated the credentials of Robert 11. Adams, appoint d a senator by the legislature of the pi, t i supply the vacancy occasioned I In lb death of Thomas It. Reed, which were read, and Mr. Adams I eing qualified took his seat. The following written message was received from the president of the United States, by Mr. Donelson, his j private secretary. To the senate of the United States: herewith communicate to the senate a letter from li.e; secretary of war, with ihe papers which accompany it, in ansu er to the resolution of the senate of the 2d Feb. requesting "so much of a report received from ihe officer! of Ihe United States army who had command of ihe deI tachment for the protection of the caravan of traders to ] Santa Fc, of New Mexico, during the last summer, as I may be proper to be made public and material to be
