Indiana American, Volume 8, Number 52, Brookville, Franklin County, 25 December 1840 — Page 1

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AMIS

TSISIS OP THE AMERICAN.

ij io a-lnce, 2 5tf in six inonllis. or $'i at . e:iirati ,a tJie year- PaPer WII be dia1 a all arrearages are paid, unless at .'. 'ij "it ioa of tliC editor. Tea per cent, interest .' iim ii will ba charged on all subscription, foatUe ei tiration of the year, until paid: and for ,j j.-wir anJ .idtfcriiaing t hen payment is de-,'r-ni bsi& six months. ' 'xDVEsrissassTs. Twelve lines, or less, will fca ir.sertoJ once or three times, for one dollar, anl2r will ba charged for cack additional insertion. BlSS9 Inaugural Address. Gudervn of ihs Snnt: and MS! of Reprrsfnlclivesz In assuming the duties of the office w ith which I Inve been invested. I find myself i required, by considerations of the most impe-i rati ve character, lo state the views I entertain j respecting those questions of state p.ilicy which are deeply agitating the public mind. A state of thing i presented entirely unanticipated in the legislation of the) ears previous to the last. Thesys'em of Internal Improvement adopted four year since, has not prospered as was expected by its friends. If is now prostrated, and the people find themselves I iboring under the run. plicated rmbarrasireenls of this disastrous result, and feel ani express the mast intense anxiety respecting the mode of relief which may he adopted. Acting in accordance with the powers with which we are respectively clothed by the Constitution, it now devolves upon us to con-1 salt together, and you to propose such measures for prosecutior. as will protect the interests and promote the welfare of the people. The full exposition which my predecessor has given of ihe atiairs of the State up to this time, readers it unnecessary for me to advert U them, fir.her than may be rcauisite to enable ms U stste, in an iutelligihle'maniier, rich safes' ions s I may m ike in the exam -! nation of the various questions connected with : oar future policy. Tiie quest'oa of parimnunt importance is, whit shall be done with otir public: improvements F The "System," exe hiding the Wabiib and Erie Cana!, embraces nine ditT-rent works. Tncir aggregate length is LI531 nrles, of which ahout one hun lred and forty mik-s are fuliy completed. The amount expended on the different line, many portion, o: which are nenrlv ready for u-e, is . -thing owr JVGOO.OlkJ dollar. To finish the whole. wo-iM req itre.at the present esiiirates the H1 1 tioTi.t! s-imof about fourteen millions ol dollar.. 0,Titimis ceased on the public works in August, 1839, with some exceptions, and trust ef the contracts have hern surrendered to the State, under the act of l ist jpssion, authorizing tloit course, and providing iur me compensation ol contractors hy the isiueof treasury note. I:i addition to this, oo provision was made hy thel.iM LegNUt re tpiy the interests nu th.- Slate debt :curfeJ forIntrrn.il IiuprVf ment. Sr!i beinT(!, si, f our public works, sneral m.ist important enquiries are presented for your ci -i.i -r i:L . Shall we underlie the sim i!t i.KMiis prosecution and comp.etioa of the whole. or ah.iti I ill them oiilirw. Iv; or shall we4 adopt sjitif modified plan of ?entionswitlun the means and resources of V.ate? I heir prosecution, as originallt M;itemplHted,wi!l not he terionsly urged, a't tustime, by any one at all convers mt with Nrcondition, si.'i.l t'e extent .,fur li .hiliiies. Jca a course woul le the extreme of lolly. Ad,onthe ot'ier Ivind, their entire ahindonmerh with the utter loss of the hrg sum of Mer already expended, wo.ild si:arcrlv he ruinous in i's consequences to our credit H'lltimtle prosperity leaving us to disli2? I'm ;,,i.., "j c. ii .;- ... ''I'Utanv nrosnert nf II It ,f . . 1 - . ...... US Vtere an ori trim I mmstinn a,,Um,nA . ... . l.'l. C-tl lllli ,l y te Legislature for the first time, to be wanted or rejected at pleasure, you might, i u rejection, run no risks create no em "'rrassments. I,it adont what Mn .. "'J.jouare not at liberty to sketch your i-,nuu men provid- materials suitable 'H VOlir . . . r ? tenals illv assortt iJ lor yjUeSlgll VOU l:.r 1 ' .- l: L ,Jre Vou. 1VK..i.: - , ' ""uumies win impede your prosres ateverveiP., tt ,.i.:.' r t ill I -i" m is, .11 nesi, n glum c 01 ' 'nj the question is, which is the least. truianerit relief can only he obtained hv ti lil V loose measures wi.icu will .- . ",e State to realize ihe large st amount jntae sums already expended, hear the .... 1 ... . 1. U i'-p., .ni l .ii nit: - .i circumstances. To attain this rer 1 wnuij earnestly recommend a strictli rtn midii?..!.;.... :.t .1 r 1 . .. - v., , vn mi: original sisieio. r;-;. . ",,ulc ": 01 ks 10 me mosi uncr 1 ,..... .1 1. . . .1 . . ' 'rutiny, as respects their advantages. t,Cl.trilr,K; ' I....... .. fati. 1 !' mill in-iiuii, auu iiieirpres4"n I future , A mr.l.. .1. ...1 1 kjj tu protect tlie works from ii iurx Ihm L6'1" l'u proper time, l t a part ol . In be taken 1 rt vi i i ' t:,!tii up and i.iished. as the ascer Weaas and resources of the State will 'aj!...,. I -c U. I .at I I. . I . I I 1:1 I 9 hi. works ue seiecieu wiiicci ... c Comnlf te.t ! i.

ithirK P.. . the ,easl e,.!ffriJ to granl the most liberl terms of pay rT.n " Vl i le,a le greatest amount of! ment. r J

St. y r of lhe most advautaee to ihe tL ,"S"1ertd with reference to Their txiSiaiU- "r1 cost' - he terms of this tr.od'Poanri 5, he we'1 eeJv " based ra. 1 "'"iuci 01 Hie rrost rigid economy. 1-. rK r Works to tie r.rnc..-nl. ui..l .1..utint f.f . , .. rffluitf.! J i . . ,P(,,,(1'd. ought to V'v Pe:i6eei leaving nothing to the! the ef putc Works, auri nisin . nai. at

nBOOKYILM, VnAXULw

eepf the mere !etail. This will place the!eed

whole responsibility upon the immediate rep resentatives vf tlie people, and protect them horn the evils of that Icgiatiou which iudirecily screens the conduct of public fiicers from the corrective action ol thehallot box liynpiiideut adherence tothese principles, although all the labor and money heretofore expended, cannot be saved from loss, s'ill. much may be done towards rescuing the State from I,,.,, present condition. There sire many who dread the prosecution of all the works, and to prevent this.thet insist upon the uttrr nrostratimi f ib- !.!." oucn a course, it sinL.a m Ia .. .it.. . .. i alcii I . I . - . - . " ...ctti u nui us me very evils so nun it aeprecated. As the limes now are. it would nut he difficult lorievrni tluir fuilh. r procn ss. but w hen a hang halF c ome f.ir the better, the same comhinatiou of dilf rent interests which led to their commencement, will produce the i enen ..f i! ir oroi i i.li.n.. And if the system, in its present extent, could not command fotce enough to put it again in

progress. Its liuniU. rather than abandon il'tiucllv ui..l. r:....l ii. .... 1 : . .. i . .

1 . altogellier. Mould 111. In sil.-iiinciU- --..I.I ..il..r : work, ami thus a might he brought hack , ... t'j .. upon us in a more oppressive from than at ...... 1 ue quesuon is now snSimiite.J to the ... .- . - - "- - s opposed to the Mitem as Droierfpfl m Iiti .i. : ... ..... .1 ..I 01 pruuence, wnen it is prostrate, to tain in .. 1 . ' ''ci 11 ik 001 in-: pari settling a plan for its modification and restric tion, which will at once put an end to all oth er questions respecting the manner of its piosci 11I1011. Asa measure of relief, the plan of setlm? out the putilic works, in iheir present condiwon, lo companies lias been frequently sug gested. The proposition is plausible: but is there even a probability thai auv hodv of canitalist an ee found, ho will lake our works on such terms as will render the stock pro!it. me 10 mem. aua, at the .ime time, be safe and advantageous to Ihe State? All who un derstand Ihe subject, know well, that the val-j ne of public improvements does not denend i

alone upon Ihe amount of tolls which may be j but to her true interests and piosptrity, nun ivdh cted. The f u ililes furnished fjr the; her dientlir..lment bv tho-e tiai.s which will trans. nission i.flhe surplus productions of theiendure the scrutinj of every fair and houuacountry to market, ihe . heapness of freight. We mind. Tin: Slate come to yon Involved

tlie increase in the value of properly, niidth aiUtitioual stimulus to trade ami coinmi ie,:ir. some of the important advantages whic h are secured by jidnious improvements. T make liiem proJui live in re venue, beyond the ommoii interest of the money e xpended upon them, would, generally, so muc h in1 li ny- i!ic iosioi ir.inspniiaMoii as to cl teal oneoS the primary obj ets of their construeciou. -- work may ce ol great advantage to the suction of country through which it parses, sod yet not yield such an amount, in the vol lei lion of tolls, ns to induce molded men to invest their capital in such an cnte.prise. Hud firtliermoie, capitalist are lu-comiug cautious i;i the investment of money in projects of this character. Associated wealth. clothed with corporate ori v"i1;tps. has . r 1 . . been strongly denounced within the l ist few years. Such associations have been held up to ihe public gaze, as dangerous monopolies, aris-torratic in their character, anti democrat ic in iheir tendencies, and calculated to suh verl those principles which lie at the foundation of our form of government. The doctrine of vested rights, exisring with reference to these institutions, beyond the unlimited control of the Legislature, has been, by mam . .1- 1.. I: . I XT . . . " Miungij irp'.i u.iieu. u inter such c ircumstances, men could not easily he found to invest Iheir capital, 10 the extent proposed, where their operations wo Id bring ihern in d.nli contact with the busines' of the country, and II.!!.-. . . ' in me ueiaiig 01 its trade and rommerce. 1 do not muh, however, to he undeislood . -

as otijrfeng to the project itsrlf. It is iisjquainted with heir tun: c hano te c, will dim

practicability as a means of relief, to which I wWh lo call your attention. After the must careful iiivcstigation of its claims, it stiikes me most forcibly, that its chief merit consists in its plausibility. There can be no objectiou to it, if its adoption can he secured on safe principles. It ought, however, to be remembered, that it Would place all our avenues ofcommeice and trade in the hands of a strong monied power. These companie would insist upon the exclusive right of way. and suoh privileges as would secure totln 'm tlie full enjoy ment of thai right, and w ithout which iheir stoe k might be re ndered valueless by the interference of a future Legt-la ure. It is therefore essential that the power should be reserved, of exercising a strie t scrutiny over all their operations, and so far controlling them as to prevent the exaction ol excessive tells, and the opening tr 1 losing these avenues ns whim or interest might dictate. And above all, the nn.st unbounded secu'ily should he require d, lo save the Slate harmless, to tin? full extent of the term ogreeel upun. Much caution isnecesarv,lel there-suit ni-ty increase the burdens whieh are now hearn.g down so heavih unoti us. i If responsible companies can hi" induce d to take the. works olFour hands with proper con ..... ... V.ftl IINII.I? KTIHI III rjllfl -. ; . . . onions aim restrictions, the State ..ir..i . . . . . A .ft I I A delicate question ntesents itself in exam ining how the faith id the Sta'.e w as left, during tlie present year, to the care of her Gscali agents, wilhoiil the reepiisite legislative nssis - lancv. lour before last, a tax was levied, of 1 1 1.. r 1. I .. . 1 .1 it r .' j ..... . vrui:vivili ioi'i;reu UUIIIIS, Ol till' . grand assessment, for the pavmeut of the in 1 . . . te p. resum iue uell created lor Jutcritai lmprovetnents. Last winter Ihe levy was redu-

OCR OOUNTRV OCR IOO.XTRy'M ( TEttEST-ASlt OUR

wVXTY, lASiSAWA, FRIDAY, DLCOJUt U ,a

to ,U li cent. alll,,iol, il(. At.1.1 I... I . , ' ""I'll irreil i IV nl.rfT..,l t ..... ,1. . :

- j - ii- rnm jrar.jj.'s 10 i imcj irom the

i in? .Mi.. .him t.i revenue, m, Iutinir ih fur ..l"... A-. i . uuu! i iiijr wnai is iii'i'i'rv lo tlie cuirent exnenci is ( 1 1.. ment. will fall f.rd.r r : r. ' .! V3'"B imerc.i we owe. Wen, locking only lo those shifts and pedients calculated lo secure present popular ex..j, ..v mii n n course; lu:itpavs no part of the public debt. Instea 2 ofdischarg lug our liabilities gradually, they are MiflWed to accumulaie; ."V.r while the taxes are lessen ed and the interest patf. as il ,H been lUU ear,ihat amouiil of interest. ilsejf irHWj., "merest, i r(t to . sl(, je, ,t i.1 i(,., , to the sum to he drawn hereafter from ,e people by ...xalio,,. Every prudent m:, wl.omvesH .U bi H,ve ,i," pPlll .;, which he intends io pay. r.rds it liq..idation ty regular iiisiahm i,!s, as preferable lo its accumulation at compound interest, whenever it can tie avoids!. It l imilortaill ili:il ll .......!.. rl I I .1:. ......... 1 i'ii 11 1' rt (i 10 t l.w ...... ci ..... I. : . . -.,........ 11 mil 1 mailer re tieclli.i' merely -.lit,- r.-Oucllon ol taxes. It goes to ll-e qu.-slion Shell ihe faiih and iharact.r .1 the State nf Indi ma he sustained? Trie Fund l.ou.m.ssioneis. i devising the means for the . .. . . p - Mineni 01 wie lliUrresI I 14 ..-. r. ......i I...... uone so in the helu f that the I.egi.latur.would ratify their proceed i n g?, mid "prevent the recurrenc e of a similar state of things. ShoulJyuu follow Ihvrxau ph set by tunr immediate predecessors, it mint he iega'r.lel as the solemn d termination of the State, thai she will not pay her delos. To do thi.miid alnx a Slain on tlie character of her citiZ'-ns thai could neer he elFued, mid vvnu'd rentier our .lame a reproach and a by word. We iiium ui-ciiargeour hoccM liabilities with th most scrupulous puiic:iiaiii. To do this. requires ol those lo whom the drslinies of the Suite are confined, l.c firmius of men lot kingiiot to tint popularity ui.i. h passes siwv w ith the occasion in !,.. I. ii 1 111 these thfil, ullics. T..e people arc; fudi aivace of Ihe condition of ll.eir ciiTYirs. The mist reposed in you, simply require ;.t ynnr tiands, liial as honest men. jouwill rio" the test that circ uiiisiaiues will pern.it. consistjently with tin: honor and credit of the S'aie; and to shrink. Mt iliis time, from providing It e means fur meeting her obligations, would ho disliiisinglli.; honesty and MUcllig-nce ol ihe people. Mm h individual indebtedness was rreati-d during the progr. ss of Ihe weuksof Internal Improvement. When operations ceased in IS J, and prices fell at the same lime, the people were left, in a great measure, without he means of commanding money to pay iheir debts. Should Providence M-ss us will, funl lul Seasons, the indnstn :n.il xen ised, and tin j ecoiiomv now new cauiois with which debts are contracted, mill enable them to free themselvi s of individual embarrassments h the close of the year 1812. Until this sh iil be the case, it may be found invxpedient to resnit to full tax ition. While see king lo cFisc h crge the interest we owe, by the sound and legitimate mode of dram iig on our own resource s. our it izens should be feoied s much as possible, until the pressure of Iheir oivn debts sh:.U be removed. If the Legislature can provide Ihe means n. nw iim itn. inii.rt.ci

. ..--.....- orihble ariility the pi-t;.;!, , tl-.ey miM then be in a much better siiua-ioii to m-ei all tn-ces s. - iry demands :pi the in; a:id intone, ;,c thai they pest the patltotlsiu lo do so. f..r the purpvse of sustaining the honor and in - 1 .1.. I .1.. fc?. .... 11 1 ic -j-i 111 i;i mi: o;aie. irovisiou non.'il lie made bylaw for supplying any deficiency which may occur in the revenue, in order tha't the interest may he paid as it falls due, by resorting to such sources of relief as may occur, or to those which have been suggested by my predecessor, so far as they may be found expedient or practicable. General e-nactuientt, granting extensive discretionary povve.-s to public edlicers, are .ah iilaled to defeat the design with which the Legislature was couslitu:ed. Looking lo the past. 1 feel it my duty to lec ommend that every thing respecting ihe finances and obligations of the Slate, and ihe pnvmetitctf the interest accruing 01 her debt, should be regulated by law, and not left hcrel'ie 1 to thc'isc leticm eir individual ies onsibiliiy nf public agents. Our bonds fre quently have I ten Mild 011 lime, and the result is a sufficient admonition, not to part with ihe in under any e iiciimstaiiceS, unless they can beclispusecl of on s u h terms as will secure the money at the :imeofthe-ir de livery. And in meeting ihe contracts and liabilities of the Stale, iu enihavorii'g to entry out any couise of policy which may he adopted he renfler, the tredit ef the Stute should he established 011 such a tiriu husis that no emergency could force us into the disposal ol our bonds lot less than their par atruunt. Your attention is !s j solic ited to the unea. t a, . epial assessments of real e.tate in the dill- r - to in the dill- r - of providing lor ' ent count ittes, wit'ia view iheir equaliz tion. Utile 1 rs itol bot.nd to cm coiresiioncience w i'li eat h other, must nesi sarilv make very d.U.uent estimates of lands . . .. . ! which aru equ l i v. d ie iteration; of the law is necessary on another ground.

on the Sl :'e cle 1 t.tor iv.o y ,,rs, without in- those states respective Iv. after the 3I-t of Deere asing the rate ofUxattcn u, yo--d t! reas- eeml er IS32. This ws lo he in addition to

COUNTRY

F FRIENDS. Tl.u :-.!.:. i . "v "ull,l " mi ii are iv reap me . . . - niVHM.aI)!IIC works, ' ' -" ig a more t quiiaDie

wiiVMhJnr.in..rt;m. lil.. ..A. .1... i. . I

',.7 " c V"" Se"' ,,p lounu io netlie case under the nractica one. ration of ih M;-i; I ' The payment of our State debt is looked - .'.V . AIQllll ,. upon by some as a!mo,t impossible. The public works yield but little benefit in Iheir unfinished condition, and we cannot expect anv permanent relief until we can procure additional means fi r their prosecution. Under these cir. n;n-l;:tu s. our all. ntio., i direc ted ti the distribution of the proc eecis of the pub lie lands: not that me should apply to (his source as a matter of nec essity merely, but of right. Originally, many of the slate s owned Urge tracts of lands. During the Revolution, nry war, each of the Stales, to a greater or less extent, inc uried expenses in its prosc e 11 turn. Tor tlie purpose of i djuwting these ex , r. .mi iioino inn ine liarmrii Union, it was tioiigly rcconiuieiidei jres lo the' Slates m.-niug lands. penses. Hc, promo iog the harmom of the d bv (Vn to make iioerai cessio:is of thi ni to the General Cnv eriiuienf. () lc J() , nf October. 17S0. L' -igress enacted "that Ihe. tiiiappropriateet lands which mighl he ceded lo the United Stales by any partic ular j-tate. pursuant fo the recomniend.i lion of Coi.gre s of the s".xh 01 .epiemiier pieuoii. should I.e disposed of ir no-common be ne Of of the whole." And accordingly, several of the Stales ceded iheir umippro riated lands for this purpose. Virginia, the 11 owning all the lerri'.e.ry now com-priM-e. in Ihe States of Ohio. Indiana , Illinois and iMt.higau.aiid the Te rritory of Wis.-on-s;ti, accompanied its cessions with Ihe followiiigrmedilion, which U substantially (he same with the terms of alt the other cession. imi Ho se himls -s!i:c!l he consid. red a common km for the use stud benefit of suc h of ihe United Slate s as have bee nine, or shall be. come members of the confederation, or f deralalli.mce of the said Slate, Virginia inc hi we, ae. c.r.iiog to their iimi i re-pe. live pro portion, in the general e harg mm. I expend! 'tire-. w.Y nh.tH AfinlhHlty . kma file !is pusril nj f.,r that pmpotr aifl fir tin other use o piirpof.r vhtilit:r" Another poiticn ef the I ill he finds 'ay within Louisiana, purc hased from France, and ihe rimidas. pun based from Spain. From the terms of the several cessions, and the manner in which the lands procured from France and Spain mere aequired, and paid for out of ihe.common treasury of the Sti.tcs. in their federal rapacity, the mh..!e must be regarded as held in trust ly ! (Jeneiiil Government, for their com rren ben, lit. The pcoceeds of these lands were specially .1 .11 . .. r. 1 . 1 .. . . ' J 0101 ana iiiuu 10 tie applied fo the payment of the national debt, which was finally d.sctiargeu in the year As soon as this wasncco f plishi d, a controversy nrose iu mediately ns towl.at disposition should he made o the put.. ic domain. It has heen proposed lo cede parts of il to the Stales within whose limits I hey are situated. To this the older Mates will not rcndily content; nnd so far as respects the. ceded lands, it would be iu dir. ct violation of the lei ms of Ihe ir cession. In the year livVi.a bill prn hiing for the- distribution of ihe public laiuls passed both Houses of Congress, hut failed to leceive the sanction of the President. It provided that the new Slates of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois. Alabama. Misse.uii. Mississippi, and Louisiana, should receive tme lveacda half per centum on the lielt nroceeils nrisinrr fiooi lamls ci.ht ,v!il.i.. tie five ptr cent before reserved, making :itogi'l!ier.seventeen and a half per cent. Tlie remaining sum wag to be divided among the s veial slate s in the ratio of their federal re pr::se iits. live populat ion, according to the ! , , n-us cf U:3t). 'I he tm elve and a half per cent, whs allowed on account of the rnnotant and rapid inciense of the population of those states. This plan of distribution was lo he continued in lorce for five years, except iu case of a war, when its operation was lo cease. By the report of Mr Whifromb, Commissionerof ihe General Land Office, laid before the Senate of the United States.in rompliai.ee with n resolution calling for information respec ting the proportion of the iiett proceeds eif the public lands which each state would have received under the distribution hill of IS32.it appears that the whole amount realized fiom Ihe lime Ihe ait would have taken c If. ct, to the 30ih September 1838, was fiftv se ven miliums two I uudreel 111, d twenty ehd lacs; and that 'the distributive share of Indiana, ine I tding the twelve and f half per cent, would have be en two million six hundred and forty four dollars. The average sum annually received by the S Mte would Imvc, amounted to five hundred and twenty nine thousand three l.iiiwlre cl and forty eight dollars. Tlie 1 eduction and graduation of the price ol the put. lie Units, ami projects for their cession in seme form or other, to a part er tile ol the stales, have been Ussiduously kent before he people, without eveiiju probability of the I . " . adoption of any of them. All this time Ihe lauds have he en sold olTrapidly . and thislarge sum of nmuev has been .un ronriated in l merous instances, to objem of mi least que j Unliable utility. It has be en said thit it lli i mtrcus instances, to obiem of a l least noes 'public- lands are given directly to the !lles, : ti.ey will be wasted: and that it is holding Ol ; them up for purposes of pluder and svsle mat - ic lVatd. If the-y are held hy the General Government for Ihe cemmou benefit of the

VOL. Yin..-.. 59.

stares, and for no other ne nr nnmnc t.ai. ever.il : . r .i must he nun Ii more l eneficis '"'sposiiion U.at can be made of them. Ite. .. ... . l ' 'T oiori IfMlf.flrlikl I. . .. .. M AfU. side, if . r... : . I pressed, whether there is not as much danger of the proceeds being wasted, or misapplied, in the hands of the General Government, as by Ihe states, particulaily when so many of them w ill have the strongest incentive, from the pieure of theii debts, to be prudent and economical in iheir application. Jt has also bee 11 objected lo the project of distribution, that it will cut off every prospect of graduating or reducing ihe prie e-s at which the public lands shall be sold hereafter. To this il maybe answered that there is just as much re-ason to belie ve that Ihe states in their eagerness 10 obtain their respective shares as possible', will bPas much, if nol mote, disposed to redue e the price of the public lands 1 quail y, or by a system of gradual ion, as under ihe present plan. An objection somewhat plausible has heen raised that the amount exp-nded for the purchase of Louisiana and the Florida, and exlingn shment of ike indian iiiCt together with the expenses of our land syste m, has far exceeded the sum derived Irom the public lands, and therefore there is no propriety in distributing the proc eeds until enough has been oblained lo , over all ihese expenditures. This 1 assuming ihe false premises that the people of the several stiles are not the people of ihe United Stales. The public domain has beren paid for miii, the money of the people of ihe sta'es in their national "character; and if the General Government was free from debt, (a whs ihe ence when Ihe distribution bill p.i.sed.)nn ace cunt ofihc public lands or otherwise, no sufficient reason can exist why such an obj. cN.iu should be sustained. The fee t that ihe re venue derived fir m dulif s on ...reign 1 np.rtali..n is insufficient lo defray the ordinari t xpenses of (he General Govern- ... ,. .... ... ,..,.. , ir qnIH, miglH o.eut.and the- i.e cessitj e.f lakii' the proceeds ..f tin; putoic lands lo supply ihi. Jcl'u ier.cv, has been urged as n reason against hnnhin!? them to any other purpose. This h is been produced by the constantly diminlshine? rate. ol impf.sts.uni.cr the compromise net of 1S33. . tanij 01 duties siifhrient to meet the expenditures of the Government, it is believed hy many of the frie nds of a protective sv.tem, if loop, hv aojusteu, win MiorJ adequate protection to American manufactures, cnabla vi.ng.es indispose ol Ihe public lauds fi.r the hem tit of the states, and provide a steady and permanent market for the eonsumptica oftur agriculture.! products. Schemes for the disposal of the public lands may he devised, promising greater disadvantages to the state- of Indiana ;hut it is extremely doubtful whether nny phm can he brought forward which will be. as nc similar in "its general chari'lcr, io ihe distribution hill cf 183'. At lea.i, it is cci I a inly hctler while ihe people of cur state re pressed down with the weight of their public debt, that we shoiild avail ourselves of re lief in (his form, than grasping at more, as has been don, to lose all. Mr Norvcll from the committee of Ihe U.S. Senate, to which was re.crred Mr Calhoun's land hill, made a report on the 13th of May, 181'J, from w hich the follow ii,g exirr.ct is taken, to exhibit the quantity of unappropriated lands, the proceeds of which may still be made subject lo distribution. "It appears," saj s the e ominillee'from a report of ihe Commissioner of the General Land Office, see doc. 40, 3d session, 25tliCongi ess.) that the w hole quantity iu acres of Ihe public domain on the 30th of September 1838, to which the Indian title was not extinguished, amounted lo seven hundred and sixty six millions, in round numbers. There was at the same time, as appears by the same report in (he state! and territories, three hundred and nineteen niillioi s of acres, to whic h the Indian title was exfiugnished; mukcing the whole public domain in iheaggrcate at the time, to be ten hundred mid eighty five millions of acres; from which a bctil five millions of acres may be deducted for sales since made, leaving now about tea hundred and eighty millions of a cres.M The correctness of lids report will not be doubted. The quantity of land sold since it was made in May last, and purchased from the Indians since tbc 30:h of September, 1838, are not sufficient to cilect, materially, any calculations based on the above estimated quantities. At the present minimum price, lite whvle would bring thirteen hundred and fifty millions of dollars. No one, however, can determine with accuracy the avercge ainouut per acre, for which they can be sold, nor the , probable cost of extinguishing the Indian title, liut there can he little doubt that it is a safe estimate, to say that the pub iic domain can he disposed of at the averages price of seventy five cents per acre, and that the whole Indian claims can be obtained at the cost of twenty live per centum on their value at one dollar and twenty five cents per acre. The seven hundred and sixty six milions of Indian lands, at seventy five ecnls per acre, would he worth five hundred and sever., ly four millions five hundred thousand dollars. Deducting from this amount, twenty five per centum of the Congress price, making two hundred and thirty i.ine millions three I. un ci red uud seveutv five thousand dollars ns the 1 sum necessary to extinguish the Indian lillc, - . 1 leaves tin: uell piocccui at three hundred ana thirty ..livo thousand dollars. Then Ukia

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