Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 17, Number 31, Vincennes, Knox County, 9 September 1826 — Page 4

Poetical.

PITY'S TEAR. WHAT fails so sweeten summer's flowers As soft, refreshing tepid showers? What bids the bud iu sweets exhale. Like evening's mildly whispering gale ? Yet sweeter, more delicious far, And brighter than the brightest star Decking the intellectual sphereIs Pity's meek and balmy tear ! What bids despair her sorrows hide ? What checks affliction's torturing tide ? What heals the wound of mental pain, And soothes thefev'rish throbbing brain, And bids the rending soul subside ? Lulling to rest distrust and fear Soft Pity's kind and holy tear! Yet not that Pity formed to give A pang which bids atlliction live ; Not Pity that can taunting show Superior pride untouch'd by woe ; Not Pity that with haughty smile Consoles and murders all the while ; But Pity which is forni'd to prove The bond of faith the test of love ! ; : : o o : : : From the. Missouri Advocate.

admitting of debate) prevented

many senators, who were favorable to the main object of the bill,

from declaring their sentiments.

Among these was Mr Tazewell,

course on the part of the government, as regarded the public lands Various views were entertained on this subject, and different plans

had been proposed. Some had

of Virginia, one of the most dis ! proposed that they should be gi

tinguished men in America, and

whose sentiments as a senator

from the state which was the urea-

test owner of the western lands,

are entitled to peculiar respect, '

must have uncommon weight

Disappointed in his expectation of having an opportunity to declare his sentiments on the bill to

graduate the price of the public

lands, Mr. Tazewell afterwards deposited upon the table of the se nate. the following resolution :

' Resolved, That it is expedient

for the United States to cede and surrender to the several states

within Whose limits the same mav hp. sitlintpH nil tli rinrlit titlr rtrwl

PUBLIC LANDS The h.. nf iTmrnH ftir.rc to

Western states are nominally, but jalds , an( bcj vvithm never can really, be sovereign and ,,. hmlnfi;il.; nf .,.,, et;e rtt

independent, & have the direction pectivciy upon such terms antJ of their own destiny, until they condltions as may be consj8tcnt control all the territory within with ,he duc obsiTVan,e of the their respective jurisdictions.- bUc faU,)f and wUh U)C fl, Wp m.ivp i.i rp.iriv hail mrr.nmnn to r . .

w ' , . y . nueresi 01 inc u. states express this opinion, and we are - , A. ..

now flattered with the hope, that the day is not far distant, when we shall attain this great end. Mr. Tazewell, df Virginia, has laid on

the table of the Senate, a resoluti

on, to be acted upon at the next

session of Congress, inquiring in

to the policy of the United States

ceding the public lands to the respective slates in which they are situated, on such terms as may

comport with the general interest. In our estimation, there has been no question of internal policy, of equal importance to this, introduced in either house of congress, during the present, or perhaps any other session. The proposition of Xcol. Benton, to graduate the price vtfr public lands seeks the same end indirectly, while that of Mr. Tazwell goes directly to the point and if the national councils should piefer the latter the state legisla turcs will adopt the former, and the west will soon enjoy the benefits of both Give us but the co milium! of our own natural re sources. and we will soon cut our

own canals ; make our own roads;

establish our seminaries of learn

in-:, and build light houses of the

skies," or not, as we please, with

out humbly praying for the aid.

Kor asking the advice of the gene

the intention of the mover, lies over for consideration and discussi on at the next session. Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, who

had, in like manner, been disap. pointed, submitted a resolution to

obtain from the general land of

fice, by the commencement of the

next session, a report upon the

qualities and value of the public

lands in Louisiana and Mississippi, preparatory to the discussion of the bill to graduate the prices of the public lands at the next session - tlic following is his resolution : "Resolved, That theseeictarv of the treasury he directed to lay before this house, at the next session, a statement of the quantity of public land in the state of Lou isiana, and the stae of Mississippi, distinguished into 1st, 2d, and 3d rate qualities, accompanied by

a general estimate ot the proporti

ven to the states ; others, that the

price at which they are held should be changed ; and others, again, that they should be graduated, and that the price should he

diminished, alter they had been

exposed to public sale. Hitherto

Mr J. said, they had been unable

to obtain from the general government, after ttie most persever

ing efforts, any decision on the large claims to land in Louisiana They had been unable to obtain a survey of the public lands ; they were unable, consequently, to bring them into market, or hasten the settlement of the country, which Mr. J said, remained as it did 20 years ago, with the exception of the natural increase of its population. His object was to connect this resolution with the befoie mentioned bill. Mr. Van Buren, of N. Y. also declared his general Mentiment on the subject He said " The information might be of essential advantage. The subject of the public lands u as becoming daily more interesting, and would oc-

eupy much time in legislation. It ;

extended the patronage ot the government over these states to a

then referred to the state in which he lived, where for years past, they had exported from 60 to 100,000 bales of cotton, &. inquired where the proceeds were gone? He referred to one land office, where a very large sum of money had been received, which 31 r. K. contended, came out of the pockets of the inhabitants of the country, who had originally purchasedsmall tracts, but had" afterwards extended their purchases. Sf paid the money into the land office ; this money, Mr. K. said, went to to the east to pay the pensioners and support the fortifications. And what must be the coi.stqucncc ot the money being thus constat-'K drained away, and ncvei finoi .$; i s wa hack? It

must u.-tuni; they coutJ v,o s..ut thtir eyes to it. Congress luul pas.:! iclief laws: k why had they ticne so I KccUse of the load of debt on the people. It would be in the ame spirit, with the e?.me kind and indulgent dis:u s t on to w aids 'he peepie, that Congress would, 3t no distant day, lake the subject into consideration, and get clear of the trouble of legislating oil the subject ol the public lands. If tne general government would give fo the states what belonged to them, it would give a spur to industry, and tend to increase the population lor the defence of the country. What nr its situation now ? icrc was but a spare population, who were overwhelmed with debts which they could r ot meet. The object the government had in view, was to benefit the treasury ; and if the land wa- parcelled out among the people, Mr. K. said, the object would be obtained ; for the revenue arising from commerce, would far exceed

the proceeds of the lands. The remark of the gentleman from Mo. (Mr. Barton,)

great extent ; it subjected the had certainly surprised him, that the new-

states in which these lands were situated, to an unwise and unpro fi table denendance on the federal government. Mr. V. B said he should vote for every call on that subject, to enable ihem at some future day, to act understanding, ly on it. No man could lender the country a greater service, than

he who should devise some plan

by winch the U. b. might be re

states had no reason to conplain on this subject, though the old states had." The remark of Mr King, " that the revenue arising from commerce, would far exceed the pi ice of the land," is certainly true, and tan be easily proved by facts. Take, for example the case of Alabama. Add together all the sums of money which the United btates has received for the sales of public lands in that state, since its settlement ; then calculate exports, upon which the imports are at least equal ; and set apart one third, (the

average duties being about 33 1-3 per

lieved from the ownership of this cent.) and it will be tound that the federal

property by some equitable mode. ! government has made more, in ten years Vt 1 i ! enly, out ot tha cultivation of the lands

to vest the lands in the states in

Alabama, than the lands them

selves were sold lor. Annlv the same

which they Stood, On Some lUSt & i calculation to the agricultural interest of

equitable terms, as related to the I Lnion: the exports (derived from the

i" I'll I . 1 . . f.t c vauiiiaiv uu iiiiiiiuiM. iiiv mi JUiia UUUU mi n timr hilli r;inm umihh X- nthrr "si,'tin n fnp enn pmm I . ' t . ' r

iem about equal ; the revenue of course

22 millions ol dollars. Twenty two mil

other lands, tit for the cultivation ! He hoped that, after having lull

of sui2;ar and cotton ; with such ! information on the subject, thev ' llons tor one year 'iclJed lo the govern

plans and topographical auddes-1 would be able to ettect that great criptive remarks as he may deem j object he believed that, if those proper to a full explanation of the lands were disposed of at once to

the several btates, it would be sa

tist'actory to all." Ir. King, of Alabama, at the same time expressed the followin r sentiments, in icply to one of the

senator trom Missouri : Mr. K.

subject."

Upon the passage of this tesolution, which was adopted, Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, said

ral government. This is the proud j k Some great measure will, before eminence upon which the success ! long be adopted with regard to

of Mr. Tazewell's resolution ' the public lands. It will be ne- taid--k- lie would not have trouwould place the western states; cessary to restore the states their j bled the senate with any additionand no member of the senate pos-! just rights- as well as to deprive ' al remarks on the subject, had he sesses, in so areata decree, those the general government of the j not believed that the Gentleman

great abilities so necessary to the ! right of soil within the states. It , from Missouri, (Mr. Barton) was

is a very extensive system of incorrect in the view he had takgreat expense and great inconvc- en of it. That there was a consilience and producing no results, derable drain of the wealth of the We are yearly sellin the best country, where public lands sold.

lanus ana exhausting the capital, i none ne oeiieved, would doubt. and yet not obtaining a million i At the time of the first settlement

for the treasuryand much time

accomplishment of such import ant objects Xc entertain the hope, that Mr. Tazewell will he sustained by Virginia ; and may we not calculate on thr liberality and magnanimity of New York and Pennsylvania. Those three old and powerful members of the Union, can have no motive in checking the growth of the western states ; but. on the contrary.

ot the country, it was true, the e-

is wasted in legislation But if no j migrants had carried a portion of great general principle could be money, for the purpose of obtain-

adopted, he hoped, with the benefit of this information, to obtain

we have no doubt, will join in one I either a general or partial surrencommon effort to advance their j der of the soil to the state ; or that

prosperity.

the 2d quality of the lands may

The following resolution and ! he reduced to 50 cents, and the

remarks on this subject, will be interesting to our readers. After colonel Denton had delivered his

balance given to those who will settle on them. This resolution connected itself with the bill in

menl, by the cultivation ot the earth.

m - - p while the sale of land lovjifty yearsy has yielded but twenty six millions '. This proves the position of Mr. Buikc and shews that the government, instead oi 41 screwing up the people to pay the highest price for land, ought not to permit them lo bid eagerly against one another; but keep their money for the improvement ol the land, instead of exhausting their capital in the purchase." And such will be the principles which will soon prevail in congress. The present system is prostrate. The idea ot making revenue from the sale oi land, is exploded. The only question to be determined hercaf'cr, is, an inquiiy into the comparative merits ot ditfertnt substitutes. At this place (in cuigiess) the minds of statesmen seem to be directed lo two plans: 1 st. The transfer of the lands, h full property, and upon equitable terms to the states in which they lie. d. The division of them into two classes, (abov e and below fifty cents Value) S. the prompt sale of one class by the fede-

I ral government, and the gratuitous dona

tion ot the other to the states.' The ensuing session of congress will be big with great events for the new states. Some tadical change, more or less favorable to their rights, and interests, will take plate in their mode of selling the public lands. The attention of all their citizens should be directed to the subject. Ieaut y, without the graces ot the mind, will have no power over the hearts of ihr wise and good. Beauty is a th-wer which soon

withers, health changes, and

speech in favor of graduating the trnduced by the gentleman from price of public lands. j Missouri, (Mr Benton.) relative A motion was made, bv one of to graduatintr the price of thepub-

a ... . . ... ......... . f i 1 . . . v . -

inc opponents ot the Dill to lay it lie lands. That bill would, in all ; ei ished, and the products of their immortal, and a comfort, both in

vni me, wuuiu, men motion, (noi j prooauniiy, ieaa to some decisive j laoor were thrown away. Mr. K. 4 life and death,

ing the waste lands, and commencing the cultivation That money was soon exhaused in the extraordinary expense attending the formation of new settlements Then emigration ceased. What were the means by which they were enabled to pay the rest of the money for the land they had purchased, under the old credit system? The produce of their labor alone:

and thus were they kept impov- j strength abates, hut iniioceney is