H. OF R.] Surveys of the Public Lands. [JAN. 12, 1831. [Mr. VINTON explained: He said he had derived his price of private property. Mr. P. said he was not disinformation from the statistical tables of Van Zandt and posed to attribute personal motives to the gentleman from Wattertson. From these, it appeared that, in 1825, three Ohio, but he did impute to him considerations of State inmillions of acres of lands had been surveyed in Florida; terest. The true secret is, that Ohio has no more public there were now seven millions surveyed. There were lands to be surveyed. All the public lands within her said to have been thirty-one millions of acres of land limits were surveyed during the time when, according to purchased by the United States in Florida. By a state- the gentleman from Ohio, the Government was pursuing ment of the delegates from that territory, read from an extravagant course in regard to these surveys. the Clerk's table yesterday, it appeared that twenty-four then heard no objection from Ohio. It is well known, millions of acres remained to be surveyed, and the gen- that, during that period, Ohio had grown up in a manner tleman could therefore make his own calculations of the unparalleled in the history of the world. Large appro quantity that had been already surveyed.] Mr. W. continued, urging the many considerations of policy and expediency of proceeding with the surveys, the necessity for encouraging settlement and population. He stated that the poor settlers who were entitled, by the bounty of the Government, to a pre-emption, could not enter their lands for want of an extension of the surveys. We priations for surveying were then well enough. Nearly all the public lands within her limits have been sold, and now we are called on to stop the surveys, for fear it may have an injurious effect upon private property in Ohio. We must not, it is said, bring these lands into competition with private lands in that State. They have reaped their harvest; they have had their lands surveyed and sold unMr. PETTIS, of Missouri, said the House was then en-der this system; the private property of the citizens of the gaged in a discussion on a subject about which it appeared old States has, if you please, been depreciated in value to be in order to say any and every thing, save that which for the benefit of Ohio; this State has rapidly populated related to the subject itself. He was not disposed to fol- from the old States under this system; but now, forsooth, low the example set him. Whilst he was anxious to avoid Ohio having all she desires, the system of surveying is to every remark calculated to produce the least excitement, be stopped for her benefit, to keep up the value of her he was very desirous of having an opportunity of placing private property, and to keep her population from being the subject of the surveying of the public lands in its pro-induced to migrate further west. This is not all; there per light before the House. is another motive. On a certain occasion, a million of Mr. P. begged leave to remind gentlemen of what had acres of the public lands were given to Ohio for making frequently occurred in the House when any discussion took canals. He would not say it was given by way of bribe. place on the subject of the public lands. Whenever any pro. It is true, however, that, at a particular crisis, two bills position was before it proposing to amend the system in re- were pushed through Congress, having different and gard to the mode of disposing of the public lands; whenever opposing friends, each bill making a donation of about it was proposed to reduce the price of these lands, yea, the 500,000 acres of land. These lands have been selected in refuse of these lands, and that to actual settlers, in small small parcels from the best of the public lands in that parcels; we of the new States have had it rung in our ears State; and now the survey of other public lands is to be from various quarters of the hall; we have been entreat- checked, to prevent other lands from being brought in ed by gentlemen not to interrupt the existing system in competition with these lands, thus given and thus selectregard to these lands. We have been told that the sys-ed, and to keep up their value. Sir, said Mr. P., is this tem was devised by the wisest men of the nation, and ma- liberal? Is it generous? Is it fair? He would not say it tured by the wisdom of experience. They have said to us, was unjust, but he would say it was very unfair. The "let us go on in the usual way; we are disposed to be li- gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. VINTON,] not satisfied with beral to the new States." Sir, said Mr. P., the tune is using these arguments, has thought proper to state that the now changed. The gentlemen are themselves proposing most of the revenue arising from the sales of public lands an innovation of the most prejudicial character to the new is drawn from the old land districts, and consequently States and to the Territories. Your Committee of Ways from Ohio. Sir, the gentleman is mistaken. The fact is and Means have told you that the estimate made by the not so. The sales of the public lands in the State of Illiseveral surveyors was $200,000 dollars; that made and nois, for the last year, amount to nearly double the sent in by the Treasury Department was $150,000; and amount of those from Ohio. The sales in Missouri, in Inthe committee propose appropriating but $130,000 for the diana, and in Alabama, greatly exceed those of Ohio for surveys to be made the ensuing year. We all know that the last year. no appropriation was made for this object at the last ses- The gentleman from Ohio has based his opposition to sion; and the committee have told us that the land office this bill on the ground that there is already more land in department was, in consequence, $30,000 in arrears. The market than is demanded by purchasers. He contends committee have stated that the appropriation recommend- that the Government should act as an individual, and not ed by them is about the average of such appropriations permit the supply to exceed the demand for it. Was not made during the last seven or eight years, and not so much this the case when the Government was making such liberal as had been appropriated for many years previous thereto. appropriations for surveys in Ohio? Could the gentleNotwithstanding these facts, we have seen the gentlemen man, at any period referred to, have said, in favor of more heretofore so much opposed to innovation, proposing to surveys, that the Government can sell more lands in the strike out the appropriation recommended, and inserting next year than are already surveyed? Shall we now change less than half that sum. We have been told by the gen- our course for the benefit of Ohio, who, from her proximtleman from Ohio [Mr. VINTON] that this is an enormous ity to the old States, has always possessed a great adappropriation, and that the sales of the public lands do not vantage over other new States? Shall the Government justify it. The nett proceeds of these sales for the last hug the public lands as a treasure for mere purposes of year amounted to nearly two millions of dollars. Can revenue? Shall they prize their lands as the sordid miser this appropriation, then, be considered enormous? That does his gold? This doctrine has been utterly disclaimed gentleman has told us that, from 1815 to 1820, the Go- by all parties in another quarter. The proposition to vernment surveyed and brought into market too great a stop the surveys of the public lands had been discussed portion of these lands, and that the consequence had been at great length in the quarter referred to. It received a a great depreciation in the value of lands in the hands of decisive negative, not only then, but, as was then believindividuals. And he now opposed the present appropria- ed, its everlasting quietus, by the good people of this nation, because, as he says, it will bring too much land into tion. Believing this question at rest forever, he had been market, and the result will be a further depreciation of the taken by surprise in this debate. He would take this 482 JAN. 12, 1831.] Surveys of the Public Lands. [H. OF R. occasion to say, however, that he considered it the duty said, of one thing, however, he was certain; the only way of the Government, and very important to the new States, the gentleman could refute the arguments would be, by that these lands should be brought into market as speedily voting against the measure if ever it shall come before as the United States can reasonably defray the expense him. thereof, and that every facility should be afforded to the extinguishment of the title of the Government in and to P. said he considered the Government pledged to take But to return to the immediate subject before us, Mr. these lands. And to this end, he contended the price of the most liberal steps to settle and sell the public lands. these lands should be reduced, especially in favor of ac- In 1780, the old Congress, when they invited the States tual settlers. He made these remarks, because he was to surrender their wild lands, made a sacred pledge that well satisfied that this opposition to the surveying of more these lands should be settled and sold, and formed into lands was a preliminary step to the stand to be taken distinct republican States, having the same rights of against any reduction of the price of public lands. tlemen have been railing against innovation in the land States. Shall we not redeem this pledge? How can it be Gen- sovereignty, freedom, and independence, as the original system, until they have got ready their own machinery; redeemed, but by having these lands surveyed? How can and now they are for a vigorous effort to oppress still fur- you have these lands sold and settled, without bringing ther the new States, in regard to the public lands. the price within the means of the great body of pur Mr. P. said he felt himself bound to take notice of the chasers? Sir, said Mr. P., if no amelioration is intended remarks made by the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. VIN- to be extended to us, we cannot, surely, bear a more rigid TON,] and by the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. WICK-System. Let us have the usual appropriation for surveyLIFFE,] relative to the claims set up by some of the new ing, and adjust other matters in relation to these lands States to the public lands. The gentleman from Ohio, hereafter. in opposing this appropriation, has thought proper to the message of the President at the commencement of the present session, (from which he read an extract.) He said further, that the present appropriation would cover all arrearages. urge, as a reason for his opposition, that some of the place on the proposed amendment. He said he was in Mr. STRONG regretted that so much debate had taken States had certain pretensions to the right of property in favor of going on with the surveys, and believed the usual the lands within their limits; and insinuates that the Unit-appropriations for the purpose averaged about $50,000. ed States should survey no more of these lands, because He wanted to know, however, what had become of the he says it is for the States thus setting up their claims. $84,000, of which he had before spoken? Was it all exThe gentleman from Kentucky, in repelling these insinua-pended last year for surveys? Was the department now tions, has indulged himself in ridicule of those who enter-in debt? His desire was to get at the facts. tain such opinions. He has, indeed, uttered very severe been expended last year for surveys, and was the departdenunciations against them. remarks from that quarter; but he felt himself called on wanted to know the reasons for so great an expenditure He was sorry to hear such ment in debt $80,000 more? If such was the fact, he Had $84,000 to make a reply. Mr. P. said it was well known to the for the purpose. House, that, during the last session, the new States were thousand dollars a year for surveys, but he saw no necesridiculed, taunted, reproached, for the pretensions some sity for granting a hundred or a hundred and fifty thouHe was willing to give fifty or sixty of them had made to the right of property in the public sand dollars a year to carry them on. domain within their limits. reason why the proceeds of the lands should be divided the surveys go on as fast as they were necessary. This was urged then as a that the department should be out of debt, and then let He was desirous a:nong all the States, for the purposes of internal improvement and education. On that account, the public lands in answer to his inquiries, by turning to the report of the Mr. VERPLANCK said his colleague would find an the new States were to be seized on, and divided out among Commissioner of the General Land Office, appended to the old States. Observing the strong prejudices which had been excited by these insinuations, he attempted to remove them, by frankly and fully stating the arguments and grounds on which they relied for the justness of their conclusions. He had asked to be shown the part of the constitution which authorized the United States to hold had said, to enter further into the debate; but the remarks Mr. VINTON said it was not his intention, after what he lands within the limits of a sovereign State. sisted that, if the Government could hold these lands, and to himself personally, and to the State of Ohio, left no He had in- that had been made, applicable, not to the question, but sell them, they could lease them, and make the citizens of alternative but to vindicate himself and the State from the new States tenants to the United States. urged, that the practice of the Government, in regard to certain facts, and deduced from them what he thought to He had which he came. crown lands in the old States, showed what the first opi-be fair arguments and inferences. No gentleman had When on the floor before, he had stated nions under the constitution were on this subject. He disproved the facts, or met the argument, or refuted the had, as politely and respectfully as he could, invited gen-inferences. tlemen to answer his arguments. gentleman from Kentucky, had met the argument. None the place and of those who have resorted to it. No one, not even the prejudice in the House against those arguments, unworthy But an attempt had been made to create a had undertaken the task. The subject had, it is true, side he had been assailed by imputations directed at him been touched on in another body, and barely touched on, personally and at his State. On every for the argument was not met. Kentucky had now, for the first time, alluded to the sub-founded insinuation that he was a land speculator, and The gentleman from The gentleman from Illinois had thrown out the unject, and, instead of meeting the argument, he has under- had fitted his argument to his own interest; while the taken to denounce the doctrine as a dream, a vision, a gentleman from Kentucky, who was followed up by the popularity-hunting scheme. [Here Mr.WICKLIFFE asked gentleman from Missouri, had thought proper to open an leave to explain: He said he assured the gentleman from attack upon the State of Ohio, through him, by asserting Missouri that he did not allude to him. heard nor read his speech, and was not thinking of it.] I when she had obtained all her ends, she was actuated by He had neither that Ohio had been the favored State of the West, and thought so, continued Mr. P. I thought the gentleman had a desire to oppress and keep down the other new States. neither heard nor read my speech; and that may be one He would say to those gentlemen, one and all, that to reason why he does not understand the subject. The answer an argument was one thing, and to fly away from House will pardon me for saying it is the gentleman's mis- it into insinuation was another. It was an artifice to escape fortune. If he had read my speech, he would not, I am from an argument, which no gentleman who had a proper sure, have indulged in the remarks he made. Mr. P. self-respect would hazard in the face of an intelligent as VOL. VII.-31 H. OF R.] Salary of the Minister to Russia. [JAN. 12, 1831. sembly. The gentleman from Missouri, in particular, amendment of the gentleman from Virginia prevailed, had given himself great indulgence in insinuations against more than half of it would be exhausted in paying arthe State of Ohio. He had called on her delegation to do rearages for surveys made during the last year, and the as they had been done by, and commented very much at sum remaining would be greatly less than the usual sum, large upon the favors which Ohio had received from Con- and would be wholly inadequate to defray the expense of gress. He said that vast sums of money had been paid surveying that portion of the public lands which it might for surveying the lands in Ohio; that now they were all be the interest of the Government to survey, and bring surveyed, she was anxious to arrest the surveys in Mis-into market the present year. The gentleman from New souri, at the same time taxing Ohio with ingratitude and York had admonished us that we should have an eye to other sinister motives. Sir, if the gentleman from Mis- economy. He believed that he regarded economy in his souri is desirous that his State should be treated, in respect votes in that House, as much as the gentleman from New to the public lands, as the State of Ohio has been, for York, or any other; but he denied that it was economy to himself he would ask and desire no more than that the postpone the surveys of the public lands. When once gentleman from Missouri would, without insinuation, abide surveyed, the work had never to be done again. The the application of the rule which he seems to be so anxious expense of surveying them had to be incurred before to get the benefit of. He wants the public lands sur-they could be brought into market; and he thought it true veyed in Missouri with the same rapidity with which that economy to place them in a condition to be sold as speedioperation was carried on in Ohio. The surveys, sir, ly as possible, that the Government might realize the price were commenced in Ohio in 1785, and were not completed of them. If the object of reducing the appropriation in that State until after the year 1820, a period of more was to retard their sale, and thereby put a check to the than thirty-five years. Now, sir, apply the rule of fa-emigration to the West, and prevent their speedy settlevored Ohio to Missouri, and the surveys will not be com- ment, he trusted that we would not be compelled to displeted there these twenty years to come: thus much for cuss a question, so radically changing our policy, upon an that part of the insinuation that Ohio is unwilling to do appropriation bill. If economy was the object, there was the same reason for reducing the appropriation last year, for others that which has been done for her. But, again, the gentleman says vast sums have been ex-or ten years ago, that there was now. He trusted that the pended for surveys in Ohio, and now she refuses a similar House would take the question without further debate. favor to Missouri. During these thirty-five years, a little The question was now loudly demanded; and Mr. more than fourteen millions of acres were surveyed in CLAY called for the yeas and nays; but the House reOhio, being the whole amount of public land in fused to order them. that State. In the course of some seven or eight years Mr. STORRS, of New York, asked what had been the prior to 1825, about twenty-seven millions had been sur-average sum appropriated for surveys in past years? veyed in Missouri, being an expenditure of nearly twice Mr. VERPLANCK replied, that it had varied from scas much in Missouri as the whole amount of all the sur-venty to one hundred and fifty or two hundred thousand veys made in Ohio, and, too, in less than one-fourth part dollars. The Committee of Ways and Means, after due of the time. Let the gentleman have the benefit of this examination, had fixed it at from ninety to one hundred example of favored Ohio, and the surveys in Missouri thousand dollars. Going back to the year 1815, it would would stop for the present where they now are. Ohio be found to be something more. has paid into the public treasury near twenty millions of dollars for land, while the receipts from Missouri have not gone much, if any, beyond a million and a half. Let Mis ouri follow this example, if the gentleman is really desirous to copy from Ohio, and then come and claim the grants and favors that have been bestowed on Ohio. After a few words from Mr. INGERSOLL, in answer to the inquiry of Mr. STORRS, the question was put on agreeing to the amendment submitted by Mr. McCox, and decided in the negative--yeas 46, nays not counted. The question then recurred on the amendment proposed in Committee of the Whole, and was determined in the SALARY OF THE MINISTER TO RUSSIA. Mr. V. said he protested against the right of any gen-affirmative, without a division. tleman here to arraign the motives of Ohio. Is Ohio to be put under the ban of her neighbors? Is she not a part of this Union? Has she not interests which it is the duty of this House to protect in common with her sister States? ment of the bill, Have not her representatives a right to be heard on this floor, and to mingle in debate in questions like the present, in which she has more at stake, and a deeper interest, than any State in the Union? These, sir, are rights which her representatives on this floor will neither surrender nor cease to exercise, while they are faithful to her or true to themselves. Mr. STANBERY moved to strike out the appropriation for the salary of a minister to Russia for the present year. Mr. S. remarked, that the President had informed the House that the United States were not represented at the court of Russia, nor was it probable, Mr. S. said, that they soon would be. Under such circumstances, an appropriation certainly was not necessary, and he hoped Mr. POLK said he did not intend unnecessarily to pro- it would be stricken out of the bill. He called for the tract this unexpected discussion. His principal object yeas and nays on his motion; when, was to call back the attention of the House to the real On motion of Mr. CARSON, the House adjourned. question before it. The chairman of the Committee of FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER OF JANUARY 22. Ways and Means had informed us that this was the usual and ordinary annual appropriation for this object; that Messrs. Gales and Seaton: In your report in this mornit was below the average of appropriations for the survey ing's paper of the debate on the 12th instant, concerning of the public lands, for the last half dozen years or more; the appropriation for surveying the public lands, Mr. that it was much below the appropriations for the same WICKLIFFE makes me urge the following objection against object, between the years 1815 and 1821. To refuse it, the appropriation: That "the United States, by her land would be suddenly to change what has, for a great series system, by reduction of the price of public lands, holds of years, been understood to be the settled policy of the out inducements to the citizens of the older States to emiGovernment in regard to its public domain. Were we grate, and purchase lands for themselves; thereby extendnow prepared to discuss or to decide that question? He ing our settlements beyond the limits which a true regard trusted, upon this annual appropriation bill for the support to the interest of the Government and of individual landof Government, we should not get into a discussion about holders will justify." Having a seat at a distance from the expediency of changing our past policy. If the that occupied by Mr. WICKLIFFE, and hearing him but JAN. 13, 1831.] Report on Manufactures.--Duty on Sugar.--Mileage of Members.--Minister to Russia. [H. or R. imperfectly, this statement by him of the argument he Mr. CAMBRELENG expressed his hope that the supposed I had used, wholly escaped my notice, or 1 motion for postponement would prevail. The subject of should have set him right at the time. I presume the the resolution was one of the first importance to the same circumstance occasioned his misapprehension of my country, and it was desirable to obtain every information remarks. I did not say what is imputed to me, nor any possible before acting upon it. The Secretary of the thing like it; and of course all that part of his speech Treasury would be enabled to furnish much information which is intended to refute the argument he supposed me concerning it, by next week; and with the aid of that, to have made, is misapplied. I never, upon the floor, or the question would be more fully investigated than it could elsewhere, objected to the citizens of the old States emi- be now. grating to the new; nor did I, in that speech, say any The further consideration of the resolution was finally thing about a reduction of the price of public lands. It postponed till Monday next. had nothing to do with the subject under discussion. My objection was to surveying and bringing more land into market than there is a demand for. The price of public land being fixed by law at $1 25 per acre, the purchaser will pay that price, whether one million or one hundred millions are surveyed and brought into market. As to the great question of reducing the price of public lands, I have submitted the result of my opinions respecting it, in the shape of an amendment to the graduation| bill, and when that bill is called up, it will be time enough for me to express my views on that subject. Yours, with great respect, January 20, 1831. SAMUEL F. VINTON. THURSDAY, JANUARY 13. REPORT ON MANUFACTURES. Mr. MALLARY, from the Committee on Manufactures, to which was referred so much of the President's mes sage as relates to the tariff of duties on imports, and so much thereof as respects manufactures, made a report, (for which see Appendix.) The report was laid on the table, and 6,000 copies ordered to be printed. Mr. MONELL, from the same committee, submitted a counter report of the minority of the committee, and 6,000 copies of that were also ordered to be printed. REDUCTION OF THE DUTY ON SUGAR. The resolution of Mr. HAYNES, on the subject of the proposed reduction of the duties on brown sugar, was then taken up. Mr. WHITE, of Louisiana, after a few remarks, moved its postponement until Monday week, in order to allow time for the reception of certain documents which he wished to obtain on the subject. Mr. HAYNES opposed the postponement of the ques tion. MILEAGE OF MEMBERS. The proposed instructions to the Committee on Public Expenditures, yesterday submitted by Messrs. CHILTON and HALL, were taken up, and debated by those gentlemen till the time allotted for the consideration of resolutions had expired. MINISTER TO RUSSIA. The House then resumed the consideration of the general appropriation bill: the question under consideration being the motion of Mr. STANBERY to strike out of the bill the appropriation for the salary of the minister to Russia. Mr. CARSON said he heard with surprise the motion made yesterday by the gentleman from Ohio; and it was with still more surprise he had heard the reason which the gentleman assigned for his motion; which was, that the House had been informed by the message of the The gentleman had mistaken the Executive message-he President, that we had no minister at the court of Russia. had mistaken the information which it conveyed to the fell to the ground. When a motion is submitted by a House; and if the motion originated in that mistake, it member, said Mr. C., courtesy requires that we suppose it to be prompted by a high sense of duty to this House, or to the country. It is for those who hear it to judge if it have any other motive. If any other design gave rise to the present motion-if it was meant as a covert blow at the Executive, it was a feeble one-the arm that struck it was too nerveless to reach its object. Mr. C. here read the following passage from the President's message: "Our relations with Russia are of the most stable character. Respect for that empire, and confidence in its friendship towards the United States, have been so long entertained on our part, and so carefully cherished by the present Emperor and his illustrious predecessor, as to Mr. TUCKER said that he saw no necessity for defer- have become incorporated with the public sentiment of ring the consideration of the measure. For his own part, the United States. No means will be left unemployed on he could not perceive the object of the proposed post- my part to promote these salutary feelings, and those imponement, nor could he imagine what beneficial results provements of which the commercial intercourse between could be produced by it. What, said he, is the purport the two countries is susceptible, and which have derived of this resolution? Does it commit the House in any man- increased importance from our treaty with the Sublime ner? Does it involve us in a pledge to abandon or to Porte. pursue any line of policy in this matter? Does it impose "I sincerely regret to inform you that our minister on us the task of diminishing or continuing the present lately commissioned to that court, on whose distinguished duty on sugar? No. It is simply a motion of inquiry on talents and great experience in public affairs I place the part of the committee; and when that committee shall great reliance, has been compelled by extreme indisposihave investigated the subject, and reported upon it, then tion to exercise a privilege which, in consideration of the it will be the proper time for the House to enter upon a extent to which his constitution had been impaired in discussion of its merits. At present it surely is not in the public service, was committed to his discretion, of order to do so. When the proper time arrives, I, for one, leaving temporarily his post for the advantage of a more shall have no objection to go into the whole question, and genial climate. to take into consideration all the documents or evidence of any other kind, which may have a relation to the subject. Mr. RAMSEY said, if the proposed motion prevailed, he should move that the resolution take another course; that it be referred to the Committee on Agriculture. The SPEAKER said the question was now upon the postponement of the resolution. "If, as it is to be hoped, the improvement of his health should be such as to justify him in doing so, he will repair to St. Petersburg, and resume the discharge of his official duties. I have received the most satisfactory assurance that, in the mean time, the public interests in that quarter will be preserved from prejudice, by the intercourse which he will continue, through the secretary of legation, with the Russian cabinet." H. OF R.] Minister to Russia. [JAN. 13, 1831. Now, said Mr. C., does this justify the motion, and, as a Exception had been taken to the appointment. With measure of policy, would it be right to strike out the ap- what propriety? The House might exert a restraining propriation? What inference could be drawn from our judgment, through the incidental operation of its power to refusing the appropriation, but that we were about to deny appropriations, on the institution of missions. But in suspend our intercourse, and all amicable relations, with relation to the persons by whom they were to be filled, or the court of Russia? Sir, General Jackson and the ad- the conduct of the incumbents in their discharge, it was ministration need no support from me. The administration not the province of the House to exercise judgment and speaks for itself, and can support itself. discretion, but of the Executive. We intruded on that Mr. STANBERY rose, and replied that the motion was discretion, if we made any supposed conduct of the indictated by those principles which brought General Jack-cumbents, as we did upon decency, if we made newsson into office. During the preceding administration, paper fabrications the ground of our proceeding on such great clamor was heard about the profligate expenditure subjects here. But where was the ground for imputation of the public money, and about constructive journeys-in any view in the present instance? As regarded the and a change of administration was urged for the purpose nomination, for which the Executive had been arraigned of correcting these abuses. But Mr. S. saw no differ- with censure so widely diffused and unsparing, the perence between paying an officer for a constructive resi- son receiving it-who was he? How many filled so large dence and for a constructive journey. The House had a space of reputation? Who was there remaining on the just heard read, that the minister sent to Russia does not public theatre, who had filled so long and unbroken a reside there; we have all seen him here we know him, space of public service--a career of active, and sedulous, and know that he cannot reside there-if he receive the and brilliant exertion, extending beyond the period of public money as minister to Russia, without residing there, thirty years? His talents--where was any to be found. he will be paid for a constructive residence. We know, superior, ripened in this long period of service, to the as far as we know any thing about him, that he resides in fullness, yet not beyond it, of the most fruitful maturity? England, or in France-we know, at any rate, that he His political attainments, they were not inferior to his does not reside at his post in Russia, and have reason to talents. This was the nomination which had brought believe that he will not reside there. Is it right to pay vehement vituperation on the Executive, as an extravafor duties thus performed? Might he not as well reside gant abuse of its discretion of appointments. at home, and still be considered minister to Russia, as to But consider the matter in another view. A tried reside in England or France, in that capacity? Mr. S. public servant, who, in a most active career of thirty said that, in making the motion, he had aimed no covert years, has never sought official appointment, (as he did blow at the administration-he had made the motion in not this, which he has now received,) nor other reward, pursuance of what be deemed his duty to the public. In than the favor of his immediate constituents, and public doing so, he was acting as the individual in question esteem, retires, with health in some degree impaired, but would himself have acted, under similar circumstances, his faculties and capacity of usefulness unbroken. were he now a member of this House. If we are to pay it matter of just imputation on an Executive, which his that individual for the public services which it is said he exertions contributed to bring into the public service-has performed, let us do so directly, not indirectly-not representing a great political division in the nation of pay him for those services, by giving him a salary for an which he has been an eminent ornament--wholly unsolioffice which he fills but in name. These principles I cited-when he had left the situation which might bring learned, said Mr. S., from that gentleman himself, in here the motive of this proceeding into question--that it has listening to him with delight, while denouncing the been desirous to extend to a public servant, so circumabuses of other administrations in misapplying the public stanced, an acknowledgment of merit-a mark of regard --a recall to renewed exertion of his abilities? Had not, Mr. A. would not say the individual, but the country, a right to expect this? money. Is Mr. ARCHER said, that when at the moment of the adjournment of the House last evening, as he understood, the motion had been submitted, he was not in his place, The complaint disclosed by the present motion, howto take the notice of it which was due from him, in the ever, was not directly to the appointment of Mr. Ranrelation in which he was placed to the discussion of topics dolph, but his absence at the present moment from the of this character here. He had but a few words to offer scene of his duties. The first suggestion in the party in resistance of it now. It proposed to take from the vituperation which had prevailed, was--that he had appropriation the provision for the mission to Russia. If assumed this privilege of absenting himself, unpermitted. this were done, not the professed object only, the recall This suggestion had been repelled by the message of the of the present minister to that court, but an effect much President, which had been read by the gentleman from beyond it would be produced-the interdiction of any North Carolina, [Mr. CARSON.] The exercise of a dismission there at all. If there was to be no appropriation, cretion in this respect had been accorded to the minister. no minister could be maintained-one more acceptable no On what grounds? His health, though better at the time more than the present. The operation then of the motion, of his acceptance of this mission, than for a considerable if it could succeed, would be to suspend diplomatic rela- period, had been impaired. With a feeble constitution, tions with that Power--the greatest in the world-the and such a state of health, he distrusted the extreme rigor Power with which our relations of amity had been the of the climate of Russia. Permission had, in this view, least interrupted, and the closest to which, in great and been accorded to him, in the event of his health failing, vital collisions which might await us, we must look, if any to remove to a more favorable climate. In the actual where, for consentaneous policy and effective support. occurrence of the contingency, he had availed himself of In this view of the subject, he should submit the motion the permission, with the purpose of returning to his situto the decision of the House. ation with the removal of the cause of his departure. There were purposes, however, Mr. A. said, covered It had been conceived, Mr. A. was aware, in not an by the motion, which would induce him to trouble the entire consistency with the present charge of Mr. RanHouse with a few observations. The gentleman aimed at dolph's undue absence from this sphere of his duties, that by the motion, was from his own State--distinguished by he had, in truth, no duties to discharge, and that it was a large share of its esteem; and some degree of sensibility for this reason that the appointment had been conferred might be supposed to be awakened by the attacks upon on him. Mr. A. could assure the House, if they would him, and on the Executive for his appointment, circulated accept his voucher for the fact, that this conception was very extensively, and now disclosing themselves here. founded in mistake. Our present mission to St. Peters |