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SPEECH OF MR. SMITH, OF SOUTH CAROLINA [February 25, 1830}
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Debate_301-350.indd 307 5/7/12 7:43 AM SPEECH OF MR. SMITH, oF SouTH CAROLINA [February 25, I8Jo} The resolution ofMr. Foot, ofConnecticut, relative to the public lands, being under consideration, Mr. Smith addressed the Chair as follows: M R. SMITH SAID, THIS DEBATE HAD ASSUMED A WIDE RANGE, and encircled almost every political subject that had agitated this Government for the last forty years, and more. Although about to give my own views to the Senate, said Mr. S., I do not aspire to ornament, but to illustrate what I may say. This debate has been one offeeling; and especially as it related to the disposition, by the General Government, of the public lands. And ifI am to judge from the manner in which it has been treated by gentlemen who have said a great deal concerning it, I should suppose they had examined but superficially its extent and importance to the People ofthe United States. Ifyour treasure is worth preserving for the use of the Government, why should you sport away your public lands more than your public monies? For the manner in which it is proposed to get rid ofit, ifnot sporting it away, it is probably as bad. I do not intend to limit my remarks to the subject ofthe public lands, entirely, but, after I shall have done with that, will take a cursory view of several other topics that have excited much interest; which, perhaps, I may not treat precisely as other gentlemen have done, yet, I will endeavor to treat them fairly. I have always found that matters offact give a fairer view ofparty subjects than your abstract speeches. A gentleman who speaks abstractedly , generally, does little more than give you what is best suited to his purpose. But ifthese topics are discussed for public use, the public are entitled to hear all; otherwise the public are imposed upon; they are misguided by seeing but one side of the question. The public are always prepared to judge rightly, and, ifcorrectly informed, will always do so. On the Debate_301-350.indd 308 5/7/12 7:43 AM THE WEBSTER-HAYNE DEBATE ON THE NATURE OF THE UNION subject of party politics-a subject from which there is more to fear than from any other that agitates your Government-the truth has not been half told; and when I reach it, I may perhaps differ from other gentlemen in the view that I may take ofit. On the subject of the public lands, their importance, which seems to be overlooked, and the manner in which the gentleman from New Hampshire , (Mr. WooDBURY,) and my colleague, (Mr. HAYNE,) propose to dispose of them, are so totally different from my own, as to require my first attention. And believing, as I do, that they have not treated that subject as its importance requires, I will first notice what they have respectively said on that question, and then give my reasons, founded on facts, why I differ from them. The gentleman from New Hampshire says, in addition to doing justice to the People of the Western States, it is necessary to accelerate the sales ofyour public lands, as fast as possible, lest you drive your citizens to foreign countries, to seek for lands and comfortable homes. In support of this opinion, that gentleman informs us, that the British Government is now selling lands at reduced prices, not only in their Colonies in New Holland, but in the Canadas, and are, thereby, holding out inducements to your citizens to emigrate thither. That other European nations have adopted the same seductive policy. Even Persia holds out inducements to emigrants, by selling her lands at reduced prices. In consequence ofyour own delays, and this liberal policy of other nations, your citizens, we are told, are actually departing from the United States; by which we are to understand your States are to be depopulated, and your physical strength transferred to other countries, and to foreign enemies . This would be an injudicious policy, indeed, on the part of our Government, could we assent to the premises. But what possible inducement could an American citizen have to break up his household, sell off every thing, and transport himself to New Holland, a country that not one American in twenty thousand ever heard of, there to speculate upon a quarter section of land, when there are millions of acres lying at his own door, at $1.25 per acre? Or can we...