pact, and a most revolting breach of good faith on the part of the United States?

If, however, the subject be considered in reference to the financial interest of the General Government alone, it is believed that the price of the public lands should be reduced, after having been first offered at public sale, and then remaining a reasonable time subject to private entry, at the present minimum. The Government of the United States is probably the only vendor, either of land or any other property, that holds the most inferior quality of any article at the same price with the best. If an individual were to maintain that all domestic animals of a given species were of the same value, how inconsistent would he appear? If a merchant were to refuse to sell kerseys at any lower price than he could obtain for superfine broadcloths, his conduct would certainly be deemed utterly absurd. Yet there is not greater absurdity in either of these positions, than there is in maintaining that land of every quality is worth, or should command, the same price.

The experience of the last ten years has demonstrated that lands of the greatest fertility, when sold at auction, will only command a very small fraction above $1 25 per acre. To prove this, it is only necessary to refer to official documents now on the files of the House. It is not probable that more than one-tenth of the public domain is of the first quality; yet we refuse to let the remaining nine-tenths go at any lower price.

By a report (which is hereto annexed) made by the Secretary of the Treasury on the 22d of January last, in answer to a resolution of the House, it appears that the quantity of land to which the Indian and foreign titles had then been extinguished, was 301,965,600 acres. Of that quantity, there had, on the 31st December, 1831, been offered for sale 180,932,205 acres; and only 26,524,450 acres had then been sold. By the same report, the quantity of land subject to private entry, on the same day, (and which, of course, had been offered at public auction, and refused, at $1 25 per acre,) was 101,407,755 acres. As evidence of the great inferiority of this large quantity of land, it is shown by the same report that the quantity which had been offered and refused, at public sale, in the several States, had been in market, and subject to private entry, the following periods: That in Ohio had nearly all been in market 20 years, the greater portion from 25 to 30 years; that in Indiana had nearly all been in market from 15 to 20 years; that in Illinois had nearly all been in market for 15 years, and upwards; that in Missouri, an average of about 12 years; that in Alabama from 12 to 22 years, the average period may be said to be 15 years; that in Mississippi from 12 to 20 years; that in Louisiana about 13 years; and that in Michigan about 13 years.

In December, 1828, a statement, compiled from official documents, and printed by order of the Senate, showed that 74,358,881 acres were then subject to private entry, having been offered at public sale, and refused, at $125 per acre; and that, of this quantity, 28, 247,000 acres (more than one-third) were unfit for cultivation. Taking the same relative proportions of the quantity now subject to private entry as the basis of calculation, and it follows that we now have about 40,000,000 acres, not only inferior, but unfit for cultivation. Yet our system is based on the hypothesis that there is no difference in the quality or value of the public lands.

As an additional proof of the inferior quality of those hundred and odd anillions of refuse lands, the fact may be stated, that it is dispersed through

the oldest as well as the more recently settled parts of the States and Territories. It is not in such detached bodies, and so far removed from the improved and cultivated lands, as to impede its settlement and cultivation; on the contrary, were the soil good, its locality would afford unusual facilities in both respects. It is wholly unreasonable to suppose that such land will sell for the same price at which land of the best quality can be purchased. But, if reduced to its fair relative value, much might be sold. Inferior lands, lying adjacent to those which are improved and cultivated, would be valuable appendages to them, and would be purchased by present land proprietors. Other portions would be purchased by poor men, who have been driven from the more fertile tracts by men of large capital, and by speculators. As we have seen, much of this land has already been in market, unsold, for twenty years or upwards; for a period how much longer it may remain on hand, it is impossible to determine; but is it not perfectly obvious that it would have been to the interest of the Government, regarding money alone, to have sold it at half the price in the first instance? Add interest for twenty years, at six per cent. per annum, on the value of a given quantity of land, estimated at fifty cents per acre, and it will be about equal to the price demanded by the Government. Yet we have this land still on hand, with its relative value diminished, not only in the ratio in which all other real estate has declined, but by being shorn of much of its valuable timber, by those residing in its neighborhood, or by settlers who have no permanent interest in the soil. Besides, we have sustained the expense of keeping up a number of land offices, amounting to thousands of dollars every year, which would have been rendered unnecessary by a speedy sale, if the price had been suitably reduced. The proposed policy would result in the sale of many thousands, if not millions of acres, which, otherwise, will not be sold, but be deprived of timber, exhausted, and worn out, by those who have no inducement to preserve the soil longer than for merely temporary use; which is not only detrimental to the interest of the United States, but highly injurious to the particular State in which they may happen to lie.

But the amount of money to be realized from the public domain is not the sole, nor even the chief consideration which should influence and determine the policy of a wise and paternal Government. In the language of the President, in his annual message of December, 1832, "The wealth and strength of a country are its population, and the best part of that population are the cultivators of the soil. Independent farmers are, every where, the basis of society, and true friends of liberty." These sentiments, it is hoped, will find a cordial response in every bosom. Their truth and justness are attested by all history. It may be asked, triumphantly, when did the cultivators of the soil willingly abandon the principles, or knowingly become the enemies of free Government? The soundness of the principle laid down is sustained by the most approved doctrines of political economy, and sanctioned by practical experience.

The committee also concur in the sentiment expressed in the same message, that it is our true policy that the public lands shall cease, as soon as practicable, to be a source of revenue, and that they should be sold to settlers, in limited parcels, at a price barely sufficient to reimburse the United States the expense of the present system, and the cost arising under our Indian compacts." The new States have, as they manifestly feel, a deep interest in this subject. By their memorials, they have urged upon

Congress repeatedly, within the last ten or twelve years, the policy, justice, and necessity of reducing the price of refuse lands. They have represented, and truly represented, as the committee believe, that the existing law in regard to price operates materially and wrongfully to their injury. The high price of land inevitably retards the population of a country, and, taken in connexion with the want of power to tax it, must postpone the maturity of its resources.

In the opinion of the committee, it is due to the people of the new States that the existing state of things should be terminated as soon as practicable. It is certainly desirable that every acre of land should, if possible, be rendered productive; and this can never be done till it is in the hands of individual proprietors. Population is emphatically the strength of a State; and to render a people free, prosperous, and happy, they should be the owners of the soil they cultivate.

After a full consideration of the compacts between the General Government and the original States which surrendered territory, and those with the new States upon their admission into the Union; regarding that good faith with which engagements so grave and important ought to be fulfilled; looking to the interest of the Government either as to the amount of money to be realized, or the harmony, strength, and resources of the Union at large, and considering what is due to the tranquillity and resources of the younger members of the confederacy, the committee cannot resist the conclusion that a law should be passed, reducing and graduating the price of that portion of the public lands which has been offered at public sale, and remains unsold, in proportion to the time it may have been in market. And they accordingly report a bill for that purpose.

Documents referred to in the foregoing report.

TREASURY Department,

January 22, 1833.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit a report from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, containing the information required by a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 3d instant, relating to the survey and sale of the public land, so far as it can be furnished by the means at present in that office.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

SIR In obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States, bearing date the 3d instant, in the words following, to wit:

"Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury report to this House a statement showing the following facts:

"1st. The average amount, per annum, appropriated and expended in the survey of the public lands, since 1st January, 1823.

"2d. The average amount, per annum, of public lands offered at public sale since the 1st January, 1823.

"sd. The quantity of public lands which have remained subject to private entry, and not sold, for a period of twenty years and more.

"4th. The quantity of public lands which have been subject to private entry for fifteen and under twenty years.

5th. The quantity of public lands which have been in market, subject to private sale, for ten years and under fifteen years, designating the State and Territory in which the lands are situated.

"The quantity of public land in each State and Territory, the amount sold, and the amount received therefor," and which you have referred to this office, I have the honor herewith to transmit the accompanying statements, marked A, B, C, and D.

In reference to the statement marked C, I have to observe that it affords the information sought for by the 3d, 4th, and 5th clauses of the resolution, as far as the present means in the office will admit of so doing.

With great respect, your obedient servant,

Hon. LOUIS MCLANE,

Secretary of the Treasury.

ELIJAH HAYWARD.

A.

Average amount, per annum, appropriated and expended in the survey of the public lands since the 1st January, 1823.

Included in the above is $18,000 appropriated, and $13,000 expended for surveys of private land claims in Florida.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

Register's Office, January 10, 1833.

MICHAEL NOURSE, Acting Register.

B.

STATEMENT showing the quantity of public land offered for sale in each State and Territory, and the average quantity per annum, from the 1st of January, 1823, to the 31st December, 1831. (Under the second clause of the resolution.)