TUIRTIETII CONGRESS, 1847-49. 501 



beyond human endurance, if they were put on to pay this 

 debt at once. She was growing ; she had natural resources, 

 great and extensive; give them time to be devek)ped, and 

 she woukl pay this debt, and every other debt she owed. 

 He believed it, before God. 



But in the account between the United States and the 

 State of Arkansas, the debt was not altogether on the side 

 of the latter. It had used to be a matter of jest with his 

 predecessor — a proud and honorable man, whose post he 

 •could never till — that whenever the United States would 

 settle, then, Arkansas would settle too. There was, never- 

 theless, a great deal of truth in this. The whole per cent- 

 age on the sales of the public lands, which belonged to that 

 State, had been reserved by the Government — for what? 

 To apply towards the payment of this Smithsonian fund. 

 What the amount was, he did not know. He hoped there 

 would be enough to pay the interest; he would like it if 

 there was enough to pay the principal too ; there might not 

 be enough for either. But that that State would come up 

 to the mark, and fully pay all her debts, both principal and 

 interest, whenever she was able to do so, he assured the gen- 

 tleman from Alabama, and the country. He hoped the 

 gentleman would not further attack the State in general ; 

 he would rather he would attack him. He did hope they 

 would hear no more of this general denunciation — as far, at 

 least, as the State of Arkansas was concerned. [A laugh.] 

 He did not care if the gentleman attacked Alabama, [re- 

 newed laughter,] or any other State, with the consent of 

 those who were to defend her; but let him not jump upon 

 his State, because she was small ! Why, gentlemen of mag- 

 nanimity ought to be ashamed of themselves for sucb a 

 course. 



He was against this amendment, because this business was 

 already placed in the hands of honorable men, the Regents 

 of the Institution, who were fully competent to discharge 

 the duty assigned to them ; and furthermore, because they 

 were amply severe upon the State of Arkansas, [a laugh,] 

 from the experience he had had with them, without other 

 men being added to them. 



Mr. HiLLiARD rose simply for the purpose of. disclaiming 

 any intention, in the remarks he had made, to assail the 

 State of Arkansas. 



Mr. McIlvaine rose, and was understood to intimate his 

 desire to move an amendment. But it was not now in 

 order. 



The question was thereupon taken on the amendment of 



