460 CONGEESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



life for one duy iuul espouse such a doctrine. What was her condition ? 

 She was poor; her population was small; the taxes upon her people 

 would be increased be^'ond human endurance if the}' were put on to 

 pa}^ this debt at once. She was g-rowing; she had natural resources, 

 great and extensive; give them time to be developed and she would 

 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 fill — that whenever the 

 United States would settle, then Arkansas would settle too. There 

 was, nevertheless, a great deal of truth in this. The whole percent- 

 age on the sales of the public lands which belonged to that State had 

 been reserved by the Government — for what? To appl}^ toward the 

 payment of this Smithsonian fund. What the amount was he did 

 not know. He hoped there would be enough to pa}^ 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 gentleman from Ala- 

 bama 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. He did not 

 care if the gentleman attacked Alabama, 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 magnanimity 

 ought to be ashamed of themselves for such 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, from the experience he had had with them, without other 

 men being added to them. 



Mr. H. W. HiLLiARD rose simply for the purpose of disclaiming 

 any intention in the remarks he had made to assail the State of 

 A rkansas. 



Mr. Abraham R. 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 Mr. John- 

 son, of Tennessee, and was decided in the negative. 



So the amendment was rejected. 



The demand for the previous question was then seconded and the 

 main question was ordered to be put; and under its operation the 

 resolution of Mr. Truman Smith was adopted. 



