GENERAL HISTORY. 



[157 



shape ;it least, the emigration, 

 which has heretofore been great, 

 will probably increase, and the 

 demand for land, and the aug- 

 mentation in its value, be in like 

 proportion. The great increase 

 of our population throughout the 

 union will alone produce an im- 

 portant effect, and in no quarter 

 will it be so sensibly felt as in 

 those in contemplation. The public 

 lands are a public stock, which 

 ought to be disposed of to the best 

 advantage for the nation. The 

 nation shoulil, therefore, derive 

 the profit proceeding from the 

 continual rise in their value. Every 

 encouragement should be given to 

 the emigrants consistent with a 

 fair competition between them ; 

 but that competition should ope- 

 rate, in the first sale, to the ad- 

 vantage of the nation rather than 

 of individuals. Great capitalists 

 will derive all the benefit incident 

 to their superior wealth, under 

 any mode of sale which may be 

 adopted. But if, looking forward 

 to the rise in the value of the 

 public lands, they should have the 

 opportunity of amassing, at a low 

 price, vast bodies in their hands, 

 the profit will accrue to them and 

 not to the jjublic. They would 

 also have the power, in that de- 

 gree, to control the emigration 

 and settlement in such manner as 

 their opinion of their respective 

 interests might dictate. I submit 

 this subject to the consideration of 

 Congress, that such further pro- 

 vision may be made in the sale of 

 the public lands, with a view to 

 the public interest, should any be 

 deemed expedient, as in their 

 judgment may be best adapted to 

 the object. 



" When we consider the vast ex- 



tent of territory, within the United 

 States, the great amount and value 

 of its productions, the connexion 

 of its parts, and other circumstan- 

 ces on which their prosperity and 

 happiness depend, we cannot fail 

 to entertain a high sense of the 

 advantages to be derived from the 

 facility which may be afforded in 

 the intercourse between them by 

 means of good roads and canals. 

 Never did a country of such vast 

 extent offer equal inducements to 

 improvements of this kind, nor 

 ever were consequences of such 

 vast magnitude involved in them. 

 As this subject was acted on by 

 Congress at the last session, and 

 there may be a disposition to re- 

 vive it at the present, I have 

 brought it into view, for the pur- 

 pose of communicating my senti- 

 ments on a very important cir- 

 cumstance connected with it, with 

 that freedom and candour which 

 a regard for the public interest, 

 and a proper respect for Congress, 

 require. A difference of opinion 

 has existed, from the first forma- 

 tion of our constitution to the 

 present time, among our most 

 enlightened and virtuous citizens, 

 respecting the right of Congress 

 to establish such a system of im- 

 provement. Taking into view the 

 trust with which I am now ho- 

 noured, it would be improper, 

 after what has passed, that this 

 discussion should be revived, 

 with an uncertainty of my opinion 

 respecting the right. Disregard- 

 ing early impressions, I have be- 

 stowed on the subject all the de- 

 liberation which its great import- 

 ance, and a just sense of my duty, 

 required ; and the result is a 

 settled conviction in my mind, that 

 Congress do not possess the right. 



It 



