probably be found. But at just about this time the cause of the West was advancing rapidly. The election of Jackson in 1828, al- though no issue concerning the public lands was involved, brought to the head of the government a person who was in all things likely to favor western demands, and was indicative of the growing power of that section. Nor was the West slow to formulate and increase its demands for changes in the land system. At the close of the year Adams noted with deep concern the "graspings of the western states after all the public lands," as reported to him by Clay, who also strongly disapproved of the idea.[1] Almost at the same time Niles spoke of a " simultaneous movement in several of the western states " which had for its object the acquiring of the public lands by those states.[2]
In spite of the growing strength of the West, Benton was in 1830 not able to secure the assent of the Senate to his bill until it had been amended so that only a reduction to one dollar was pro- vided for. Even in this amended form the North was against the bill and in the vote of 24 to 22 only one vote in its favor came from a state north of Virginia.[3] Benton was, however, satisfied with the concession, as the further reductions in his original bill would not have begun to operate at once and he was confident of securing supplemental legislation from the next Congress.[4] He was very optimistic regarding his plans and maintained that the doctrines of donation to actual settlers and cession to the states had made great progress by 1833.[5] Adams indicated his fears that the old policy regarding the public lands, to which he clung as a New Englander, would be abandoned.[6] But the House with its overwhelming East- ern majority, refused even to consider the bill.[7]
But it is not to the graduation bill but to an innocent-looking resolution offered by Foot, of Connecticut, that we must look for exhibition of the real sentiment on the public lands. This resolu- tion, famous for the debate on the theory of sovereignty which it occasioned, inquired into the advisability of limiting for a time the further sales of the lands. Should the policy to which it pointed be adopted it would be a direct blow at the desires and hopes of the Western states and particularly at the plans advocated by Benton.
- ↑ Adams, Memoirs, VIII. 87-88 (December 31, 1S28).
- ↑ Niles's Register, XXXV. 313 (January 10, 1829).
- ↑ Senate Journal, 21st Cong., first session, 292.
- ↑ Register of Debates, VI. pt. i, 413.
- ↑ Benton, Thirty Years' View, I. 275.
- ↑ "In conversing with Mr. Rush upon the prospects of the country, we agreed that the Indians are already sacrificed ; that the public lands will be given away;" etc. Adams, Memoirs, VIII. 229 (May 22, 1S30).
- ↑ Register of Debates, VI. pt. I, 1148.
