Richmond Enquirer

STRIKING EXTRACT.

From the Speech of Mr. Pettis, the new member from Missouri, in the House of Representatives, in opposition to Mr. Hunt's resolution "on the proposition to distribute the proceeds of the public lands."

"Are the principles of all parties to be abandoned in this scramble for the public treasure? Are the honest opinions of the people to be bought up by the miserable pittance arising from the sales of the public lands? Sir, whenever this government shall be destroyed—whenever this blessed Union shall be divided, (and the gentleman from Rhode Island says, he expects it will be some time next Summer.) whenever tyranny or anarchy shall be our portion, the faithful historian will trace the cause of such a calamity to schemes like this—to schemes which tend to corrupt the principles and feelings of the good people of this Union, by the money of the general government. I can conceive of no state of things, more dangerous than that which will find the people of these States looking to the treasury of the general government alone, expecting from that source to be fed, clothed, and educated: and ready to surrender all their principles, constitutional and moral, for the accomplishment of their objects. The time seems already come, when gentlemen, in the language of the member from North Carolina, (Mr. Potter) are determined to get their share of every dollar in the public treasury."