GoNGE zsss-oNA-s.

DEBATE IN THE sENArE-Jan. 2
NIT. Feot's resolution for suspending the surveys of the public lands, S5c. being un- der consideration

 MT. WEBSTER of Massachusetts said, on rising, that nothing had been furthe. from his intention. than to take anypart in the discussion of this resolution. It proposed only an inquiry, on subject of much importance, and one in regard to which it might strike the mind of the mover, and of other gentlemen, that in- quIry and investigation would be useful. Although (said Mr. w l am one of those who dc not perceive any particu- lar utility in iustituting the inquiry, have nevertheless, not seen that harm would be likely to result from adopting the resolution. Indeed it gives no new powers and hardly imposes any new du- ty On the committee. Ali that the re solution proposes. should be done. the committee is quite competent, without the resolution, to do by virtue of it's or dinary powers. But, Sir, although ] have felt quite indifferent about the pas sing Of the resolution, yet opinions were expressed yesterday on the general sub Ject of the public lands, and on some O. ther subjects, by the gentleman from South Carolina, so widely different fres, my own, that am not willing to let the occasion pass without some reply. If deemed the resolution as originally pro. posed hardly necessary, still less, do l think 1t either necessary or expedient to adopt it, since a second branch has been added toit to-day. By this second branch, the Committee is to be instruc- ted to inquire whether it be expedient fo adopt measures to hasten tbe sales. and extend more rapidly the surveys of the public lands.

 Now, it appears, that, in forty years, Rir. President, we have sold no more than about twenty millions of acres of public lands. The annual sales do not now exceed, and never have exceeded, one million of acres. X million a year Is according to our experience, as much as the increase of population can bring into settlement. And, it appears also, that we have at this moment, sir, sur veyed and in the market, ready for sale, two hundred and ten millions of acres, or thereabouts. All this vast mass, at this moment lies On our hands, for mere 5. wantof purchasers. Cananyman. look ing to the real interests of the country and people, seriously think of ofinquiring whetherwe ought tnotstill faster tohasten thep publlcsurVeys, and to bring still more and more rapidly, other vast quantities into the market The truth is, that ra- pidly as population has increased, the surveys have nevertheless, .outran our wants. Thereare more laqds than pur- chasers. They are now sold at low pri- Ses, taken up as fast as the increase of people furnishes hands to take them up. 1t IS obvious, that no artificial reguiati- on, no forcing of sales, no giving away of the landseyen, can produce any great and sudden augmentation of population. Ine ratio of increase though great, has yet its bounds. Hands for labor are maltlplied only at a certain rate. The Bands cannot be settled but by settlers i; nor faster than settlers can be found. A system, if now adopted, of forcing sales, at whatever prices, may have the effect of throwing large quantities into the Aaads of individuals, who would, in this way, in time, become themselves com. petitors with the government, in the sale oflands. My own opinion has uniform y been, that the public lands should be offered freely, and at low prices so as to encourage settlement and cultivation as rapidly as the increasing population ci the country is competent to extend settlement and cultivation.

 Every actual settler should beable to buy good land, at cheap rate but. on the other hand, speculation by indi- vlduals, on large scale, should not be encouraged, nor should the value of all Hands, sold and uasold, be reduced to nothing, by throwing new and vast quan- titIes into the market at prices merely nominal

 1 now proceed, sir, to some of the O. Flnions expressed by the gentleman from South Carolina. Two or three topics touchedby him, in regard to which zm5.ssc expressed sentiments in which I do 1not at all concur.

 & In the first place. sir. fhe bonorable