lands that were unsold, and they enabled the government to sell the lands
which could not be sold without them. Thus, then, the government gained
by internal improvements as well as by the general good which the people
derived from them, and it might be, therefore, that the lands should not
be sold for more than $1.50 instead of the price being doubled. He,
however, merely mentioned this in passing, for he only rose to state, as
the principle of giving these lands for the purposes which he had
mentioned had been laid hold of and considered favorably, and as there
were some gentlemen who had constitutional scruples about giving money
for these purchases who would not hesitate to give land, that he was not
willing to have it understood that he was one of those who made war
against that principle. This was all he desired to say, and having
accomplished the object with which he rose, he withdrew his motion to
reconsider.




ON TAYLOR'S NOMINATION

TO E. B. WASHBURNE.

WASHINGTON, April 30,1848.
DEAR WASHBURNE:

I have this moment received your very short note asking me if old Taylor
is to be used up, and who will be the nominee. My hope of Taylor's
nomination is as high--a little higher than it was when you left. Still,
the case is by no means out of doubt. Mr. Clay's letter has not advanced
his interests any here. Several who were against Taylor, but not for