Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-08-21

n, LA WI DIE.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
Mr.. Crawford VS.. The Peohie Of tie
Veqy States.
Mn. WARREN,
Upon my arrival in this neighborhood
was informed that orders had again
been issued from the Treasury Depart
ment TO have salts brought against the
settlers on the public land, and to havo
them removed from their Improvements.
In the country south and west of the
City Of Washington, Mr.. Crawford states
in effect, in his annual report to the last
Congress, that tax of less than one dol
lar for each individual cannot be raised
and therefore, recommends a loan in
preference to taxes, as the better means
of raising money to meet the expenses
ofthe government.
He has so curtailed the land Office
money as to make it next to impossible
to pay for lands heretofore purchased or
to purchase hereafter from the govern
ment. Even Missouri money, when the
Bank was in such credit as to induce the
Secretary to allow them a standing de-
post of Sl50,OOO, was not land Office
money in Illinois.--A Bank too that was
made the place of deposite of money re-
ceived for land in Illinois.
In addition to these difficulties thrown
in our way by the Secretary, he has, al
though repeated applications have been
made to him to have the Sangamo coun-
try surveyed and brought into market,
where many of the settlers are both able
and willing to pay for their improves
ments, refused and neglected 10 attend
10 their wishes and now at a moment
when every sympathy ofthe heart should
be enlisted in favor Of the floor man at
least wEo is unable to purchase-whoso
crying family dives him to the public
domain as the only refuge from starya-
tion--he comes out with orders to have
suits brought to recover damages for the
waste committed, and also, to have the
|pennyless settler driven from his cabbin.
When the regular sales of the land
under his superintendent cannot pro-
duce a fund sufficient to supply Mr..
Crawford's treasury defcit--and when
his calculations of revenue from imports
all fall short, and he is likely to expose
his mcompetency to manage the treasu-
ry, and excite public opposition by again
Recommending seven million loan, he
betakes himself to suits to recover for.
futures and damages to fill his exche-
quer, even though they be wrung from
the empty pockets of poverty, and even
though il take the bread out the mouth
of helpless and starving women and
children. Why after being silent SO long,
and after abandoning project of similar
kind some two or three years ago, when
the means Of purchasing land could be
so much more easily come at than now
when the distress ofthe community cries
aloud for all the lenity that individuals
or the government can giye-I say soAy
make this +" unkindest-cut-of-all'' at the
poor squatter, who is only making the
land more valuable against the day Of
sale. Ifit be to fill the treasury by for
FIXTURES and thereby to avoid loans and
taxes, / fear it will be found as visionary
a plan as the rest ofthe wise Secretary's
have been, which he has so studiousIy
adopted to gain popularity. The squat
tiers may be few, poor and without in
fluence, but lei. Mr.. Crawford remem-
Der that we shali look to the actions as
the evidence Of the qayalities ofthe Aeore
and the head.--And if his faith, or his
character are to be proven by his works,
such works as these will not be g lauded
to the skies.''
We understand he has appointed the
Registers and Receivers Of the land Of
fees his informcrs. Docs this come
within their sphere ofac,ion! Are they
to prowl through the country in search
of victims for Mr.. Crawford's empty
treasury! And is it byyfnes and forfeit
tnres hunted an by them, that he is to
redeem the nation from bankruptcy :
If he will bring our Sangamo land into
market we will purchase. and pay our
money fairly into his empty boxes, but
since he has SO long suffered the arm Of
the law to hang harmless and unemp loy-
/ ed, ! shall feel, and believe all others
will have the same feelings, extremely
sore TO see the informer lurking around
my little improvement, which am both
ready and willing 10 pay for.
n Citizen Of Sangamo.
Silver Greek, August 20, 1921.
CIRCULAR