Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-03-27

therefore excluded from the general dis
tribution, and the government would
therefore be able 10 sell them, as soon
as there was demand for that quantity
This saving, he said, was not made by
robbing the soldier of any part oil his
iust rights, bat by a bargain, mutually
beneficial to him anti the nation ; oE;
gain which gave him more than he nd \
received, and of which he might or might
not avail himself athis pleasure.
Mr.. c. said, it was the interest oil the
government to enter into this commute
ton with view to regularity in the sale
of the public land, as source OF reve-
nue.. He said that since the land offices
bad been opened, which embraced Pc
riod Of more than twenty years, the gov
eminent had sold but 1850 1880 acres,
the land distributed and to be distributed
amongst these soldiers, II no change
were made, he said, would amount to
6,72O,o0O acres, being more than one
third Of the whole quantity sold during
the period he had mentioned. his
land, he said, would be in market at
reduced price, and would therefore give
rise to such competition with the govern
ment that it would, until it reached the
price of the public lands, prevent, In a
great degree, the sales which the United
States might wish to make. On this
branch OF the subject, Mr.. c. dwelt con-
slderably at large, and demonstrated
that in a series OF years, the receipts IN
to the Treasury, from the sale oil public
land, would be increased by the adoption
ofthe measure contained in the bill.
Mr.. c. next dwclt upon he policy OF
the government, in giving this land
bounty. 1t was, he said, to invite the
poor but hardy yeoman to the national
standard, and il was to provide the war
worn soldier, with a home for himself
and family, when he had faithfully served
lis country. This, he said, was the po-
icy, aud in order to ensure its success,
had been imposed upon the
older, in transferring it. He could not,
awlully, sell it until he had obtained his
,atent; he then had his home, and might
20 10 it il he chose. But, said Mr.. c.
our policy is vain, ii things remain as
hey are. He finds his land in the wilds
f the west, where neither friend nor
eighbor is to be found--he cannot set
e it; but is forced to sell it for what it
ill bring. And hoy much is it No
ng--or nearly so. The bill he said,
ould give effect to that policy. The
'ldier might take his certificate and go
any of the land Offices, when the lands
id been offered at sale, and enter 80
res. Thus he could find home in
c bosom of society, and the policy OF
e government would be realized-the
attitude ofthe soldier would be awaken
land the example would have It's
fects hereafter, if such appeal should
,ain be made to that class, to fight for
e nation.
Mr.. c. said, it might be objected, that
e soldiers who had already received
cir land would be injured. 1t was not
}. The government, he said, IN the first
lace, had complied with its contract
ia them, and, therefore, could not be
,s,rained in relation to others but, he
aid, it was dcmonstrable that they would
e benefited. Itwould lessen the guam
ty of deprecated land in the market,
nd, therefore, enable them the sooner
} sell advantageously. Under every
lew of the subject, he thought the bill
ught to pass.
Mr. Hardin Of Kentucky, replied,
rlchy 10 the arguments of Mr.. Cook,
nd said that he saw no good reason in
avor of the bill, but strong ones against
t. He said it would enable the soldier
o draw his land, and if it should not
urn out to be very good, he would re-
inquish it, and take the scrip, and in
his way, he said the government would
ret all the bad land, and save none that
vas good.
He said the gent aman from Illinois
lad stated, that by Keeping this bill, the
government would make great saving.
lie said he did not wish to save from the
Door soldier.-IIe wished him to have
I'll that he had neutrality-suspicious., he
aid, might profit by the bill, but no one
Else.
Mr.. MCoy, of Virginia, followed
MIR. H. and urged that this subject, had
been discussed much at large, some
hree or four years ago; that it had then
'een ncgatived by large majority, and
lie can see no reason for taking it up
low, when there was so much business
before Congress, that was more inpor-
ant.-He said he could see no good
purpose it could answer, and therefore
moved to strike out the first section.