Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-08-03

many bills that were report long alter
this, were taken up and passed into laws;
and yet the Judge permitted this bill to
lie and slumber Oh the table throughout
the session, The House of Represea-
tatives twice refused to grant the right
of presumption both in louisiana and
Alabama, and l believe in both cases
upon the prayer of the respective Legis
latures. Both Houses, therefore, it APP
peared, were opposed to extending the
right of emption.-What, then, was
my duty? The lands were principally
surveyed, and likely to be brought into
market-without the right of pre-emp-
ton, the settlers stood on the same foot
ing at the sales with all others Their
farms, with their crohs growing upon
them, therefore, migha fall into the hands
of the Spectator. This would follow,
OF course, If the Spectator should out
bid the sett!er. Under full knowledge
of the probability of this result, and at
the Sheciat request ui many of the San
gamo people, who were fearful that
they would be outbid at the sales, l Of
Tered the following resoiution:- y
j" Resolued, That the Committee on
the Public Lands be instructed TO inquire
into the expectancy of authorizing the
settlers on the public lands in the state
OF illinois to preserve and gather their
crops, s..,er the lands may be sold by
the United States, at public sale, where
such settlers do not become the purchas-
ers."
But so settled was the House against
giving any further countenance to set
tiers upon the public land, that they
would not even grant this privilege.
Brutus says, that when this subject was
before the House, 6" it was observed in
Congress that the United States had ne
yer disturbed actual settlers in the en-
joyment of the fruits OF their iabors, or
evinced the least DISPOSITION 10 do it,
and it was useless to pass any law on the
SUBJECT" This | positively assert was
not said in Congress, nor can Brutus
show any thing resembling such state
ment. He has therefore made what is
utterly untrue, or some other person
has made it for HIM, and demand of
him TO show how he came by this retend-
ed Information. But is it true, if it had
been said in Congress ? No-NVe all
know that the United States have. more
than once, "evinced disposition" to re-
move the settlers from their improve
ments. That disposition was manifested
towards the people OF Sangamo, as well
as TO all other such settlers in the state
during the last summer, the fabricated
Congress news of Brutus 10 the contra
ry Notwithstanding: l say i, was eyinc-
ed" during the last summer, and here is
the proof of the assertion
:. Notice to intruding Settlers and others who
commit waste OH Public Lands
"rhose laWiess persons whf arc guilty OF
on lands OF the United States, and OF
committing waste ON public timber, are here
by notified, that measures hayingbecn taAentor
rigid enforcement Of the lawsot the United
States in such Case made and provided, they
are hereby ordered 10 desist from sucn offences
forthwith, otherwise they will be prosecuted
to the utmost rigor of the law!
"Giyen under my hand at the city of Wash
ington, this 18th day of July, 1921.
"By Order, JOSIAH MEIGS,
=" Commissioner ofthe General Lind C.&ce."
An order similar to this was issued
from the Treasury Department to re-
move the settlers from Missouri lew
years ago, and the military was subject
to be employed to euiorce the order.
This order drove many people from that
country and it is well known that the or
der have copied had serious eflec'
for while upon the very people now
living in Sangamo. | demand, there
fore, of Brutus, to tell us who is the au-
,hor ofthis Congress news. But Brutus,
who, if we may Judge from the style of
his writing, is at least lawyer by fro
fession, if not in fact, will not pretend,
that if the farm of settler were sold
over his head, with his crop growing
upon it, that the crop might still be la70-
fully taken away by the settler, without
the consent of the purchaser. Tie knows
full well that the law zuould give the
croh to the purchaser.
This noise, however, is all made with
the vain hope of setting the people OF
Sangamo against me. But | can tell
Brutus that there are men of much more
honesty, and, I believe, understanding
too, in that country, than he has himself,
and that they will fully understand, and
correctly appreciate, the motives which
produce so unfounded an attack upon
me.
Still having in view the excitement of
the honest prejudices Of the people of
Sangamo against me, Brutus asserts that
sit is also said, that there is large
amount of available funds in the Ed
zuardsyiNe family, laid BY for the ex-