Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-06-01
land is Only guaranteed to them for theil

use, and that at the pleasure OF the exist
ing authority. 1t is true they settle
there, sell the good will of their places,
so do the squatters ON the United States
public land, when according 10 law he is
but an intruder. The writer has not on
iy lived long in klng!y governments and
established church--but has been well
acquainted with the nature OF the land
claims given by these despe,ic govern
menis, which are Of complex, uncer-
tain nature. 10 speak The truth, land or
any other property, or even the lives OF
The people are held and preserved by an
unstable tenure, and in measure at the
pleasure OF q despotic prince, or his often
more unieeling ministers. See what
difficulty, hardships, and in many cases,
injustice, have been felt about the rights
OF lands within all places east of the
Ohio which have not been laid off in
townships, sections, &c. that incompara-
bic plan which viii do immortal boaor
TO the memory OF the inventor, and the
government, that put it in practice.
We hear Of great things as to the lux
ury, &c. OF the country called Texas.
No doubt but it is fine part in many
places, bu, it has It's difficulties. The
greater part of it that stretches to the
Gulf is levellcr than the state of Illinois,
water scarce and not good; fevers and
ague, with other sickly complaints; and,
in truth, can not be com fortably enjoy
ed, only by slave holders. Where the
country is higher and rolling, il is nothing
like as productive for corn or wheat as
Illinois, and all'subjeot to periodical dry
and we, weather; and triiling as it may
appear 10 mention, the whole country is
infested with ticks, both the large, the
yearling and seed kind, in such "a man.
ner that people and cattle suffer much
by these verlnin, which are o.! an enor-
nous size. Let ant Of my countrymen
look round in tbs state at things as they
are at present, and to the future at safe
ipaticn--lai1d first cost ere dollar
and fourth per acre--yes, my friends,
as much good first rate land on quarter
section of one hundred and sixty acres
as are often to be FUND OH one 'aousand
in many places elsewhere. Yes, forty
acres Of good dry prairie viii make
fine farm. Six or eight may Join about
piece of timber land, fifty dollars will
buy the farm, and from ten totwenty dol
lars to pay for the partnership timber
land. Then you may call that land your
own--plant apple trees, make what other
improvements your circumstances and
disposition may dictate. There is not
such term in our conversation as how
the suit goeth, as will go about such and
such a tract ofland. However, land law
suits never cucumber the people of
Spanish America, as they have no goo;!
rights whatsoever. Here we hold our
land by a better tenure than lands arc
held on any other part of the globe.
A quarter section of land may be
bough. on the military bounty tract, cilcn
as low as forty dollars, as good as can
be in thriving settlements. Land may
be rented in a. high state of cultivation,
with good buildings, at ten bushels an
acre---beins about one fifth Of the crop.
What heartfelt satisfaction must i.
be 10 live in society where all men have
equal privileges and equal respect when
they behave themselves we'll. No such
thing as pulling Oft the hat, or making
obedience. No, we know OF no snpe-
riors but the law. The constable cal in
and keep company with the Judge Of the
supreme court, the waggoner and plough
man with the governor and members Of
Congress, are no kind of an oddly. One
is as much thought of as the other while
he behaves himself as becoming free
republican,, and every man knows his
rights. Let man, a little better off than
another in property, use any kind Of dis
da:n or contempt it soon returns on him
self to his cost, innot only common con-
versalion, but he is well paid Tor his
pride at an election, or ON any occasion
where he may require respect. You
can scarcely read a book, or hear con-
yersalion that spring from other coun-
tries, but you make use ofthe epithets
(" lower class" under class" the " poor
order ofpeople," &c. &c.-We have no
such class here. If we have l never
see them. Hone man have less money,
corn, cattle, or land, than an other, ii
makes no kind of difference in society.
Ii is true there are some who arc ha-
bitual drunkards, when poor are often
used with contempt, but not as often as
they ought.
The truth is, the only people here in
this state, that come any how near what
is denomnated the lower class, are what
would be wished to be called gentlemen,
that is dressed dandy fashion, and often
without being able to pay their board |;