Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-06-30

But lei the tale be circulated by whom
it may, we have the means of refuting II
by documentary evidence; and although
it has heretofore been successfully
done, and although such of our CT
iizens IS resided here in 1920 will,
many OF them, remember that the fol.
lowing article and extract from the Con-
gtessIonal Journal was then published,
TO the disney and discontinue of the re-
taiers OF falsshood, we deem it due to
those who have since come among US, to
republish them, and thereby show that
Mr.. Cook not only made tie motion to
reduce the price, but also endeavored to
lf9care credit on such lands as should
be purchased at private sale. Whether
the latter measure would have been
wise or not, in a national point of view,
i, gives cons lncing evidence Of Mr..
Cocks attention TO the interests of his
constituents.
From the Illinois lntelligencer.
Withun any wish to take part 10 the
approaching election for a Represents
tive 10 Congress, we deem II due TO Mr..
Cook, whose exertions for tie public in
teiest all can attest, TO place the nature
OF his vote on the subject of the public
lands, which we understand has been va
yiously represented, fairly before the pub
iic.
When that subject was before Con-
gress, Mr.. Cook offered the following
amendment to the bill:
"Mr. Cook, then moved 10 amend the
said bill by striking out the second Sec
ton Of The bill; and Inserting in lieu
thereof the folowing:
Sec. Q. Ind be il furthcr enacted, That
from and alter The first day OF July next,
credit shall not be allowed for the pur-
chase money on the sale of any of the
Public Lands, sold at public sale, but
every purchaser of land which may be
so'd thereafter at public sale, shall on
the day OF purchase, make complete
payment thereof, and if any person, be-
ing the highest bidder at public sale,
for tract of land, shall fail to max c
payment therefor Oh the day on which
the same was purchased, the tract shall
be again offered at public sale on the
next day OF sale, and such person shallnol
be capable OF becoming the pure haser
OF that or any other tract OF land at such
public sale. And from and after the
period aforesaid, whenever the purcha-
ser, OF any Of the public lands a, private
sale shall, at the time OF making such
purchase, make complete payment
therefor, the price shall be ONE DOLLAR |
AND FIFTY CENTS PER ACRE. Provided |
however, Tnat this provision shall not
b. construed as to prevent the purchase
u9on credit as heretofore, at PRIVATE
SALE"
the insertion OF this amendment will
at once show, that he was 10 favor OF fix |
ing the price al s IS an acre; and also
OF dividing all ,'ie lands into bali quarter
sections. But as money was so unlver-
sally scarce, he believed thai unless there
were some credit allowed for a part of
the purchase money, that many poor men
would be unable to obtain any of the pub
lie land, and therefore, wished to secure
to them the right Of entering in haif-quar-
tiers, and also upon the usual credit, il
they could not raise money TO pay down. |
lie knew that macy men possessed in
dustry, but Little or no money, and there
fore could not enjoy the bounty of the
western lands without credit Ev thel
plan he proposed, the poor man nigh,
= enter hali-quarter section for $40, and
have five years to pay the remainder in,
while under the plan as it is now adopt
ed, to get possession of a hall, quarter,
the purchaser must pay down 500,
making difference of $780, sum that
is no easy matter for puor man to raise.
In this vote, Mr.. Cook agreed with both
OF our senator's, and in accordance with
the sentiments of Mr.. Clay.
To destroy the credit system entirely,
Mr.. Cook thought calculated to inlure
the west, by checking the current of
emigration. He saw that Ohio and In
diana, as we'll as this state, had gained a
great population in consequence OF the
facility with which they could obtain
settlement.
Instead, therefore, Of condemning his
vote, we think the motives which pro-
duced it, are such as ought to be APP
proved.
TO THE EDITORS.