Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-03-13

form: ''shall this bill be rejected?' and decided III
the Affirmative; yeas 1902, nays9i.
1 FEBRUARY, 90
| SETTLERS ON PUBLIC LANDS.
/ MIR. WlCkLlFFE, from the Committee on the
Public Lands, reported bill to extend the provisions
of the act of the third Of March, 1907, entitled San
act to prevent settlements being made on lands &C.
ded to the United States, until authorized by laws"
which bill having been twice read
I Mr.. WlCKLlFFE handed to the Chair letter
from the Secretary of War; showing the necessity Of
this bill, to guard against project on foot for organi-
zng company at Rock Island, to take possession of
the Lead Mines west of the Mississippi, upon which
the law for the removal of inruders, in ITS present
form, would operate. The object of this bill was
merely extend the authority Of the United States
its unappropriated land wherever situated Mr.
w. foreseeing objection to the bill, asked that II
be now ordered to be engrossed for third reading
Mr.. DUNCAN regretted to have been Obliged to
differ with the majority of the Committee on Public
Lands whohad reported this bill 1t did not, in his
opinion, meet the views ofthe Government, and must
fall short oi the expectations of its friends IN the
Committee. He objected to Eeviving law which
had remained 40 years dead letter on the stat
ute books an act whichhad never, and could never,
be enforced Public opinion had long since fixed the
seal ofrcprobation upon any attempt to punish ndi-
viduas for settling, trespassiDg as 1t called, upon
the public lands. Suits had often eenbronsht under
this act and the result had universally been, that the
tending the power to the President to lease the mines
west Of the Mississippi on the terms that those
least of that river are now leased. Such policy
would receive the sanction of the People; would pro-
)duce large revenue and be the means of preserv-
ing the timber and of outstanding all the resources oil
the country.
4 He was opposed to the bill account OF the mpos-
sibty of enforcing il; the principles it contained
, and the vexation and violence which he thought
would certainly ensue, il an attempt should be made
to enforce it under the policy pursued in relation
to the mines east Of the river lie said it was in the
power of the Government Agent to protect the tim
Der and mines from waste, and when that country 4
offered for sale, which must soon be done, 1t wouit
command high price, after having paid ID rents re
ceived from the mines largely more than the orgina
cost OF the whole country. He was not very favora
BILE to the leasing sysem it would be much shelter
sell these mines possible, and the Commit
tee on Public Lands agreed with him on that subjec
/. and had reported bill for selling all the minera
lands east of the Mississippi; but one thing is certain
that the enterpring citzensof that country canno
be kept out of tbs newly acquired territory; and il
was question to be settled, whether should
admit every COOL citizen, or, by attempting to ex
clude all, only almit those who are independent OF
land will disregard all law.
Mr.. WlCKLIFFE briefly replied, insisting III.
expediency of ltgisatng the subject, and leavin.
the question of the execution Of the law to those
whom it would desulye.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for thrt
: reading
/ The bill from the Senate, entitled Gan act t.
e amend an act. entitled AN act TO grant quantit,
of land to the State of Illinois, for the purpose o
opening canal "a connect the waters of the lllinoi
river with those OF Lake Michigan was read thu
! third time and passed as amended
The House proceeded to the consideration OF tn,
bill from the Senate, entitled san act to anthoriz
!, the President to the line dividing the States o
Indiana and Illinois to be traced and duIably mark
ed" and the amendments reported thereto, by tn