Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-04-10
TO THE VOTERS
Of The First Congressional District of IL
llnois.

UnOlS.
FELLOW CITIZENS - -s,-.--
In placing my name before you, as &
candidate for your suffrages, TO repre-
sent this district in the next Congress
it is due to you, that | should declare
my opinion, in regard to some of the
leading measures, that now are, and
will continue to be, the subject Of con
gressional legislation.
This duty | will proceed to discharge
with undisguised candor, submitting the
policy and propriety of my political
principles to yourJudgement, as well as
my fitness to advocate them, should they
m yourapprobation. My claims for your
support, are alone based on the expedi-
ency, believing that candidates FIR the
suffrages of the people, should be cho'
son for The measures they are for or
against, and not for their devotion 10
faction or party spirit have endeav-
ored as citizen, and as a member OF
the state Legislature, to support the
principles OF the democratic school, be-
lieving these principles in strict accord
ance with the spirit and genius Of our
free institutions. am aware hat
come before you, as candidate, at a
time ofmuch excitement amongst tie PEG
pie, and in the councils OF the Union,
and at time of much bitterness aud
political commoiion- yet shall freely
give my opinions, as | ever have lone,
chershing a wish, that they may be in
unison with the interests of my soun
try.
There is probably no measure before
congress, in which the people of this
state feel "A deeper interest, than in the
reduction of the price of the public
lands. | am clearly Of the opinion,
that they should cease to be a source OF
revenue to the general government
The public debt being extinguished, ev
cry consideration of justice towards the
new states, seems to demand the reln-
punishment Of the soil, by the general
government, to the states in which it
lies; and by the states, afforded to act
ual settlers, at a rate within the means
of all, limiting the quantity to be pur-
chased, so as 10 guard against the accu-
mutation of large tracts iii the hands of
the wealthy spectators. Conld this be
not affected, should next advocate the
graduation Of the price, according to
the time the lands have been in market.
with like provision, to prevent the
purchaser from entering more than a
limited number of acres. The coun-
ties composing this congressional dis
trict, are the oldest settled in the state.
A great portion of the first rate lands
have been purchased at two dollars an
acre, the choicest tracts are perhaps al
ready sold, leaving, of consequence, a
vast quantity of an inferior quality,
which it does not seem just should be
held up at the price of the first rate
lands. A bill has been introduced into
congress. having for its object these pro-
visions, the passage of which would in
crease the population, and place within
the power of very numerous and high
ly deserving class of men the means Of
becoming freeholders, thus adding to
the wealth and prosperity of our state
know that almost every candidate has
harped on this subject, until it has be-
come wearisome to the people, but res
assured, that by an energetic, united eff
fort Of the representatives in congress
from the west, our claims would be
heard and allowed; and this can onl,
be effected by the people urging tn,
measures; it should he paramount
subject of discussion with them. A fai
experiment has been made in the coun
ty of Gallatin in this state. A part O
the saline reserve was, by an act OF las
Legislature, reduced to fifty cents an a
ere, and sold in forty acre lots, the con
sequence of which has been, that man
meFitorious men have been enabled t
secure homes for their families, tn
lands cultivated enhanced in value, an
the proceeds of the sale divided out, t
most of the counties of this district
In this measure voted in conjunctio
with the able representatives from thu
county, who proposed and carried tn
measure in our Legislature.
The Legislature of this state hav
petitioned congress to surrender the a
) ternate sections to the state, on the co