Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-09-28
PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Ara meeting OF the cl,lzens OF Ou Duquo coun-
W assembled at the methodist church, IN the town
a. Du Buaue. OIL saturday, the a4th September, for
The purpose oil expressing their opinions upon ques-
lions connected with the disposal of the public !
lands, Capt, FRANCIS GEHON was called to the I
chai,. and WARNER LEWIS appointed secretary. |
Rs,Ired, That committee of five persons, to
be selected from this meeting, be appointed by the
caairrnan to draft preamble, with resolutions, exc
nres,se OF the sense of this meeting, upon this im-
pnrt,a, question: whereupon, 1Xos. Child, Hoseo |
r. Camp, Lueius HI Langscorthy, Z. IT, EngIe
nd Viliian Snsitt, were appointed that commit
tee.
resauions, and returned, and by Mr.. Engle, re-
pos,sd the following address aud resolutions.
The numsfous questions that have been from
tim. TO time agi,ated concerning the public lands,
ia,slse Considerations OF great moment TO tne
sesssn people; and among the multiplied forms OF
sisess.lon which these questions have assumed,
bota in the halls Of congress, and in the public jour-
mas, those Immediately and vitality interested, have
osea placed in the situation Of the poor pauent,
who was gradually losing his strength, while ms
leaned physicians were INDUCING IN protiacted
consultations concerning the proper remediesto oe
adssSsd in has case. The manner of disposal OF
J ssnfsieh, 9tss-
tons that come home to the breast OF every man III
this coiumnnity, upon their ds e.sion depends, in
sieat measure, priv welfare, and our public
prosperity; aad 1t is Therefore highly necessary that
the views Of those whose interests 60 thoroughly
interviewer with these questions should be publicly
made known. Our great and common object is to
secure the passage of q pre.emption law, at tho
next session of congress- by which tho actual set
tiers public lands shall have the FIRST right ofpur-
chase At the minimum price. Is this asking ia
vor, or is it demanding a right! Isl more than a
sheer act Of justice which policy requires, and
which duty enjoinsupon the general government!
One Of the main objects in forming the constitution
Of the United States, declared be tslhe promo
ton of tho general welfare" and the treaties by
which the United states have acquired these lands,
have contemplated their settlements and their for
msttOn into territories and states. That the pub
lac welfare will no promoted by transforming tho
wilderness 10 garden, by building up cites and
towne, marts OF t.ade and commerce, where lately
the white man had not dared to build his hut, by
dIssmbowei!ing the earth Of her rich mineral de-
pasites, ~ snsEging tho scene Of human happiness
and niotiplyintthe sources Of national wealth, is
100 evident to emade the sube OF comment; and
It IS equally beyond the reach of dispute, that il is
the ou'y OF the government to promote tho sottle-
ment OF the public lands by offering sufficient in-
ducements TO the settler, in dsposing of their lands
10 hun a, lair price, and protecting him in all his
os rights Is 1t too much 10 say, that it is the poli-
cy OF tho sovsrninent 10 pursue such course, with
regard to the public lands, as will best tend to the
speedy settlement OF this new country, with CHI
seiPrislng, independent, and industrious popua-
ton; and IN furtherance of this, is it too much to
ask that the actual settler should be secured in the
Improvements which he has made, and that tho
lands Ut the government, should be as much as pos
sioie, Kept out of the hands of monied monopoliss
ulator, whose intention is neither settle
uponor improve ths lands thsy purchase!
The territory included within the Black Hawk
Purchase Or New Purchase, as it has been called,
now contains population of about 1000 souls,
all OF whom have como iii since tho spring o. sum-
el Of 1888. The legal title to every acre of tina,
land, is still in the general government. Tho set-
tiers Upon this portion of the national domain have
built towns, and made lams-,hey have erected
mills, fanaces and houses-bY the sweat Of thei,
OF their brows, they have made the earth TEEN wit
the productions of agrcultufe-they have extract
ed from her bowels, the rich mineral products there
IN embeddcd-,hey have expended capital and la
bo, in fencing, improving and retaining the wild
lands OF the gove.nment--they have endured the
hasdshps and pripations of frontier life, exposed
TO the incursions of savage foe, with often but
scanty supply of the necessaiies and with mono Of
| the luxuries of li:e-they have made a home for
themsel es, in which the accumulated fruits of the
labor OF whole life, ha been invested, uusr the
| implied warrant, that tho same immunitfSs, tina
sane safeguards which had boon granted heretofore
10 cthefs, would be granted TO them. They only
ask-we only ask for them-that they should no,
b thrown npon the mercy of the distant and re-
morseiess speculator--we only ask that they shout
not 30 turned out from the homes which their own
industry has reared--we only ask that the govern.
ment should not sell what does not properly belong
| to that government, the Improvements made upon
the land by the labor and industry of the settler,
fill The Golfers of an already bloated treasury. We
say thesimprovements made upon the land, the
houses built, the fences erectsd and the other usef
effects OF labor and capital expended, do not, ir
lutre or equity, belong to the government, for it il
| law OF nature and ofnature,s God, that the labo
OF mars body, and the work Of his hands are pro-
perry his; and man makes properly his own by
| :akng II from q etate of nature, and mixing with
| ], his own labor aud capital The land actually
settled upon in this tesftory, derives moro thai,
nine tenihs of its marketable value from the enter.
pi;e, industry, labor and capital of the settler
and will 60 eminent, whose laws arc founded
upon the mmutable principles of justice, under the
tyrans plea, that might gives right, sell propert,
which does not belong to it, and put into the public
treasury, the hard earnings of other mems industry
Will that government impovsvish-will it strir
naked the hardy pioneers whose enterprise has peo
pied the western Wilderness, opened new channel.
Of wealth-added 80 much to the productive indus
try of the country, and who have given an ncreas
ed value to the lands of the government not claim.
| ed or settled upon, by the very act Of making i'm.
provements in the vicinity! II cannot be such
an act Of gross injustice would go down to all future
ages, branding its authors with disgrace We hay.
seen, however, with pain and regret, and not with
out some alarm, that the adoption of such course
has its advocates on the floors of congress. W.
have bill offered in the senate II the United
states, by Thorn Is Ewing, senator from Ohio. n
which ii was proposed to abolish public and oper
Of and and TO substitute secre, bids by sealed
letters, and to swear tho land officers moi 70 dvp.
the names Of the bidders. What stupendous sys
TEN Of legalized fraud and robbery would here b,
erected. The rich Spectator could set Al his cas-,
in his office, counting house or drawing room, IN III,
city of Boston, NewsYork or Philadelphja. anf
buy Of the government, the best farm in this ce,n
Try, BY sealed letlss, without hearing the com.
plants Or facing tho Indignant frownsof an out a .
ed and Injured na0ple 1,..,~o E,,.. u -, =. p