The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-12-23

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leges with those who are not But it is
not believed to be the disposition of Con-
gress to open the public lands to occupancy
without regular entries and payment of the
Government price, as such course must
tend to worse evils than the credit system,
which it was found necessary to abolish,
1t would seem. therefore, to be the part of
wisdom and sound policy to remove, as
far as practicable, the causes which pro-
duce intensions upon the public lands, and
then take efficient steps to prevent them in
future.
Would any single measure be so effec-
tive in removing all plausible grounds Gor
those intrusons as the graduation of price
already suggested! A short period of in
dustry and economy in any part of our
country would enable the poorest citizen to
accumulate the means to buy a home at the
lower prices, and leave him without an
apology for settling on lands not his own.
If he did not, under such circumstances,
he would enlist no sympathy in his favor;
and the laws would be readily executed.
without doing violence to public opinion.
A large portion Of our citizens have seat.
cd themselves on tho public lands, without
authority, since the passage of the last pre-
emption law, and now ask the enactment
Of another TO enable them to retain the
lands occupied, upon payment Of the min
imum Government price. They ask that
which has been repeatedly granted before
If the future may be Judged ofby the past,
little harm can be done to tlle interests of
the Treasury by yielding TO their request.
Upon a critical examination, il is found that
the lands sold at the public sales since the
Introduction of cash payments in 1920,
have produced, on an average, the nett rev.
enue of only SIX cents an acre more than
the minimum Government price. There
is no reason to suppose that future sales
will be more productive. The Govern
ment, therefore, has 10 adequate pecuniary
interest TO induce il to drive these people
from the lands they occupy, for the purpose
Of selling them to others.
Entertaining these views, recommend
the passage OF pre-emption law for their
benefit, i'll connection with the preparatory
steps towards the graduation of the price of
the public lands, and further and moro ef-
iectual provisions TO prevent intrusions
hereafter. Indulgence TO those who have
settled on these lands with expectations
that past legislation would be made a rule
for the future, and at the same time remo-
wing the most plausible ground on Which
intUsions are excused, and adopting more
efficient means to prevent them hereafter,
appear TO me the most iudicious disposition
which can be made of this difficult subject.
The limitations and restrictions to guard a.
gainst abuses in the execution ofa pre-emp-
ton law, will necessarily attract the careful
attention Of Congress, but underno circum-
stances is it considered expedient to au-
thorize floating claims in any shape:
They have been heretofore, and doubtless
would be hereafter, most prolific sources of
fraud and oppression, aud instead Of opera
ting to confer the favour of the Govern
ment on industrious settlers, are often usod
only to minister to a spirit of cupidity at
the expense of the most meritorious ofthat
class.
The accompanying report of the Secra-
tary Of War will bring to your view the
state of the army, aud all the various sub
iccts coniided to the superintcndence of
that officer.
The principal part of the army has been
concentrated in Florida, with view, and
IN the expectation, of bringing the war in
that territory TO a speedy close. The ne
cessIty OF stripping the posts on the mari
| time and inland frontiers of their entire
garrisons, for the purpose of assembling in
the field an army Of less than four thousand
men, wonld seem to indicate the necessity
OF increasing our regular forces; and the
superior efficiency, as well as greatly d-
mnished expense of tnat description of
troops, recommend this measure as one of
economy as well as of oxpediency. re-
Ter to the report for the reasons which have
induced the Secretary of War to urge the
reorganization and enlargement of the staff
Of the army, and of the ordinance corps, in
which fully concur.
1t is not, however, compatible with the
interest of the people to maintain in time
of peace, regular force adequate to the de-
fence of our extensive frontiers. In peri
DDS OF danger and alarm, we must relv prin-
clpally upon well organized militia; and
some general arrangement that will render
this description of force more efficient, has
Tong been subject of anxious solicitude.
1t was recommended to the first congress
by General Washington, and has been since
frequently brought to your notice, and re-
Gently Its importance strongly urged by my
immediate predecessor. The provision in