Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-12-22
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


/ A modification Ot the existing laws IN re
spect to the prices Of the public lands, might
also have favorable influence on the lcgls
lation of Congress. in relation to another
branch of the subject. Many who have
not the ability to buy at the present, prices,
settle on those lands, with the hope of &C.
curing from their cultivation the means OF
purchasing under pre- emp'ion laws, from
time to time passed by congress. For this
cncroachment on the rights Of the United
States, they excuse themselves under the
plea OF their own necessities the fact that
they dispossess nobody, aud only enter up.
on the waste domain; that they give addl-
iional value to the public lands in the vi
cni,y, and their intention ultimately to pay
the government price. SO much weight
has from time to time been attached TO these
considerations, that congress have passed
laws giving actual settlers on the public
lands right Of pre-. emption to the tracts
occupied by them at the minimum price
The laws have in all instances been retros-
pective in their operation: but in few
years after their passage. crowds OF new
settlers have been found on the public
lands, for similar reasons, and under like
the same privileges.
This course of legislation tends to impair
public respect for the laws Of the country.
Either the laws to prevent intrusion upon
the public lands should be executed, or, if
+ that should be impracticable or inexpedienf,
they should be modified or repealed. II
the public lands are to be considered as
open to be occupied by any, they should by
law be thrown open to all That which is
intended, in any instance to be legaIlzed,
should at once be made legal, that those
who are disposed TO conform to the laws,
may enjoy at least equal privileges with
those who are not. But it is not believed
to be the disposition of congress to open the
public lands to occupancy without regular
entries and payment Of the Government
price, as such course must tend 10 worse
) evils than The credit system, which it was
found necessary to abolish. Itwould seem,
therefore, to be the part Of wisdom and
sound policy to remove, as far as practca,
bic, the causes which produce inirusions
upon the public lands. and then take eff
= Gent steps to prevent them in future. -
Would any single measure be SO effective
n removing all plausible grounds for those
ntrusions as the graduation of price already
sugges;ed'
A short period Of industry and economy
in any par, our country, would enable the
poorest citizen to accumulate the means to
Fl buy him home at the lower prices, and
leave him without 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 sent
cd themselves on the public lands, without
authority, since the passage of the last pre-
cmp,ion law ; and now ask the enactment
of another 10 enable them to retain the
lands occupied, upon payment OF the mln''
mum Government price. They ask tina,
wn'rh ,'n, brv" ropo'odNy granted before.
the future may be judged OF by The past
E little harm can be done to the interests OF
the Treasury By yielding 10 their request
|, Upon crilcal examination. it is found that
the lanGs sold at the public sales since tbs
introduction of cash payments in 1920
have produced. on an average, the nett rev
enue Of only six cents an acre more thar
the mlnlum Government price. There il
no reason to suppose that future sales vii
be more productive. The Government
therefore, has no adequate pecunary inter
est to induce 1t to drive these people frou
the lands they occupy for the purpose u
selling them 10 others
Entertaining these views, recommend
the passage Of pre-. emprion law tor 'hci
benefit in connection with The prcparn'or.
steps toward the graduation ofthe price o
, the public lands, aud further and more cf
icctual provisions to prevent intrusion
hereafter. Indulgence to those who hav'
c settled on these lands with expectation
L that past legislation would be made ru
# for future, and at The same time removln!
!, the most plausible ground on which ln'rn
sions are excused, and adopting more eff
c cent means to prevent them hereafter. ap
? pear to me the most judCiou, dlspoStilo
d which can be made OF this difficult subject
$ The limitations and restrictions to guar
&c against abuses ia the execution OF pre-
e empion law, will necessarily attract til
}. careful attention Of Congress, but under n
Is circumstances is it considered eXpedent I
~ authorize floating claims in any shape
Z, They have been heretofore, and doubles
a. would be hereafter, most prolific sources
ID fraud and oppression, and instead of Opera
i, ting to confer the favor of the Governmer
al on industrious settlers, are often used onl
to minister to spirit of cupidty at the e,
N pcnse Of the most meri'orous Of that clas
Ut The accompanying report Of the .Secrc
~ tary of War will bring TO your view III
rs state Of the Army. and all the various sui
ia jects confided to the superintendent (
= that officer.
-, The principal part of the Army has bee
o. o. concentrated in Florida, with view, an
ne 10 the expectation, Of bringing the war
~" ~ that Territory to speedy close. The nj
y cesslty of stripping the posts on the ma