Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-12-18
(Conluded from fourth puge.)

more consistent with the policy Of the exist
ing laws-that Of converting the public do
main into cultivated farms owned by thelr
occupants. That policy is not best promo
ted by sending emigration up the almost in
ternnable streams Of the west, TO occupy
in groups the best spots OF lands, leaving
immense waters behind them, and cnlarg-
ing the frontier beyond the means Of the
government to afford it adequate protecllon;
but in encouraging it to occupy, with rea-
sonabe denseness, the territory over which
it advances, and find its best defence IN
the compact front which il presents to the
Indian tribes. Many ofyou will bring to
the consideration OF the subject the advan-
tages OF local knowledge and geater expert
ence, and all will be deslrous OF making an
carly ard final disposition OF every disturb
ing question in regard TO this important IN
tercst. II these suggestions shall in any
degree contribute TO the accomplishment OF
so important result, it will afford ME sin
ccre satisfaction.
In some sections of the county, most oil
the public lands have been sold, and the
registers and receivers have very little to do.
Il isa tIbect worthy OF enquiry, whether
IN many cases, two or more districts may
not be consolidated, and the. number OF per-
sons employed in this business consdera-
bly, reduced. Indeed, the time will come
when il will be the true policy OF the Gener-
al Government, as to some OF the Safes, to
transfer TO them, Tor Reasonable equivalent,
all the refuse and unsold lands, and TO with
draw the machinery OF the federal land OIL
GERS altogether. All who take comprchen-
sive view OF, our federal system, and believe
that one OF its greatest eXcellencies consists
in interfering as little az possible with the
mol nj hn Statp lar W ri
with great interest TO this result.
y modification OF The existing laws in res
pect to III, prices Of the public lands, might
also have a favorable influence on the legs
latlon Of congress, in relation TO another
branch of the subject. Many who have not
the ability to buy at present prices, settle
on those lands, with the hope OF acquiring
iiom their cultivation The means OF pufchas-
ing under pre-empliOn lands, from time 10
time passed by congress. For this encroach-
mcnt on the rights Of the Unitod States,
they excuse themselves under the plea OF
their own necessities ; the fact that they
dspossess nobody, and only enter upon the
waste DOMAIN ; that they give additional
value To the public lands in the vicinity, and
their intention ultimately 10 pay the govern
ment price. So much weight has from
time TO time been attached to these consider
alons, that congress has passed laws giving
actual settlers On the public lads a right OF
prc-empton to tracts occupied ty them at
the minimum price. These laws have.ln all
instances been retrospective in their opera
ton but n a few years q, er their passage,
crowds OF settlers have been found on.the
public lands, Tor similar reasons, and under
nke expectations, who have been INDUCED
with The same privileges.
This course of legislation tends to impair pub
lie respect for the laws of the country. Eli
Their the laws 10 prevent intrusion upon the pub
lie lands should be executed, or, If that should be
i,npracticable or incxpedicnt, they should be
modified or repealed. IL :he 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 lin any instance, to be legalized
should ut 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 Con-
gress to open the public lands to occupy without
regular entries ana payment of the Government
price, as such a course must tend 10 worse evils
than the credit system which it was found ne
cessary to abolish. 1t would seem therefore, TO
be the part Of wisdom and sound policy 10 re-
move, as far as practicable, the cause which pro-
duce intrpsions upon the public lands, and then
Would any single measure be SO effective in re-
moving all plausible grounds for those intrusons
as the graduation of price already suggested?
A short period Of industry and economy in any
part of our country. would enable the poorest
citizen to accumulate the meas 10 buy him a home
at the lower prices, and leave him without apollo
gy for settling on lands not his own. Ir 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 seated
themselves on the public lands, without authority
Nnce the passage of the last presumption law;
now ask the enactment Of another to enable
.5ein 10 retain the lands occupied, upon payment
OF Inc minimum Government price. They ask
that which has been repeatedly granted before,
If the future may be judged of by the past, little
harm can be dene to the interests of the Treasury
by yielding to their request. Upon critical ex-
animation, it is found that the lands sold at the
public sales since the introduction of cash pay
ments in 1920 have produced, on an average, the
nett revenue Of only six cents an acre more more
than the minimum Government price. There is
no reason TO suppose that future sales will be
more productive. The Government, therefore,
has no adequate pecuniary interest 10 induce it to
drive these people from the lands they occupy.
for tho purpose of selling them to others.
Entertaining these, views | recommend
the passage OF a pre- emption law Tor the
benefit, in connection with the preparatory
steps towards the graduation OF the price OF
The public lands, and further and mole elIec-
tual provisions TO prevent intTusions hereai-
Ter. Indulgence 10 those who have settled
IL l..