Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-12-23

~ 10 the Indian tribes Many You will bring
- the consideration Of this subject the advantages
local knowledge and greater experiences and all
Till DO DESTROYS Of making all early ana maj ais-
position Of every disturbing question IN regard 70
his important interest. II these sasses.loHs s'.a
60 important result, will afford me sincere salts
/ action.
IN some sections Of the country most Of the public
have been Sold and the registers and receivers
nave yery litte 10 do. 1t is subject worthy OF IN
auiry whether, in many cases, two or more districts
knay MOI be consolidated, and number OF persons
8amployed in this business considerably reduced.
Indeed the time will come when it will be the tue
&policy Of the General Government, as TO some OF
tbs S1ates to transfer to them for reasonable equ-
v.lsn. ali the refuse and unsold land, and withdraw
the machinery the federal land officers altogether
1 All who take comprehensive view ofour federal
system, and believe that Of its greatest cxcs-
lencies consists in interfering little as possible
with the internal concerns ofthe states, look
I with great interest to the result.
A modification of the existing laws in respect TO |
the prices Of the public lands, might also nave
favorable Influence the legislation OF Congress,
In relation to another branch Of the subject. Many
who have not the ability to buy at present prices,
settle OH those lands, with the hops OF acquiring
{rom their cultivation the means OF purchasing under
prescription laws, from time to time passed ny
Congress For this cncroachmsnt on the rights OF
the United States, they excuse themselves under
the plea oftsir necessities the fact that they
dispossesss nobody, and only enter nPon the waste
domain: that they give additional value to the pub
lie lands in their vicinity, and their ntenton ul-
timately to pay the Government price. So much
weight has from time to time baen attached othese
considerations, that Congress have passed laws
giving actual settlers OH the public lands right OF
prescription 70 the tracts occupied by them at the
minimum price These laws have liz all cases been
retrospective in their operations but i'll few years
after their passage, crowds of new settlers have
been found on the public lands, for
and under like expeditions, who hare been indulg-
cd with the Same privilege. This course of legis-
lation tends to impair public respect for the laws
ofthe conntry--Eithefthela laws to prevent intrusion
upon tho pubic lands should be executed, or If
that should be inprac,icabs or nexpedent, they
should be modified or repeated. 1.-THE public lands
are to be considered open TO the Occupied by any,
they should, by law, be thrown open to all. That
which is intended in all instances, bs 5alized,
should at once be made legal, tina, those who are
disposed conform to the laws may enjoy las; equal
privileges with those who are not. But it is not
believed to be the disposition of Congress TO open
thepublic lands 10 occupancy without regular en-
tries and payment ofthc Government price, as such
q course must tend to worse evils then the credit
system, which it has found necessary to abolish 1t
would seem, therefore, to be the part eff wisdom
and sound policy to remove, as far as practicable,
the causes which produce in'r isioas upon the pub
lie lands, and then take efficient steps to prevent
them in future. Would any single measure be SO
effective in removing all plausible grounds for these
intrusions the graduation ofprce already suggest
ed! A short period of industry and economy III
any part of our country would enable the poorest
citizens 70 accumulate the means buy him home
atth: lower prices, and leave him without apology
for settling on lands not his own. Ii he did not
under such circumstances, he would enlist no SYM
n fov nd ~ la vS wsll ha
executed without doin. violence to public opinion.
A large portion of our citizens have seated them
solves on tho public lands, without authority, since
the passage ofih. last presumption law, and ROW
ask the eaactmsnt Of another to enable them to re-
tain the land, occupied, upon payment of the mini-
mum Government price. They ask that which
has bsenrepeatedly granted before. II The future
may be judged of by the past. little harm can be
done to the interests Of the Treasury by yielding
to their request. Upon critical examination, tits
found that the lands sold at the public sales since
the introduction Of cash payments in 1923, have
produced, on avrage, the nett revenue of only
six cents more than the minimum Govern
ment price. There is reason to suppose that
future sales will he moro productive The Cover
nment, therefore, has adequate pecuniary inter-
est induce il 10 drive these people from the lands
they occupy, for the purpose Of selling them to 9th
ers
Entertaining those views, recommend the pas
sage of presumption law for the benefit, in con-
nection with the preparatory steps toward the grad
uation of tho price Of the public lands, and further
and more effectual provision to prevent intrusons
hereafter. Indulgence to those who have settled
on these lands with expectations that past legisla-
ton would be made rule for the future. and al the
same tins removing the most plausible ground on
which intrusions excused, and adopting more
efficient means to prevent then, hereaftef appears
70 mo the most judicious disposition which can be
made Of this difficult subject The limitations and
restrictions guard against abuses in the execution
of prescription law, will necessarily attract the
careful attention Of Congress; but under no circu-
stances is il considered expedent TO authorize float
ing claims in an, shape. They have been hereto
fore, and doubtless would be hereafter, most pro-
life of fraud and oppression, and nste ad OF
operating to confer the favor of government on n-
dustrious setlers, often used only 10 minister to
the spirit of cupidity at the expense Of the most
meritorious Of that class.
The accompanying report Of the Secretary OF
War wilibring to your view the state afthc Amy,
and all the various subjects coaded to the supern-
tendance Of that officer.
The principal part Of the Army has been con-
esnsrated in Florida, with view, and in the ex-
psctason, Of bringing The war in that Territory to
speedy close. Tho necessity Of stripping the
posts on the maritime and inland frontiers of their
ensifs garrson., for the purpose Of assembling in
the field an army of less than four thousand men,
would seem 10 indicate the necessity OF increasing
oar regular forces; and the superior efficiency as
well ~ greatly diminished expense Of that descrip-
sion Of troops, recommend this measure as one
Of economy rs we'll as expediency refer to the
report for the reasons which have induced the Sec
xetary Of War TO urge the organization and en-
1argement Of the staff of the Army, and Of the Or
.dnancs corps, in which | fully concur
Il 10 not, however, compatible with The interest
OF the people TO maintain, in time Of peace, reg
ulas force adequate to the defence Of extensive
ffontisrs. In periods Of danger and aladn, we
aass ssIy principally upon well organized mili-