Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-12-21

4 as are ascerialncd To he unsnICnble ~ the
rate now established by law, and graduation,
according To their relative value, of the prices
a, which they may hereafter be sold. II s
! worthy Of consideration whether Justice inny
/ not be done TO every interest ~ Tins matter,
= and vcxed question set al rest, perhaps fo-
. ever, b. reasonable CT mprnmise of conflict
ing opinions. liihrr,o, after being offered
ui public sale, lands have been disposed Of at
one uniform price, whatc,cr difference there
/ might be in their intrinsic value.
The leading considerations urged in favor
T of the measures referred Ia. are that in al.
mos. nll the land districts. mud particularly in
those in which the lands have been long sur
vryed and exposed 10 sale, there nrc s'll re-
naming numerous and large tracts Of every
gradatlon of value, from the government price
downward iha: these lands will not be- pnr-
chased at the government price. 50 long ns
better can be conveniently obtained fer the
same amount that there are large tracts
hch even the Improvement of the nd djlccnt
lands will never rase 10 that price and thn,
the present uniform price, combined with
their Irregular value, operates 10 prevent n
desirable compnctncss of settlement in the
new States, and 10 rctard the foil develope-
ment Of that wise policy on which our land
system is founded. TO the injury not only of
the several States whore the lands lie, but Of
the United States as whole.
Il The remedy proposed has been reduction
Of prices according to the length ot tim" the
lands have been in market, without reference
TO any other circumstances. The certainty
that the cffiux OF time would no, always IN
such cases, and perhaps not even generally,
furnish a true criterion Of valuc and the
probability that persons residing in the vicin-
w. as the period for the reduction Of prices
approached would siponc purchases they
would otherwise make, for the purpose OF
availing themselves of the lower price, with
other considerations Of a similar character,
have hitherto been successfully urged to de-
feat the graduation upon ,imc.
\ MAY not all reasonable desires upon this
subject be satisfied wlihou. cncountering any
of these affections? All will concede the
abstract principle, that the price OF tic public
lands should be proportioned totheir relative
value. so far MS that can be accomplished with.
out departing from the rule, heretofore OBJ
served, requiring fixed prices in cases of prl-
vaic entries. The difficulty Of the subject
seems to lie in the mode of asccrtainlng wha,
that vain. is. Wonld not the safest plan be
that which has hcen adopted by many of the
States as the basis Of taxa,on--an actual
into different rates? Woud it not be prac-
ticable and cxpcdipnt 10 cause the relative
value of tho public lands in tho old districts.
which have becn for n certain length of time
in market, to b. appraised. and classed into
two or more rates below the present minimum
price. by the officers now employed in this
branch Of the public service, or in any other
mode deemed preferable, and to make those
prices permanent, If upon the coming IN of
the report they shall prove satisfactory to
Congress? Cannot all the objects Of gradn-
alton be accomplished in ;his why, md the
objections which have hitherto been urged
against it avoided? 1t would seem to me
that such a stop. with the restriction Of the
sales to limited quantities. and for actual i'm
provemcrt, would be free from all just exccp-
ton.
/ Ry the full exposition Of the vnlue of the
lands thus furnished and extensively promnl-
| gated persons living at distance would be
! Informed of their true condition, and enabled
! to cn.er into competition with those residing
! in the vicinity: the means of acquiring an in
depcndcn, home would be brought within the
reach of many who are unable to purchase Mt
present prices: the population of the new
Stntes would be made more compact, and
large tracts would b. sold which would 9TH
erwisc remain on hand; not only would the
land he brought within the means ofa larger
number Of purchasers, but many persons pos
scsscd Of greater means would be content to
settle on n larger quantity ofthc poorer lands,
rather than emicrate further west in pursuit
of smaller quantity Of better lands. Such
measure would also seem to be more con-
sstent with the policy Of the existing laws
that Of converting the public domain into cul-
t,vatcd farms owned by their occupants,
That policy is not best promoted by sending
emigration up the almost ntcrminab!c streams
of the West to occupy in groups the best
spots of land, leaving immense wastes behind
them, and enlarcing the frontier beyond the
means Of the Government to afford 1t ade-
quaie protection; but in encouraging It to,
occupy, with reasonable denseness, the terri
tory over which it advances, and finds It's best
defence in the compact front which ispresents
10 the Indian tribes. Many Of you will bring
to the consideration Of the subject the advan-
tages Of local knowledge and greater expe-
riencc. and all will be dcsirous OF making an,
early and nal disposition of every disturbing
question in regard 10 this important interest.
If these suggestions shall in any degree con-
tribute TO the accomplishment at 80 iTpnr.
,ant a result, il will afford me sincere satis-
faction.
In some sections Of the country most OF
the public lands have been sold, and the reg
stcrs and receivers have very little 10 do. IL,
~ a subjcc, worthy ofinquiry whether, in ma
nv cases, two or more districts may not be.
consolidated md the number of persons en-
poycd in this business considerably reduced.
Indeed, the time will come whom IL will he
the true policy of the General Government,
ms to some of the States, to transfer to them,
for reasonable eqnivalcnt,all the refuse and
unsold lands, aud to withdraw the machinery
of the federal land offices altogether. An
who take comprehensive view of our feder-