Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1837-12-23


y ETadaiian q value. rem DE GuTemmemPu
dovnvafds that these luuaE WI not e PR
chased a. tbs Goreruuis en- p-lce, 30 iong a. bel
Ter can be couteniestiy ubiaIned ior lhs same d
mount; that there are large tracts uhirh even
the Improvements of fhe ncjncsui isi'ds Wi new
r. raise 10 that pfics and thai lhe PreSeai HuI-
form price, combined Wah tbsH irregular ralgs,
DPersies 10 prevent desirable compaciRsss Of
settlement "a TIE new States. and 10 fviaFd the
full development OF that vlss PoIcy on winch our
land sysiem y founded, 10 the INJURY moi ouly %
the several States where tbs land. be, bui u ihe
United States a. a whole.
The remedy proposed has been a reduction oi
prices according te tie length q i'ue The iands
have been IA market. without reference 10 ana
other cHcumstsuees. The certainty thai the e.
aun q time would Bol always ID such cases. aud
perhaps noi even generally. furnish rue eri,e-
fion Of value and The probability that persons
residing m she vicinity, a. the penoc iCF the re-
ducbon Of prices approached, would postpone
purchases they would otherwise make, FOR the
purpose d aysiling themselves Of the lower price,
With other CONSIDERATIONS Of similar character,
hsve HITHERTO been successfully urged to defeat
the graduation upon time.
May B1l all rea, onable desires upon this sub
lfe be SATISFIED wIihoIt ensounienng any Of
ib.se objections 81 nil eoncede the abstract
prim pie. that the price Of the pubic lands .houc
be proporil"ned to Their relative value, - lar as
that eau bt ace emphasized Niihuut departing ifon,
The rule bsfeti,1e ob-en I'd, requiring fixed
prees u ca~e- a private eul 81. he dsth dts
81 tie ialc,1 ,eeu- 4, iio - ihr mode oi a-ttf-
uuntg vi ihal ,4ue H. Would u'l the safe,
plau be thai shich bas been adopted BY ,asny g..
The State a. lhe basis q tsxdpn--an actual val
uation 81 linds, and ciass,Ecahra Of them MIC
different rates Would II noi be practicable and
expedleni 10 cause the relative value Of The pub
Ilc lands ~ the old districts, which have been lor
a certain length ofiime in Innkei. 70 be apirais-
ID, and classed mic Two or mote rates below the
present minimum pnce, by the officers nov en-
ploycd IN this branch Of The public service, or N
any other mode deemed preferable and 10 make
those prices permanent, IT upon the coming "a Of
the report they shall prove satisfactory to Con.
gessl CaRnot all the objects Of graduation be
accomplished in this way, and The objections
which have hitherto been urged against At avoid
ed ! IL would seem to me that such a step, with
restriction Of the sales 10 limited quantities and
for actual improvement, would be free from all
Just exception.
BY the full exposition Of the value Of The lands
thus furnished and extensively promulgated. per-
sons living al distance would be informed Of
their true condition, and enabled 10 enter into
competition with those residing IN the vicinity
the means Of acquiring an independent home
would be brought within the reach Of mary who
are unable TO purchase at present prices; the
population Of the new States would be made
more compact. and large tracts would lie solo
which would otherwise remain on hand: not on.
Iy would the land be brought within the mans Of
large number Of purchasers, but rnany persons
possessed greater means would be coneGR iC
settle on a larger quantity Of The poorer lands
| rather than enigrate further west 40 pursuit Of
/ smaller quantity Of better lands Such 4 rnea
sure would also seem 10 be more consIsteul vii
| The policy 81 ibe existing laas that Of convert
/ ing the public domain into cultivated farms own
ed BY their occupants. That policy is not bes
promoted by sending emigration up the almost n
terminsble streams OF the West, to occupy ia
groups the best spots Of land, leaving immense
wastes behind them, and enarging the frontier
adequate protection; but in encouraging il /,
occupy, with reasonable denseness, the terrltor,
over which II advances, and find lis best defence
in The compact font which il presents to the In
dian tribes. Many Of you will bring to the con
sheraton of The subject the advantages Of loca
knowledge and greater experience and all vii
be deslrous ofmaking an early and final DISPOSE
ton Of every disturbing question in regard 10 h
important interest. II these suggestions shall il
any degree contribute to the accomplishment O
so important a result, il will afford me sincere sat
slacIon.
In some sections Of the country, most Of tn
public lands have been sold, and the registers an
receivers have very lnle TO do. II is subjec
worthy Of inquiry whether, IN many cases, two o
more districts may not be consolidated, and III
number of persons employed in this bushes
considerably reduced. Indeed, the time will com
when il viii be the true policy Of the Genera
Government, as to some OF the States, TO transte
10 them. 10; reasonable equivalent, all The re
fuse and nnsold lands, and 10 withdraw the ma
chnety Of The federal hand ofices altogether
All who take a comprehensive view Of our ieder
al system, AID believe that one Of it, greatest ex
/ AtihUthF fbiNiriH III iUttHiHt1 ds ii4itt as lls
/ s,bir wh III ilte.aai Concerns oi the state, iuol
/ iorwaId with srra interest u th result.
! \ modification 1t the existing Laws IN respec
to the prices Of the pablc Lands, might also hay,
/ q favorable Influence on the legislation of on
gresS, in relation 10 another branch Of tie subject
| Many who have not the ability To buy at presen
prices, settle on those lands, with the hope OF ac
quInng from their cultivation the means oCpnr
chasing under prescription laws, from time I,
time passed by Congress. For this encroach
nenl on the rights Of the United States. they ex
cuse themselves under the plea Of their own ne
ccssities; the ioct that they dspossess nobody
aud only enter upon the waste domain that the,
give additional value to the public lands in theil
vicinity. and their intention ultimately to pay the
Government price. SO much weight has from
tine 10 time been attached to these considera.
tons, that Congress have passed laws giving ac-
Iual settlers on the public lands right of pre-.
emption TO the tracts occupied by them a, the