Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-12-23

hand, not only would the lands be bro't
within the means Of large number Of
purchasers, but many persons possessed
|ofgreater means would be content to set
tie on a larger quantity of the poorer
lands rather than emigl ate farther west
in pursuit of a smaller quantity OF better
lands. Such a measure would also
seem to be more consistent with the poll
cy of the existing laws--that OF con-
verting the public domain into cultiva-
ted farms owned by their occupants.
That policy is not best promoted by sen
ding emigration up the almost intermina-
bic streams of West, to occupy in groups
the best spots of land, leaving immense
wastes behind them, and enlarging the
frontier beyond themeans of the Govern
ment to afford an adequate protection |;
but encouraging it to occupy, with rea-
sona5le denseness, the territory over
which it advances, and find its best de-
fence in the compact front which it pre-
sents to the Indian tribes. Many of you
will bring to The consideration of the
subject the advantages Of local knowl-
edge and greater experience, and all
will be desirous of making an early and
final disposition of every disturbing
question in regard to thisimportantintel :
est. lfthese suggestions shall IN any
degree contribute to the accomplishment
of so important result,it will afford me
sincere satisfaction. .u'u f+I
In some sections of the country most
public lands have been sold, and the re-
ceivers and registers have verylittle TO do.
1t is subject worthy ofinquiry whether,
in many cases, two or more districts
may not be concilated, and the number
Of persons employed in this business
considerably reduced. Indeed. the time
will come when it will be the true poll
cy of the General Government as to
some of the States, TO transfer to them,
for reasonable equivalent, all the re-
fuse and unsold lands, and to withdraw
the machinery ofthe federal land offices
altogether. All who takes compre-
hensive view of our federal system, and
believe that one of its creates. excel
lencies consists in interfering as lit
tie as possible with the internal concerns
of the State, look forward with great in
terest to the result. "s i'...i
A modification of the existing laws,
in respect to the price of public lands,
might also have favorable influence on
the legislation of Congress, in relation to
another branch of the subject. Many
who have not the ability to buy at pres
ent prices, settle on those lands, with
the hope of acquiring from their cultiva-
ton the means of purchasing under pre-.
emption laws, from time to time passed
by Congress. For this encroachment on
the rights of the United States, they ex-
cuse themselves under the plea of their
own necessities and the fact that they
dispossess nobody, and only enter upon
the waste domain; that they give ad.
ditional value to the public lands in their
vicinity, and tits their intention ultimately
to pay the Government price. So much
weight has from time to time been at
tached to these considerations, that Con
gress have passed laws giving actual
settlers on the public lands right of pre-
emption to tracts occupied by them at
The minimum price. These laws have
N all instances been retrospective in
heir operations; but in a few years after
heir passage crowds Of new settlers
rave been found on the public lands, for
similar reasons, and under like expecta-
ions, who have been induIged with the
same privilege. This course of legsla-
ion tends to impair public respect for
he laws of the country. Either imprac-
icable or expedient, they should be modi-
led or repealed. If the public lands are
o be considered as open to be occupied
~ any, they should, by law, be thrown
,pen to all. That which is intended, in
Ill instances to be legalzed, should at
,nce be made legal, that those who are
made to conform to the laws, may en-
oy at least equal privileges with those
Who are not. But it is not believed to
'e the disposition Of Congress to open
he public lands to occupancy without I
eguIar entries and payment of the Gov
rnmenl price, as such course must ;
end to worse evils than the credit sys-
EN-, which, it was found necessary to abo- 1
sh. II would seem, therefore. to be
lie part of wisdom and sound policy to
emove as far as practicable, the causes {
which produce intrusion on the public ]
snds, ard then take efficient steps 10
revent them in future. Would any
ingle measure be Sd effective in reno |
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