Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-12-06

time
Nav not all reasonable desires upon this subject be
satisfied without encountering any OF these objections
All will conccde the abstract principle that ne price
ofthe public lands should be proportional 70 their rea
tive value far that can be accomplished ~ltnou'
departing from the rule heretofore Observed requiring
fixed prices in cases of private entries. NC uh.uy
of the subject TO lie in the mode o. ssce,de
what that value is. Would not the safest Piah DO A'
which has been adopted by many OF the states as the
basis of taxaton-an actual valuation of lands, and
classification Of them into dinerent rates "ouiu ~
be practicable and expedient 10 cause inc reia've
value OF the public lands the old districts, which
have been for a certain length OF time In market TO De
and cassed into or more rates below the
present minimum price, by the oihcers now employed
mode deemed preferable and to make those prices per-
manen if upon the coming in Of the report they shall
prove satisfactory Congress Cannot all the objects
Of graduation be accomplished in this way ana the Cd
iectons which have hitherto been urged against II,
avoided 1t would seem that such STEP win
a restriction of the sales To limited quantities, and Tor
actual improvement would be free from all just exceP
tion.
By the full exposition Of the value Of the lands thus
furnished and extensively promulgated, persons nvne
distance would be informed t their true condnien'
aud enabled 10 enter into competition with those resld
inc in the vicinity the means Of cq.ring indePen-
dent hsme would be brought within the reach OF many
who unable purchase at present prices the PoPu
laton of the new States would be made mere compact,
and large tracts would be sold which would otherwise
remain hand only would the land be brought
within the of larger number ct purchasers out
possessed
settle larger quantity of the poorer lands
rather than emgrate further west in pursuit OF smaller
quantity Of better lands Such measure would also
to be consistent with the policy OF the exist
ing lawsha Of converting the public domain into cui
tivated farms owned by their occupants That Pohcy
is not best promoted by sending emigration up the al
most ntermnabe streams OF the West 70 occupy IN
groups the bests spots of land leaving immense VASES
behind them, and enlargng the frontier beyond the
Of the Government afford it adequate Protec'
ton but In encouraging It to occupy WIN reasonable
rx.bic n ody M
find best defence in the compact front which 1t pre-
SCENTS the Indian tribes. Many of you will bring to
the consideration the subject the advantages OF oo.
knowledge and greater experience and all VIII pc oeS
rous of making an early and final disposition OF every
disturbing question in regard this mporan,
these suggestions shall any degree contribute 10 the
accomplishment of important result, II VIII aHoro
me sincere satisfaction. -
In some sections Of the country, most of the public
lands have been sold and the registers and receivers
have very little do. 1t is subject worthy OF inquiry
whether in many two more districts may not
be sodated and the number persons employed In
this business considerably reduced. Indeed, the time
will come when il will be the true policy OF The Gssera
Government of the States transfer to them
for a reasonable equivalent, all the refuse and unsold
lands and Withdraw the machinery OF the federal
land Offices altogether All who take comprehensive
view Of eder al system and believe that one oil It's
greatest exceencies consists interfering as little as
possible with the internal OF the States look
forward with great interest to this result
modification of the existing laws in respect to the
prices of the 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 ,uy present prices, settle on those lands,
with the hope Of acquiring from their cultivation the
ofpurchasing under pre-empnon laws, from time
time passed by Congress. For this encroachment on
the rights Of the United States they excuse themselves
under the plea of their necessities the Tact that
they dispossess nobody and only enter the waste
domain that they give additional valae TO the public
lands in their vicinity and their intention ultimately TO
pay the Government price. So much weight has from
time To time been attached these considerations that
Congress have passe' laws giving actual settlers on the
public lands a right Of presumption to the tracts occu
pied by them the minimum price. These laws have
in all been retrospective in Their operation
but in a few years after their passage, crowds OF new
settlers have been found the public lands TOR simi
lar and under like expectations who have been
INDUCED with the privileges This course OF le-
gslaon tends impair public respect tor the laws oil
the country Either the laws TO prevent Intrusion upon
the public lands soud be executed, or II that should
be npracticable inexpedicnt, they should DC moui
fed or repealed.
1.-THE public lands TO be considered az open 10 DC
occupie by any, they should BY law, be thrown open
10 ALL Tnat which is intended, In alinsancee 10 De
legalzed should once be made legal that those VINO
are disposed TO conferm TO the laws, may ENJOY al
least equal privileges with those who are not But tits
not believed be the disposition OF Congress 10 open
the public lands to occupancy without regular entries
and payment TO the Government pnce, a. such
course tend to worse evils than the credit sys-
tenn, which was found necessary 70 abolish. IL
would SEEM therefore, TO be the part OF wisdom and
sound policy 10 remove, 0S lar n pIhCuChuitJ
causes which produce BtrsioRs upon the public lands
and then take efficient steps to prevent them In fu-
ture Would any single measure be % effective IN
removing all plausible grounds for these intrusions as
the graduation Of proc already ssgges:ed3 short
period Of industry and economy IN any part OF Our
country would enable the poorest citizen 10 accumu-
late the means TO buy him home al the lowest pr.
ees and leave him without apology for settling on
lands not his own II he did noi under such circum-
stances, he would enlist sympathy in his favor;
and the laws would be readily executed without do
ing violence 10 public opinion.
A large portion Of our citizens have seated n em-
selves on the public lands without authority since the
sage Of the last pre- Temp on law, IN now ssk the
enactment Of another to enable them to retain the
lands occupied, upon payment Of the minimum TO
vInmtn rice They ask that which has been repeat
eddy granted before IL the future may be judged OF
by the past little harm be done 10 the interests OF
the Treasury by yielding TO their request. Upon a
critical examination il is foand TINT the lands ssld
Mt the public sales since the introduction Of cash pay
ments in 1920 have produced on an average, the
nett Of only six cents an acre more Than The
mnimsm Government price. There IL no reason 10
suppose that future sales will be more productive
The Government therefore, has no adequate pecuna-
nv interest 10 induce IL drive these people from the
lands they occupy for the purpose of selling them to
eth RS.
Entertaining these views, recommend the pas.
sage of n pre- empnon law for their benefit in eonnec
ton with the preparatory steps toward the graduation
of the price Of the public lands, and further and more
t,fr h@ra