Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-12-16

The modification most persese fingly pressed
upon Congress, which has occupied % much OF ITS
time for wears past, and will probably Do 50 for a
long time to come. II not sooner satisfactorily ad-
iasied is reduction in the Gus: Of sach portions
Of the public lands as are asccrtained to be un-
salcable at the rate now established BY law. and
a graduation, according to their relative saioe, Oh
the prices at which they may be hereafter Sold
1t is worthy of consideration W hether Jdstice may
not be done to every interest IN this matter, and
vexed question set at rest, perhaps forever, BY
reasonable compromise Of conflicting opinions
Hitherto, after being offered at public sale. lands
have be en- disposed Of at one uniform price. what
ever difference there might be in their intrinsic
value. The leading considerations urged in favor
of the referred to, arc that in almost all
the land districts, and particularly in those In
which the In nls have been long surveyed and ex-
posed 10 sale, there are still remaining numerous
and large tracts of every graduation OF value,
from the Government price downwards; that
these lands will not be purchased at the Govern
ment price. so long Us better can DO obtained tor
the same amount; that there are large tracts
which even the Improvements Of the adj accns
lands will never raise to that price; and that the
present uniform price, combined with their irres-
ular value, operates to- prevent a desirable COM
pactness of settlement IN the new States, ana TO
retard the full dcvelopement OF that wise Policy
on which our land system is founded, TO the init
not only oil the ScVcrai STATES Wuetc uC '"u1S
lie but of the United States as II whole.
The remedy proposed has been a reduction OF
prices according to the length OF time the LANDS
have been in market, without reference 10 any
other circumstances. The certainty thar the e.
fax of the time would not always in such cases,
and perhaps not even generally, furnish true
criterion of value; and the probability thar per-
sons residing in the vicinity, as the period tor the
rcduc, lion OF prices approached, would postpone
purchases they would otherwise make, for The Pur-
pose of awaiting themselves OF the lower price,
with other considerations Of a similar character,
have hitherto been successfully urged to defeat
the graduation upon tlme
Nav not all rca sonablc desires upon this SUE
icct be satisfied without encountcring any OF these
obectionsf All will conccdc tho abstract princi-
pie, that the price of the public lands should he
proper toned their relative value, SO lar as tna
can be accomplished without departing from the
rule, here toforc observed, requiring liked prices
in cases OF private entries. Inc diiicuitv Oh the
subject seems TO lie in tho mode ct ascertainirg
what that value is Would not the safest plan be
That which is adopted by many o. the States as
the basis of Ia xaton-an actual valuation OF lands
and cassificatio of them into different rafes!-
Would it not be practicable and cxpcdent 10
cause the relative value OF the pubic lands IN me
old districts, which have been tor a certain iength
of time market, to be appraised, and casscd IN
TO two or more rates below the present minimum
price bv the officers employed in this branch
of the public service, In any other m odc deem
ell nrefcrab bic and TO make these prices perma-
ncnt, If upon the coming IN OF the report 'hev
shall prove satisfactory to CongressY Cannot ali
the objects of graduation be accomplished IN this
wav and the AFFECTIONS which have hitherto been
uryed against it avoided? 1t would seem to me
that such a step. with n restriction of the sales
to limited quantities, and for actual Improvement,
would he free from all jlst exception
By tho fall exposition OF the value OF the lahos
~, eb,I and
sons living at a distance would be informed OF
their true condition., and enabled to enter into
with those residing in the vicinity;
the means of acquiring an independent nome
would be brought within the reach OF many who
arc unable to purchase at pres ent prices the pop
MA, ion Of the new States would be made more
compact. and large tracts would be sold when
would otherwise remain on hand not only would
the land be brought within the means OF large
number Of purchasers, bit many persons posses
sed of greater means would be content to settle
on a larger quantity Of the poorer lands, rather
than cmigratc further west IN pursuit OF smaller
quantity Of better lands. Such a measure would
also seem to be more consistent with the Poiicv
of the existing iaws-;hat Of converting tho pub /
lie domain into cultivated farms owned by their
That policy is not best promised by
sending emigration up the almost interminab'e /
streams Of the West, to occupy IN groups the
bcs; spots of land. leaving immense wastes behind
them, and enlargns The frontier beyond the means |
of the Government aft rd 1t adequate protcc- /
ton; bat in encouraging il to occupy, with rea-
sonabie dcnscness the territory over which It adj
vanccs. and find lis best defence IN the compact
front which IT presents 20 the Indian tribes. Ma
nv of YOU will bring to tho consideration OF the
subject the advantages of local knowledge and
greater expero nee, and all will be desirous OF ma
king an early and final disposition OF every DIS
Ltrbiny question in regard 10 this important into
rest If these suggestions shall IN any degree
to the accomplishment OF go important
, result, it will afford INC sincere satisfaction.
In some sections Of the country most OF the
public lands have been sold, and the registers
and receI. crs have very little I" do. It's sub /
cct worthy OF inquiry whether, in many cases,
wo or more districts may not be consolidated.
md the number oil persons employed IN this bd-
sincss considerably reduced. lndced, the time
VII come when it will be the true policy OF the +
.Icne .ai Goycrnfnent, as to some Vi the states,
10 It'd II j.er them, for reasonable equiv lcn',
,ii inc reuse and unsod land, and to withdraw
Inc machinery Of the federal land oiiices alto /
,ether. All who take Il comprehensive view
ii our eicral system, and believe that one Oh
It's creates, excc.lencies consists OF interfering
As little as possible with tho internal concerns
II the States look forward with great interest TO
the result.
A Modification of the existing laws In respect
10 the prices of the public lands, might also have
al Il n