Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-04-19
PvH1Jc LANDS. PREEMpTIoN RIGETs.

of OHIO, IN iR2 L. >. 'oeHdic, on Iie O't
to restrict the sale Of public lands TO ae-
tlsal settlers.
"If ii become a fixed principle that tho
actual settler or occupant gets the land
which he may sclec', al 81 20 Per acre,
then will arise contests and conflicts be-
tween individuals about the possession of
tavori,c and valuable tracts. First, it will
be a race, who shall get on first 70 take pos
s,sssioa. Then conlici TO keepi. The
first who gets on, if the tract be very raIu'
able, is likely to be driven off by s:rong-
trhand, with the loss, perhaps, Of limb.
and som times Of life. Ano h r yet strong
er detachment drives off the second "ac.
tual settler" and they in turn have to de-
fnd their possessions against fourth: and
al apply in their order TO the Register and
Receiver, and make the necessary aflida-
Wits to obtain their titles. Cases Of this
kind are constantly occurring, even now.
\ friend of mine, in the other House, who
recently travelled through Wisconsin and
par, of Illinois. informed me that when at
Mineral Point he heard a conflict for the
possession Of lead mine spoken OF, not
as IN extraordinary but as a recent incl
dent. Two parties who contended for the
mine, drove each other away, and alternate
" took possession four or five times, with
the loss of several lives. One Of the par
,y who succeeded in keeping possession,
and who had killed young man in one OF
their engagements, was quietly amusing
himself in store or tavern short time
after. when young woman addressed
him. and inquired his name. lie told III;
and she at once drew pisto! from under
her cloak, and sho, him through. Private
revenge in these cases seems TO be the only
redress for murder, US the law takes no no.
tice Of incidents so common and so ualm.
porant.
am told that in travelling through the
. fue lands in the Northwes', you will see
these "actual settlements ami amprore-
meats" constantly forming. If it is pral-
rie, they merely run furrow round 1t. II
it is a choice piece of woodland that is to
be held by improrement, they will fell trees
NIL around it, so that the top of one will lap
on 10 the stump ofanother; then the wood
land is enclosed, and the party is entitled to
it, as an actual settler. And perhaps ii is
the only spot Of woods within many miles
in the midst o. broad prairie. and there
fore of immense value. II the woody
island be very large, it becomes the subject
of kind Of joint sock company, or as
sociation, who all unite to "improre it,
and TO secure each other in the possession
of it. lind the following advertisement in
o Chicago paper:
SETTLERS, ATTENTION.
Notice is hereby given, that the seni.
annual meeting of the Big Woods Claim
Association will NEE. at the house ofThom-
rs Paxton, on the east side Of the Big
Woods, on Saturday, the 4lh day Of Feb.
ruary next, at ten o'clock a. NJ, when a
general attendance is requested.
January 81. john WARyE.
The particular character and purpose Of
these associations | will show by and by
more fully. There is q false face constant
" put upon this subject, not Intentionally,
but from a mistaken notion Of the thing,
b. gentlemen who Irgc, with so much
zeal and perseverance,, the claims Of the
souatters TO the iia;.ds on which they in
tide. Gentlemen represent the squatters
generally as poor men, seeking freehold
and home, willing TO pay for the land on
which they settle, but unable TO do so, be-
cause the lands are not in market, and cam
not be purchased. But how is the fact?
You have more than one hundred millions
Of acres Of land, a large portion of it cx.
cellent land, constantly in market, and open
TO entry at 81 25 pc. acre; but there is
not much speculation in purchasing this,
and therefore these "poor men that ger.
tlemen speak of, seeking home, pass it
by, and 60 habtually to the lands that are
not in market; and they will continue TO
do SO, let you push your surveys and sales
TO whatever point you may.
Tn.c.n the Improvements by which, under
this bill, the squatters arc permitted to gain
Alright to the land. We had that subject
under considera.icn las: year, and the proof
was ample that, in u vast number Of cases,
Ishoald think majority: of cases, the i'm.
p.ovement was merely cosoraJlc, for tho
purpose Of enabling the individual to get
the land, but having nothing actual or sub
sh4ntial about it; and this b! requires no
substantial occupation Or cultivation. The
individual, 20 give him title to his pre-
emp,ion, must have "actually occupid and
cultivated the tract for six months before
t,e lst of December, 1885," "4ic..ualy
occupied and culicated." How occupied!
Not by residing on it; for that is no: ne.
cessarv TO make an occup1'icn in law. much