Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-12-15

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Indian tribes. Many Of you will bring to
The consideration Oft subject he adyan
iages of local knowledge and greater cx.
pcrencc. and all will be desrous ol making
an early and final disposition Of every dis.
iurbing question in regard 10 his important
interest. II there suggestions shall in any
degree contribute tN the ACCOMPLISHMENT al
so important a result, it will afford me SIN
cerc satisfaction.
In some sections Of the country, most ~
the public lands have been Sold and the
registers and receivers have very IutIe to
do. 1t is q subject worthy Of inquiry
whether, il many cases two or more dis
tricls NAV not be cousodat cd, and The
number of persons employed in this bus
ness considerably reduced. Indeed, the
lime will come wh2n it will be the true
policy Of the General Government, as to
some OF the States, to transfer to them,
for a reasonable equivalent. oil the refused
and unsold lands, and to withdraw the
machinery Of the federal land Offices alto
gether. All who take comprehensive
view Of our federal system. and believe
that one of greatest eXceIencjcs consists
in interfering as little as possible with :hc
internal concerns Of the States. look for.
ward with great interest 10 this result.
A modification of the existing laws in
respect to the prices of the pubic lands.
might also have n favorable influence on
the legislation Of Congress, in relation to
another branch Of this subject. Many who
have not the ability to buy at present
prices, settle on those lands, with the hope
NJ frop 4, ., Ia,
means Of purchasing under prescription
laws, from time to time passed by Com
gress. For this encroachment on the
rights of the United States, they excuse
themselves under the plea Of their owr
necessities: the fact that thew dis9osses:
nobody and only enter uron the waste
domain that they give additional value tc
the pubic lands in their vicinity, and their
intention ultimatelyto pay the Government
price. So much weight has from time tC
lime been attached to these considerations
that Congress have passed laws giving
actual settlers on the public lands n right
Of preemption to the tracts occupied bv
them at he mnium price These Laws
have in all instances been retrospective In
their operation; bn in few years aGc,
their passage, crowds Of settlers have been
found on the public Ionds. for similar roa
sons. and under Ike expectations, who have
been indu'gc with the same privileges.
4 x y;
Entertaining these views, ! recommend
the passage of a pre- emp'ion law for their
benefit. in connection with the preparatory
steps towards the graduation Of the price
ofthe public lands, ard further and more
effec'nal provisions to prevent in'rusions
hereafter Indulgence to those who have
settled on these lands with expectations
that past legislation would be made q rule
for the future, and at the same time reno.
wing the most plausible ground on which
'ntrusoDs are excused, and adopting more
efficient means to prevent them hereafter
appear to me the most iudicious disposition
which can be made Of this difficult subject
The limitations and restrictions to qua I'd
against abuses in the execution of a pre-
emp'ion law. will necessarily attract the
careful attention Of Congress. but under no
circumstances is 1t considered eX1edIent 10
authorize floating claims in any shape
They have been heretofore, and doubtless
would be hereafter, mos, prolific sources OF
fraud and oppression and instead of opera
ting to confer the favor of the Government
on industrious settlers, are often used only
10 minister TO a spirit of cnpldty at the OK.
pense Of the most mortorlons of that class.
The accompanying report Of he Secre
tary Of War will bring 10 your view the
sia'e of the Army, and all the various sub
lects confded to the superintendance OF
that officer.
The principal part Of the Army has been
concentrated in Florida with a view. and
in the expectation, Of bringing the war in
that Territory TO speedy close. The ne,
cessity of stripping the posts on the mar
thine and inland frontiers of their entire
garrlsons, for the purpose OF assembling in
the field an army of less han four thousand
men. would seem to indicate the neccssjtv
81 increasing orr regular forces. and the
superior efficiency. az well as greatly di,
unfinished expense of that description Of
troops, recommend this measure as one OF
economy as well as Of cxnediencv, ! refc-
10 the report for tho reasons which have
induced the Secretary Of War TO urge tho
Reorganization and enlargement ofihc staff
ofthe Army. and the ordnance corps. in
which '. fully concur
The system Of removing the Indians west
Of the Mississippi. commenced by Mr..
Jefferson in 1904, has been steadily persc
vered in by every succeeding President,
and may be considered the settled policy
Of the country. UDconnoc'cd at first with
any well defined system for their improve
ment, the inducements hold out TO The IN.
dams were confined to the greater ahun
dance of game to he found in the NVcsr
but when the beneficial effect Of their re-
moval were apparent, more philan'hron.
ic and enlightened policy was adoD'ed,
in purchasing their lands cast Of the Mis-
glsainni lilo al nricnc unrn riunn nnl