Canton herald. (Canton, Miss.) 1837-1839, 1838-01-05

H.Ft'H tttffN
D.aaefs. PIC may rtfams pas
ol ffaa'ef MaHrf W8ati o. ffHifEf =
iIe ~ y hfFef Waniiit ~ iit a8
~ hnit, fafhsf t.#a emtgaff h.fiisl
wtH Ia pursuit ul " mml.ef nsni,i,
m better hhda Faeh r. mmtvf.
would Hltl seem t4 lr mafe consistent
wiih ihn policy ~ ilo tsisiiat hWa
i'at 81 converting thc rub'is d0mln
miD cultivated hfms owned ly hrt.
occupants. That policy R-n3t Die
he-i promoted ty sebdinr smifaii0n
np lHc almost initm.ullIe slfcamt 0l
llc Wcs',i0 occupy iu groups ihe beet
spots ul Iand, leaving immense wnslrs
between ihcm.aud cnIarpug the from.
Ter beyond tlo mcaGs ol thc govern.
monttp afford d adequate protection,
pNi ih encouraging it ~ occupy. with
ara I,Du1ble dcnsencss, the territory
over which 1t advances, and find iis
best defence IN the compact front
which itprescnts tp the Indian tribes.
Many of YOU will bring "a the consid.
Grafton ct the subject the advantages
oi local knowledge and greater cypc.
rcnce, and all will be- DESTROYS Of
an carly and final disposition
Oh every disturbing question in regard
to this important interest. If these
suggestions shall IN any degree con.
tribute to the accomplishment of So
important result, it will afford 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 to do. 1t is a subject
worthy Of inquiry, whether, in many
cases, two or more districts may not
be consolidated, and the number Of
persons employed in this business
considerably reduced.
Indeed the time will come when it
will be the true policy Of the general
government, as some of the states to
transierto them, for a reasonable equiv
aIcnt, all the refuse and unsold lands,
and to withdraw the machinery of the
federal land Offices altogether. All
who take comprehensive view ofour
federal system, and believe that one of
its greatest exccllencieS consist in in
terlering as little as possible with the
internal concerns of the states, look
forward with great interest to its re-
A modification OF the existing laws
in relation to theprlces ofpublic lands,
might also have a favorable influence
on the legislation Of congress, IN rela-
ton to another branch of this subject.
Many who have not the ability to buy
at present prices, settle on those lands,
with the hope OF acquiring from their
cultivation the means Of purchasing
under prc-emption laws, from time to
time passedby congrCss.-For this en-
croachment on the rights of the Uni
ted States, they excuse themselves I'M
der the plea Of their own necessities;
the fact that they dispossess nobody,
and only enter upon the waste domain;
that they give additional value to the
the public lands in their vicinity, and
their intention ultimately to pay the
government price. SO much weight
has from time been attached to these
considerations, that congress have pas
sed laws giving actual settlers on pub
lie lands a presumption to the tracts
occupied by them at the minimum
price.
These laws have in all instances
been retrospective in their operation;
but in few years after their passage,
crowds ofnew settlers have been found
on the public lands, for similar reasons
and under like expectations, who have
been INDUCED with the same privileges
This course of legislation tends to Inn
pair public respect for the laws OF the
country. Either the laws to prevent
intrusion upon the public lands should
be executed, or, if that should be i'm.
practicable orinexpedient, they should
be modified orrepealed. 1.-THE public
lands are to be considered as open to
be occupied by any, they should, by
law be thrown open to all.-Iha'
which is intended, in all instances, &c
he legallzed, should at once be made lie
gal that those who are disposed to con
form to the laws may enjoy at leas
equal privileges with those who arr
not, But it Is not believed to be thu
disposition Of congress toopen thepub
lie lands to occupancy without regula
anfriac ond nayrnant If uovarpf N