Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-03-07
PREVENTION BILL.

business, the bill to grant the right ofpre-
emption to settlers on the public lands.
Mr.. MERRICK then offered the folw.
ing amendment provided, that the right
of presumption granted by this act, or the
act hereby revived, shall not accrue to any
other persons than those who were, on the
first day Of December, 1887, citizens of
the United States, and such citizenship
shall, in all cases, be established by legal
and competent testimony, TO the satisfaction
of the register and receiver Of the land dis.
trict in which the lands may lie, prior to
any entry thereof by virtue of the provis-
ions of this act"
Mr. WALKER was entirely opposed TO
the adoption of any such amendment. 1t
not only excluded aliens that had been driv-
en- by oppression 10 seek shelter among
us, but would also prevent those who volun-
tarily sought homes in the country of their
adoption. II savoured too much of the old
alien and sedition law to meet his encour-
agement. lie pointed to cases where the
bounty of the Government had been extern.
ded to foreigners, and cited the case of the
exed Poles. He alluded also, TO the
number of foreigners that had so warmly
espoused the American cause at the time
of the revolution, and had so freely shed
their blood in defence of her rights durine
the late war with great Britain.
Mr.. NORVELL said, the Senator from
Maryland seemed to suppose that this bill
proposed to give bounty to the pre-emp-
ton settlers upon the public lands. This
was mistake. The bill gave only per.
ference to actual settlers upon these lands.
They were obliged to pay the government
price for them. They were the pioneers
of the new states-the cultivators of the soil
the defenders of the country against In.
dian aggression. It was to them, in a
great degree, that the west was indebted
for its early advances in settlement. cult.
walton, and civilized comfort. They had
made the wilderness blossom as the rose
the desert smile with gladness and Joy -
Was it proper TO denounce such men as
heartless spectators, robbers Of the public
lands, as they had been denounced by the
Senator from Kentucky? Mr.. Clay] Ii
was these people that gave value to the pub
lie domain, and brought into action the
early impulses for adventure and emigra.
ton to the western wilds, which, but for
them, would have made slow progress tow
ards the subduing results of industry and
enterprise. The Senator from Maryland
had asked, whether we were 10 be called
on TO bestow this bounty upon foreigners
upon the foreign paupers from Europe
Sir, if foreign emigrants will come among
us, clear our lands, drain our marshes, and
plant the soil with wheat and corn, what
possible objection could be made to allow
ing them thus to contribute to the popula.
ton ID wealth OF the country? Paying
the government price for the laods, it was
impossible that either foreign or domestic
paupers could come in for the benefit Of
these -emption laws. The fears of the
honorable Senator from foreign paupers
were imaginary. They were never able
10 purchase lands they were never pre-.
empton claimants. The passed pre.emp.
lion laws had never made the distinction
now proposed to be made by the Senator
fuom Maryland. They had not restricted
settlements and purchases Of this land to
citizens of the United States. Congress
had, in his judgement, no authority to pre-.
scribe the class Of persons who should be-
come proprietors oflands in the states. II
was for the states themselves to regulate the
matter. He considered the proposition al
attack upon the new states. 1.-THE honor
able Senator from Maryland, did not choose
TO allow these foreigners to come and set
tie on the soil of Maryland,he begged them a
least TO suffer the people Of Michigan to re
ceive them. They were among her bes
and mos: useful inhabitants. They woulc
not take the trouble to come from Europ,
to purchase and pay for lands, unless the,
meant 10 become permanent settlers ant
citizens, the parents offuture native Amer
leans Unidentified with the soil, the advanta
ges, the perils, and the glories of the conn
try.
Mr.. CLAY Of Alabama expressed hi
astonishment at the motion Of the Senate
from Maryland, [Mr. Merrick, to exlud
foreigners settled on public lands from tn
right of pre.emption. That honorable Sen
ator could not be aware that his amend
ment, if adopted, would 60 TO change tn
whole policy of the government heretofor
E towards that unfortunate Observation-Disclosures
That policy had commenced more thar
twenty years ago. He was not dispose
, to put foreigners on better footing than ma
tive citizens, but he was far from DISPOSE
, ton to exclude such as we're cultivator
of the public lands, and had thus given evi
dence of their intention to reside perma
r nently amongst us, from the benefits com
mon TO others, especially when the laws c
most Of the states allowed them to becom
landholders. He was, he said, in favor {
? making our country emphatically what
]. professed 10 be-a refuge and home fo
the oppressed Of all other countries-a
ASYLUM tor every foreigner who might b
driven into exile by the hand of tyranny.
a Mr.. BENTON was entirely opposed {
the amendment of Senator from Mary
8 land. II proposed something new in on
/. legislation. proposed to make distnc
ton between aliens and citizens in the az
$ QUESTION of property.-Pre.emp righ
:. had been granted since the formation OF tn
j. government and no distinction, until no
n had been proposed between the persons
classes Of persons, TO whom they were graz
ted. No law had yet excluded aliens frol
the acquisition of a pre-emption righi an
he was entirely opposed to commencing
system of legislation which was to affe
!. the property rights of the aliens who can
n 10 our country to make it their home. p