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


that nobody pays any more, or so little
that it is nothing in national point Of view.
One dollar twenty seven and half cents
per acre is the average ofall the sales for
fifteen years, The twenty millions of acres
sold to spectators in the year 1886, all
went at one dollar and twenty-five cents
per acre. The presumption then is not
bounty, but sale, and a full price, and,
what is more, for solid money for pre-
emrtoners pay with gold and silver, and
not with bank credits. Numerous were
the emigrants from Germany, France, Ire-
land, and other countries, now in the West,
and especially in Missouri, and he Mr.. B.
had no idea Of imposing any legal disabi-
ity upon them in the acquisition of proper
ty. He wished them all well. If any of
them had settled upon the public lands, SO
much the better. 1t was an evidence Of
their intention to become citizens, and their
labor on the soil would add to its product
and to the national wealth. Ia reply to
some remarks from Mr.. CLAY, of Ken.
lucky, in which that Senator supported the
amendment. proposed against foreigners, he
said there wasone class OF politicians whohad
no right to object to foreigners for any pur.
pose, and that class was those who were in
favor of a national bank with foreign stock
holders. Those who could 60 that, he
should suppose, could have no objection to
foreigners for any thing, much less for the
innocent occupation of ul.ivating the earth.
| Mr.. MERRICK said he had not antic.-
pated opposition from any quarter to a
proposition which appeared to him so oh.
viously right in itself, and which, he could
not but add, he believed to be so loudly
called for by a just reglrdto the rights and
interests Of the citizens of this Union.- :
What, sir, has been the chief argument
urged in favor of the passage of this bill =
Was it, and is il not, that you thereby give
to the industrious, and honest, and enter
prsing poor man, who owns no land, and
has not the means of purchasing in the old
and settled portions ofthe country, an OPP
o 'tnnity ofacquirng home, and comfort
and independence for himself and family A!
And will you, can you, while you use this
argument, exclude our own citizens from
the advantages thus speciously held out, by
letting loose, as competitors with them. the
hordes of European and other foreign va
grants, knaves and paupers; and will not
the poor man, the honest and virtuous and
industrious poor man, of this country, be
etfectually excluded from all the vast bene-
fits and advantages Of this and similar laws
J if you reject the amendment have offeredl
Yes, sir, they will be excluded by the pre-
occupancy ofthe knapss and paupers Of the
old World. already this description Of per-
sons are focking in most pernicious herds TO
this coantry: let itonce be known that they
are admitted to the free and full enjoyment
, ofthe advantages of these redemption laws;
J that they are authorized by Congress 10
; come in any numbers, and seize upon the
inheritance of the American people, and
the character Of our frontier population will
, be sadly changed. No longer shall we
) find our frontier, as it extends farther and
farther west, peopled by brave and hardy
patriotic yeomanry. That which has hith-
erto been the bulwark, may become the
scourge of the country. You will have
there UiciouS, corrupt and de6dSed Sicdrn'
} of outcasts from Europe; aid the poor, but
} honest and proud.hearted American free-
man, will rather die in poverty and want,
: than dwell among such people. The SEN
ator from Michigan Mr.. NoRvELL has
, said, the adoption of the amendment will
, amount to an interference with the laws and
institutions of his state (; because, in that
, state, foreigners not naturalized are allowed
. to acquire and hold real property. How
t does il interfere with the domestic policy oil
+. his state The amendment proposes moi
1 to repeal the laws Of Michigan regulating
! titles to property within her borders; il
g proposes not to interfere in any manner
Y with the right of any one to purchase land
of the government, or of individuals any
:. where every one will still be free as they
: now are to make purchases at private OIL
: public sale unnaturalized foreigners may
still acquire government lands by purchase
s in Michigan or any other state, the laws o.
r which allow aliens to'hold real estate
e Such is not, however, and trust will no
G become, the policy Of many of the states
). The amendment touches not that question
!. but leaves it where it ought to remain, witt
e each state respectively.
Q Mr.. CLAY, of Kentucky, wished tn,
!. Senate would 60 for the interests of thu
n whole Union, as a people, and not so ex
d clusively for tine new states. his domain
i was the public property-the property o
! the whole people of the United States ant
5 he thanked the Senatorfrom Maryland 70
!. introducing proposition for comforting thu
y bounty ofthe government on our own race
J. instead of holding out general invitation
If to all the paupers ofal! the European gop
e eminent TO come here, and compete will
If our own honest poor. He said that in NJ
it shape in which the bill could be placed
n could he be brought % vote for it. Thu
n whole presumption system with viola
e ton Of all law, and an encouragement 4
persons to 60 on the public lands and TAX
o the choicest portions Of them, as suite
= their interests or their inclinations. He
lr at least, would not be deferred from oppos
:. ing it by any means or threat which Nigh
: be thrown out. He stood there as the rep
Is resentative ofthe whole Union, and, as sue
e he should contend against system whic
W had for its object to take from the govern
'r ment the possession Of these lands, Z
l. throw them into the hands Of the speculu
m tors. As soon as it was ascertained tia
I'd territory was to be- established, there wa
one wild PERCEPTIONS rush to get possessio
ct ofalf the choice spots ofland, to be elaine
'e under pre-emption right. by men VIII
D. OyeraWed honeet p,,rc,asers forhddin