Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-21
pRr-EMpT1oN.

The following letter, Wil!CIi we copy
from the Worcester, Mass. Palladium,
though short, takes fair and compre-
hensive view Of the presumption ques-
ton. 1t is, indeed, good specimen
Of the multuna IN p0rvo. we ven
ture the conjecture that the writer is a
resident of this town and new conner;
and if we are correct, i, furnishes ano-
Their evidence than intelligent men Of
the old states, however prcjudiccd they
may have been against the presumption
system, cannot, after visiting the west,
mixing with our settlers: and learning
the true merits Of the question from
the best Of all teachers, -personal OBJ
servation,-withholdt their hearty wish
es for the successor the persons inter-
ested. We wish Mr.. CLAY would pass
through our country. A single months
visit, we doubt not, would place him
alongside Of Mr.. WEBSTER, as the en-
lightened defender of the true western
interest: Peoria Register.
ILLINOIS, Feb. 1888.
We are all looking with much anx-
iety in this section Of the country to
the action of congress. The currency
and the ,uld bills possess the most in
terest. l am inclined to think that a
majority Of the people in this state are
opposed to chartering another national
bank; though there have been no recent
elections that at all test the question.
The sale Of the public lands, interest
ing 10 all parts Of the union, ispeculiar-
" so to tho west and south west. Sc
yeral hundred thousand people have
cmigrated from the old states, and come
hither, expecting to find land in plenty
that they could purchase Of the govern
ment; but on arriving here, they find
avast extent Of country owned by the
general government, with soil as fer
tile as the garden Of the Eden, and a
climate as salubrious and healthy as
that of Italy, not yet surveyed, and no
provision made for immediate sale.
Knowing well that it is the policy Of
the government to sell their lands, they
enter upon them, waiting patiently
for survey to be completed and then
purchase them. The adjacent lands,
by reason Of the Improvements made
by these pioneers, are greatly enhanced
in value. BY granting prescriptions
to these settlers, the government loses
nothing; but on the other hand, finds a
market for poorer lands in the vicinity,
because they are near settlement.
/ perceive that many of the eastern
editors are strong against presumption
laws, and severe in their remarks upon
the sguatters. This shows that they
are not acquainted with the character
of the population and state Of things at
the west. The squatters or settlers
that have come into the country in the
last few years, are as moral, intelligent,
and honest, as the farmers and mcchan-
les of New England. By their efforts
and enterprise, the desert is made TO
blossom as the rose; towns spring up,
the church and the school house are
erected, the earth yields its hundred
fold for men and beast; and where but
lately the savage chief bore sway over
immense uncultivated tracts, the snug
farm house, the SCOTLAND happy neigh
borhood, the arts, the comforts, the
refinenents, the elegance OF civilized
life, nowappear. Government cannot,
will not say, they will see the people
who have done all this, turned out OF
their new houses, acquired by so much
toll and privation, to give place TO the
speculation, who has already faltened
upon the spoils of public lands. Yet
If no presumption law shall be passed,
such must be the tie Of thousands Of
most excellent people and families.
Money has become very scarce here,
though / suppose we have felt but lit
tie Of the pressure compared with what
has been felt at the cast.--Thc opening
Of the spring think will revive bust
ness here: but the extent Of it must de-
pend much upon events and business
in the Atlantic states.
The Albany Argus remarks that a.
bout eighty days the banks Of N. York
must resume specie payments. In the
House Of Representatives Of Pennsyl-
vania, on the Gath ult. the sth section
Of the bank bill, which had been for
some time under discussion, "enactng
that, from and after the 9th May next,
the banks of that State shall redeem
their obligations in gold and silver,'
was adopted--yeas Sc, nays 22.
Several of the sections of the bill
now before the House Of Representa-
tives Of Pennsylvania, for the better
regulation of the banks Of that State,