The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-08-08
THE LAND SALES.

THE LAND SALES.
We have heard but one opinion in re-
gard to the amount of land advertised to
be brought into market in this District the
coming fall. All condemn the policy of
the Government in this particular, what
ever may be their views in relation to its
general action, because it is known that
if persisted in, much mischief may result,
and the prosperity of this delightful Ter
ritory may be in a great measure blasted.
The reputation Of Iowa abroad will bring
large numbers of "land sharks to these
sales, whose only object will be to secure
all the best land they can for future spec
ulation, without the most remote inten-
ton of ever settling on it themselves.
The immense quantities of land, now ly.
ing waste in Illinois, bears palpable testi-
mony to the impolicy of permitting the
public domain to fall into such hands. Il
is not because this land is sterile or poor
that it is thus permitted to lie unimproved
nor is it because there are not individu-
ais who would like to purchase it at a fair
valuation;--but it is because it has fallen
into the hands of those, who are determin-
to make their fortunes, by obtaining for
it an exorbitant price; no matter how
much, i'll SO doing, they may 'sgrind the
faces of the poor settler. The Govern
ment, with these facts before it, has pro-
fessed to consider the cause of the pio-
neer, and has promised to protect the
actual settler in his rights. Such profess
sions show themselves to be hollow. heart
ed-mere hypocritical cant, absolutely,
as far as the interests of the people of
Iowa are concerned. Confding in these
professions and trusting that no more land
would be brought into market than would
be necessary to accommodate the actual
settlers, the people Of this Territory were
altogether unprepared to receive the in
telligence that all in this District was thus
to be thrown into market. None are to
be found who will justify this course of
the Government, which savors so much
OF accommodating itself at the expense of
the interests Of the people. 1t may be
and is urged that the finances of the Gov
eminent require replenishing that mil
lions are needed to redeem the Treasury
notes that have already been issued. We
know that the Treasury has been on the
ebb for some time past, and without up
braiding those whose mismanagement
has caused the flood gates of this depart
ment to fly open and SO speedily drain
what was recently full and OVERLOOKING,
we would respectfully ask if there is no
other recourse than the one proposed. If
there is not, then must the people of Iowa
submit to the necessity Of having the fair
est portion of her Territory fall into the
hands of these Gland sharks But should
there be another remedy, then is it due
to the residents-the hardy pioneers, who!
have settled on and made valuable the
land on the west side of the Mississippi.
4 I !
to have that remedy first applied.
We do not know but the Government
has been induced to adopt the policy of
bringing all the land into market in the
manner and at the time proposed, by. the
representations Of those who protested tol
have knowledge on the subject. But
there are none who have more accurate
knowledge in relation to this matter than
the Land Officers in this Territory. 1 OIL
this fact, the Government must be aware.
II they had been consulted on this impor-
tant subject as they should have been, in
preference to all others, they could have
informed the Government what townships
were the most thickly settled and which