Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-09-15

vi. ' an buren, tTcSilen liltSd oLitcs
WASHINGTON, August %, lao
Gentlemen: | informed you, upon The receipt Of
vour letter. proponndng to several questions that
would reply them IN full season Tor the object you
had in view. now proceed to do so.
Your first question seeks information n the
would pursue If elected III regard TO bill abollsh'ng
slavery in the District Of Columbia.
NV views tins subject have been repeatedly gwen
10 the unhlic and more particularly in !rt,cr address
cd b. me hut short before The date oi your chm.
munication 10 committee at Louisville, Kentucky.
send YOU copy of that letter. IN which you will find
full answer tn your question
You mex, ask me, "whether approve of presumption
laws"
There arc not many subjects within the scope of Fe-
dera legislation, of greater Importance, or which |
have regarded with greater soc,tude Than that 10 WHICH
this question refers deserves 10 BE- 50 considered as
well on account ns the interest which all The States have
in wise and equitable disposition Of the public lands,
as Of The bearing which this particular branch o the
general question has upon the prosperity OF the States,
in which the lands situated and especially upon The
individual welfare OF large portion oil our eiiow-c-
zens in every part Of the Unnn My views in regard 10
the proper disposition of the public lands were asked
by portion OF my fellow citizens q New York. as lar
hack as 1855, trnmedate after my nomination tor the
Presidency They then given ~ the following
terms III regard the public domain trust fund be-
loupinr to all the States 10 be disposed al for their
common benefit Ample authority IS, for that purpose,
conferred upon Congress by express provision oil
tbs Constitution In making such disposition that
body should, in my opinion, act upon the principles
that the people of the United States have greater
terest in an early settlement and substantial improve
mcn OF the public lands than III the amount OF revenue
which NAV be derived from them. To accomplish tins
object, the accumulation Of large tracts III few hands
should be d,Scountcnanced, and liberal facilities afford
ed 10 the ACQUISITION of small portions by such OF our
citizens wherever residing, are in good faith desi-
rous Of possessing them homes iGr themselves and
families. The particular measures by winch these re
suits are TO be secured matters Of detail Ia he settled
hy Congress the exercise ola sound discretion, aided
by The lights Of experience, and having reference to
the general interests Of the country. These scnti-
m en,s were repeated in my letter 10 The Hon Sherod
Williams, and have guided my action upon the general
subject since | have been in Office Irecmption laws
could not be overlooked in considering the measures
BY which these principles must be carried into pracil-
cal effect Such laws had been occasionally enacted
during the administration Of my predecessors, but the
passage Of them had not, believe in single instance
hccn recommended by the Executive The frauds occa-
siunaliy resulting from them, and apprchcndrd to lie se-
parable from their execution, the circumstances under
which the possessions they assigned to confirm
were taken, doubtless had an influence IN preventing
such recommendations carefully considered at an
early period of my Administration II was not without
csuton that Decided to depart frnS the course oil my
predecessors in the matter Believing, however, upon
mature reflection, that good would result from placing
the preempton system, in some respect upon differ
cnt footing from that which it had hitherto occupied !
first annual message, and recommended The passage Of
pre- empon law for the present, aud such gradua-
ton Of the price Of the public lands, for the future,
would produce an equally beneficial result by aordIn
liberal facilities for The early settlement of them, and
enable the industrious poor to obtain small tracts upon
reasonable terms. presumption law parsed, but
the graduation bill failed The execution of the for
mer &c, proved TO be emineny successful and was a-
tended with the haPpIest consequences IN quoting IL
Hes and in securing IL industrious settlers their
In AZ also gratifying extent.
free from The frauds which had been practiscd under
former laws Thousands of hard working men, com
nu from all quarters 81, the Union acquired, under it,
home for themselves and their aml es which
of them conid mol otherwise have obtained, whilst
arur sums of money were received into the public
Treasury from this These results, which
communicated 10 Congress in my last annual message
have had Il powerful tendency IN removing IN some
quarters and III qualifying in Others objections TO this
species oilegslaton, and doubtless contributed mainly
10 the passage of another presumption bill at the last
session.
! Seldom indeed, f ever, has the legislation of any
country produced for the Encouragement and
advancement OF honest industry, which has been more
henefcent aud useful in lis operations than have the
presumption laws Of the L. States for the last two
years. Their provisions doubtless susceptible of
still greater improvements. Whether they shall be
passed periodically hereafter, will depend in greater
degree upon the use which made of the privileges
they secure. The in favor of such course
least equally liberal policy towards that enter
psing hardy, and too often depressed class of men,
who partake most largely of the benefits they confer
are, indeed, of very imposing character it cannot
be disguised that the almost nvariahie tendency of all
legislation, which looks to the advancement OF special
interests aggrandze those who stand least in need
of lis assistance This result not in general to be
traced any settled predeterminaon to foster the in
erests of the richer, preference 10 those of the poor
er classes but the greater activity of the former
pressing their objects upon the representatives Of the
people and still more the materials Of which our lie.
gisativs hodiss usually composed Through want