The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1840-06-05


created great 1les1 tlsIaEtIon among the pe0-#
pie. They had only been sold II large
tracts, the smallest 81 which included al
least, four thousand acres. Our hardy yeo.
many, with limited pecuniafY means, were
thus shut out from 81 chance st competi.
ton with wealthy spectators and gFasping
monopolists, il the purchase Of these lands
1.-The poorer emiglanls were becoming dis
heaftened at the chilling prospects before
them, and Tie settlement Of The new coun-
ny was greatly retarded. Fully aware of
the impolicy aud injustice Of this state Of
things, and true to the trust conided to him,
Mr. Hanisonss earliest Legislative efforts
were made to overthrow this pernieions sys-
TEN. He aroused the attention Of Con-
rress to the consideration Of this important
subject, and evinced SO intimate an acquain-
lance with the facts and business details
connected with II, that he was appointed
chairman Of a committee raised TO examine
into and report on the existing mode Of dis.
posing Of The public lands. After a proper
Investigation, he presented report, accom-.
panied By a bill, the principal object of
which was 10 reduce the size of the tracts Of
public land offered for sale, 10 such SMALL
er number Of acres as would place them
within the reach OF actual settlers. This
mastery report, which was The joint produce
ton of himself and Mr.. Galatin, together
with the great ability aud eloquence with
which he defended his bin from the power
full opposition il encountered in the House,
gained Mr.. Harrison reputation rarely at
tanned By so young a statesman. The bill
was carried triumphantly in the House, and
finally, after some amendments, passed the
Senate. The result was, that the public
lands, instead Of being offered only in large
tracts, of which four thousand acres was the
smallest size, were now TO be sold N alter
nate sections and half sections-the former
containing GAO, and the latter $40 acres
each. The point gained was OF immense
importance, since, from the low price OF
these lands, and the small amount OF pur-
chase money required TO be paid. they were
now within the reach Of nearly all the poor
er emigrants and actual settlers, who felt a
natural desire to own the fee simple of their
homes, and of the lands they subdued from
the wilderness. Thousands of the hardy
and industrious farmers of our Northern and
Middle States. and many of the poorer plan
ters of the South, aVailed themselves Of the
fair field which was now opened for emigTa-
ton and enterprise; and we may justly con-
slider this happy result, which Mr.. Harrison
was so instrumental in producing, as one of
the leading causes of the rapid settlement
and prosperity of our Western country.
In the year 1900, the Northwestern ter
Titory was divided. That part of the old
territory, included within the present boun-
daries Of Ohio and Michigan, retained its
former name; and the immense extent of
country Northwest Of this, was made Sc
parate territory, and received the name of
Indiana. Soon after this division had taken
place, Mr.. Harrison resigned his seat in Con-
gress, and was appointed Governor of the
new territory. This appointment gave great
satisfaction to the people of Indiana, with
whom the patriotic exertions Of Mr.. Harri-
son had rendered him deservedly popular;
and it was at the same time, the strongest
evidence Of the confidence with which the
General Government relied upon bis integ-
Tity, prudence and capacity for civil govern
ment.
The extent of Indiana was almost bound
less. The small population it then contain
ed was thinly scattered through vast will
deTness, and only three settlements Of any
note existed within its territory. One of
lu6SS was dl tuG pilul3
at the Falls Of the Ohio, one hundred miles |
from the capital. The communication be-
tween these remote points, was, at all times,
difficult and toilsome, and often attended |
with great danger. There existed no prac- +
ticable roads, and nearly all the intermedi- T
ate country was occupied by the Indians, or
over-run by their hunting parties. Most of
those savage tribes, though protesting to be
friendly, were restless and dissatisfied; and
their leading chiefs still nuTsed a moody
hope Of revenge for the notifying defeat
they had sustained, six years before, at the
battle of the Miami. Artfnl and treacher-
Gus, numerous, WarIike and thirsting for
plumber, they kept this remote frontier in
continual excitement and alarm. The an
CRY feelings of our hardy borderers were fire.
qnently reused By some robbery OF atrocious
violence committed BY the more evil-dispos-
ed among their savage neighbors, and quar-
Tels often ensued, which threatened the
peace of the whole community.
Such was the existing state of things in
Indiana Territory, when Dir. Harrison was
appointed to the administration of its gov
eminent. AS Governor Of a frontier terrific
Ty so peculiarly situated. Mr.. Harrison was
invested with civil powers Of the most im-
portant nature. as well as with military au-
thority. Besides she ordinary powers which 5
he held er-o6fcio as Governor, be had the
sole newer IF dividing the district into