The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-25

lands, than in the amount of revenue
which may be derived from them. To
accomplish this object, the accumulation
of large tracts into few hands should be
discountenanced, and liberal facilities af-
forded to the acquisition of small portions
by such of our citizens, wherever resid-
ing, as are in good faith DESTROYS of pos
sessing them as homes for themselves and
families. The particular measures by
which these results are to be secured, are
matters of detail to be settled by Congress,
in the exercise of a sound discretion, aid
ed by the lights Of experience, and having
reference to the general interests of the
country" These sentiments were re-
peated in my letter to the Hon. Sherrod
Williams, and have guided my acticr up
on the general subject since | have been
i'll Office Presumption laws could not be
overlooked in considering the measures
by which these principles must be carried
into practical effect. Such laws had been
occasionally enacted during the admin
STATIONS of my predecessors, but the pas
sage of them had not, believe, in sin
gle instance, being recommended by the
Executive. The frauds occasionally re-
suling from them, and apprehended 10 be
inseparabe from their execution, and the
circumstances under which the posses
sions they were designed to confirm,
were taken, doubtless had an influence in
preventing such recommendations The
propriety of such recommendation was
carefully considered at an early period Of
my Administration. 1t was not without
hesitation that decided to depart from
the course Of my predecessors in the mat
ter. Believing, however, upon mature
reflection, that good would result from
placing the presumption system, in some
respsl upon a diffcren, footing from
that ueh it had hitherto occupied, |
brought the subject to the notice OF Con-
gress in my first annual message, and re-
commended the passage of presumption
law for the present, and such graduation
of the price of the public lands, for the
future, as would produce an equally bene-
fetal result, by aiiording liberal facilities
for the early settlement of them, and ena-
bic the industrious poor to obtain small
tracts upon reasonable terms. A pre-
empton law was passed, but the gradua-
ZION bill failed. The execution of the for
mcr act proved to be eminently success
ful, and was attended with the happiest
consequences in quoting titles, and in Sc
curing to industrious settlers their i'm
provements. 1t was also, to very gra-
trying extent, free from the frauds which
had been practised under former laws.
Thousands of hard working men, coming
from all quarters of the Union, acquired,
under it, home for themselves and their
families, which most of them could not
otherwise have obtained, whilst large
sums of money Were received into the
puddle Treasury from this source. These
results, which were communicated to
Congress in my last annual message, have
had powerful tendency in removing in
some quarters, and qualifying in others,
objections to this species of Legislation,
and doubtless contributed mainly TO the
passage of another pre-emption bill a, the
last session.
Seldom indeed, if ever, has the legisla-
ton of any country produced measure
for the encouragement and advancement
of honest industry, which has been more
benefcent and useful in its operation than
have the presumption laws of the United
States for the last two years. Their pro-
visions are doubtless susceptible of still
greater Improvements. Whether they
shall be passed periodically hereafter, will
depend in a greater degree upon the use
which is made of the privileges they Sc
cure. The reasons in favor of such "A
course, or at least an equally liberal poll
cy tawards that enterprising, hardy, and
too often depressed class of men, who
partake most largely of tie benefit they
confer, are, indeed, of very imposing
character. 1t cannot be disguised that
the almost invarable tendency of all le-
gislation, which looks to the advancement
of special interest, is to aggrandizc those
who stand least in need of its assistance.
This result is not, in general, traced to any
settled predetermlnation to foster the intc-
rests of the richer, in preference to those
of the poorer classes, but to the greater
activity of the former in pressing their OBJ
ects upon the representatives. of the peo-
pie, and still more to the materials OF
/ which our legislative bodies are usually