Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-02-27

/ the Government is invested in regard 10 II, we
are prepared to discuss the several principles ana
details involved IN the bill and proposed amend
ments.
From the beginning of our land policy, settle
ment and occupancy seem 20 have been the OBJ
iect of the Government 1t Is true that largesses
have never been proposed, nor bouniies awarded,
/ TO induce "a cultivation OF our wild domain. on
j The other hand the Government has, with all pos
sible expeditions, from time 10 time extinguished
the Indian tile, and thrown the lands into mar
ket. The Indian claim removed, no other obsta-
Gle has been left by our laws in the way OF set
Element, no limits prescribed to the exploration oi
the adventurous pioneer. The method OF settling
tho Western lands compact masses, by town
sh FPS at Il time, has been always rcpudIa ed The
Government has incurred no expense to protect
the settlements. No garrisons or military posts
have been established upon our frontier nth this
express reference. Ga the contrary, II has been
left TO the same fearless aud hardy spirit OF lnd
vidlal resolution which dared to encounter the
obstacles of nature and the terrors OF the forest,
to defend the pioneers against the narauding in
cursInns of their savage neIghbors. The rifle
and the have gone together INTO the wilder
ness, borne by the same hand The mother has
left the couch when her infant reposed, to watch
over the labors of the b,ckwoodsman while en-
gagged in his daily and toIIsome task, and to give
the fist alarm against the rcachery OF the lndI
an; and the hour of midnight repose has been
rendered secure only by the guardianship Of the
hunter sentinel.
In snch a way as tEis, sir, have your great
tramontane valleys been settled, until now secu-
riiv has succeeded to danger, and tho alarms OF
n border war are drowned IN tho noisy tread OF
commerce and of speculation. The pioneer has
borne the dangers nf the adventure; snail he not
reap IT'S houors and rewardsl Unatdcu, unrcgar-
ded. unrccompenscd, he has laid III virtue and
in peace the foundations of several Ut your
most powerful States, strengthened the bonds
IF fed add ed O
commerce. augmented sources TO your revenues,
security TO vonr liberties and fresh glory TO your
empire. Will vna now Withdraw from him Your
patronage when first II Bogus to be valuable; or
rather, viii you not confirm to him his ancient
charicr? Is the same wise and liberal policy vet
tn cnn,inuc Of covering this continent with Re
publican States, IS the sordid grippe Of avar:ce
to arrest this march of civil liberty towards Its
utmost destinaiion9 Is this pa,ernal Government
wiling to adopt The motto: "Quacrcndn pecunta
prinuns cSt-rirtus post nunmos. to postpone HE
highest interests of It's people TO consideration
III l. Is re inarkablc that IN almost every deed oil
cessinn from the States. and IN both the treaties
with France and Spain for the purchase OF LpdI-
sian, and FIofldl guarantees arc contained, Sc
curing To the people OF the acquired territory
R.pnhlican form of government, and free and
CT ,al admission into the Union. 1t, then, even
N our foreign negotiations this appears 10 pc
f,u,I,mcural Obi .ci, let not thwar, bv our do
,,est,c nricv The @ ,rl est attainment of great
an end Let revenue be d mere incidental con
sldcralion, in the expressive AID Simple IAN
ruacc OF a member of the first Congress, "Iet us
make the hes, OF liberty. our people, and oar land
Senators object tn the prc-cmptIon policy main
" upon these grounds:
l. That 1t inIuEcs our exchcquer by dininish-
inp the price received for The lands
=. That, By conterrIng privileges ard ponhics
upon the people OF the new States. Il IS partial
IN its operation, and unjust TO the people OF the
! old States.
,. That it produces an unnatural and forced
dram upon The population of the old Strtes; and
4 That it enrenders spirit of insubordinati ION
/ to the laws and will lead 10 mIschIevous riots and
I excuses by tolerating scramble fur the public
| property.
To the first objection l reply that, before the
| former pre- -emption laws had operated to any ex-
tent, the gross average at which the lands have
! been sold since the present minimum price was
established, Is about one dollar and thirty cents
! per acre, The inconsiderabe loss of five cents
| per acre, does not weigh Il feather IN The scale
against tho equity OF prescription. To apPcase
| even the ilI-founded complaints OF single State
/ havn public lands within its borders, you ought
no. to hesitate mako small a sacrifice. 1ou
have assessed tho value of the lands at 81 %
per Why should you expose them 10 sale
/ NJ auction? Many of those lands are not worth
the minimum price, and yet you refuse, and tor
good reasons to graduate them downwards. Why
should YOU graduate them upwards? In any de-
pariment Of business there evils in the arc
ton system. and IL ought IT, be avoided when ii is
possible to do 81. Ii is the parent frequently OF
ruInous speculation, arising from undue com
petition which such an occasion generally arnu
Upon the commerce. OF our citizens We lay
an equal duty, aad do not sell the protection o
/ our navy the highest bidder. The facilities oil
the public mail, and the privileges of the Patent
Office arc off rdoG al fixed rates. No part of oul
revenue except from land is raised in the sham
bes. Government offers none OF lis tavors, none
Of its privileges. TO the cupdtv of wealth save
the domci of the poor man, of which. by con
CUES, or purchase, II has become the lord para
mount.
The second objection assumes what | canno
grant. "ihat the right Of pre- emp,ion is Il bounty
or privilege" The pre-cmptor pays fair e
euivalcnt Tor his right, of more value IN the enc
tn tho yhi ri