Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-02-27

not-and | was utterly amazed to hear the
gentleman from New York express differ
ent opinion--look upon him as i9corpora-
ted in our society, and authorized by the
exercise of the elective franchise, to exert
an influence in unsettlng or changing our
entire political policy, whilst as subject of
Foreign Power, he lies under all his original
and native obligations. If the contrary
doctrine be admitted to be sound one,
shen, as he has been shown by calculation
which have seen, the Emperor of Russia,
by proper distribution of $4,000 of his
serfs among the States of this Union Of
the States would have permitted them to
vote) might have changed the glorious. the
triumphant result of the vote of Novem-
Der last, and have continued those in pow
er who, by the full, decided, and manly ex-
preston of the public will, have been de-
clared unworthy to be the deposltares OF it
any longer.
But it is with another subject that have
risen now to deal--the fearful extension
now proposed to be given to the Pre-emp--
ton System. We have now had land
system in operation for upwards of forty
years. Is there any thing in the practical
effect of this old and long-tried system
which should induce us to repudiate it for
new, untried, and wild experiment.
What have been its results! 1t recommended
about forty years ago, or little more, in
one of the great Western members of the
CONFERENCE.-THE State Of Ohio-the set
Element of which took place as much as
twenty years later than in the case of her
sister and neghbor, Kentucky. And what
is her population now! From the returns
of the new census it is found to amount to
million and half Of souls--nearIy double
that of my own State, although Kentucky
had preceded her by such great length OF
time. And if we then go to Indiana, still
younger sister in the great family of States,
we shall find that she exhibits a population
of between six and seven hundred thousand
nearly equal to that of State which was
her predecessor in the establishment Of in
dependent State sovereignty by thirty
years. | will not go through the list. Ali
the members Of the Senate are doubtless
familiar with the returns of the late census.
All these great and astonishing results have
taken place under that system which we
are now asked to change. 1t is wise-it is
prudent--itis statesmanlike, to reject plan
from which have proceeded such glorious
fruits, for an untried, and, as believe most
hazardous experiment!
What is the history of these pre-emption
laws! They arose, think, in the first in
stance in the case of what is called Sym
mes Grant. John Clevcs Symmes pur-
chased from the Government large tract
of land between the Great and Little Mi
ami rivers, in Ohio, including the spot where
Cincinnati now stands. He was unable to
pay for it, but finally made compromise
with the government, and took less a.
mount Of land. He had, in the mean time,
sold out to numerous sub-purchasers, who,
being innocent third parties, and having
purchated in good faith, were supposed to
have fair title to presumption for the i'm
provements they had made and the farms
they had opened to cultivation. Congress,
accordingly, granted to them a RI ght to pur-
chase from the Government the lands they
held at the minimum price prescribed by
law. Then came the cession of Louisiana,
many of the occupants of which had set
: tied on their farms while that Territory
belonged to the Spanish and the French
Governments, under grants freely made,
while others had entered on their lands with
confidence that, according to the established
usages and customs of the country, dona-
: tons of land would be obtained, totally un-
aware of the change of sovereignty which
had passed upon the country without con-
sulting them. The question then arose
what ought, in equity to be done in their
casel And the American Government
2 came to the conclusion that all who had
= thus came into possession of their land Were
a equitably entitled to the right Of pre-emP.
j ton, which was accordingly extended tc
: them. Next came a third case-that OF
e the Kohokia, Kaskaskia, and St. Vincent
n settlers in Illinois and Indiana. These III
: habited French villages were settled in somf
!, cases more than century ago, and were
/, not drawn within the action of our lane
e system till about so years since. Thcs'
: people, having settled under like circum
l stances to those in Louisiana, were held t.
d have claim equally equitable, and pre-
e emption was granted to them also. Thu
= the system stood till 1882, under Gen. Jack
: sons administration. Then, for the frs
,, time, was introduced an entirely new prin
II ciplc, and it is that which is contained i
= the substitute for this bill proposed by IN
It Senator from Vermont. There is, howcN
y, err wide difference between what this bi
d proposes and the practice introduced unde
d Gen. Jackson's administration.
ID The pre-emption laws, as altered in 1873
u allowed a right of prescription to all Sc
u tiers on the public lands from a specific
n day, who should assert their rights beto
ly the expiration of the law, the operation