The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-02-02
rHENEAy pRe.EsnrIoN BILL,

a Just aud equtanle distribution Of the proceeds
: thereof among tho old we'll as new states The
provisions Of the Bill ust passed aie succinctiy
given by Mr. PRENrIss Of this State in short
speech when il was under discussion in the Sen.
ate, which we copy below looseR tef Il
! Mr. PRESTlss said he did not intend to enter at
all into the general policy ofpreemPtion laws, He
deemed il altogether unnecessary to do so, because
that question had been discussed at great length
and very FULLY, on forme, occasions, ana every
member must have his mind made up decislvely
upon it. His object was merely 10 stute, and bring
distinctly to the notice of the Senate, the main
particulars which distinguished this bill from all
other laws which had been passed upon the sub
jec, and which, in his opinion, rendered IL slnSn
larly and exceedingly questionable.
1t was we'll known that he had not looked upon
presumption laws with much favor; that he had
been opposed to the whole system, and had uni
formilY voted against every bill ofthe kind, believ-
ing us he did, that the system was wrong in prin
ciple, lunsound in policy, and incompatible with
the public in erest well as with every consider
auon of justice. But fhe had entertained differ
ent opinion, and had gwen his assent to the laws
which had been previously passed, no could
be prevailed upon To yield his support 10 nlea
sure al 50 extraordinary character the present
one. a--5. FL
| The first and most essential particular (sad Mr.
P) which distinguished this bill from all former
laws, was, that ii was prospective and permanent,
holding out an invitation 10 persons from all quar-
ters OF The world TO settle upon the public lands,
and to endure for all time 10 come. The laws
heretofore enacted had been entirely retrospective
in thoir operaton confined to cases ofpast settle
m ent, &had professedly held out encouragement
to future intruslons upon the publcdomain. MI
r. wished to know, whether The was prehar
ed 10 depaI from the policy hitherto Invariably ac
ted upon, and to carry it to the extraordinary ex
tent contemplated by this bill For one, he must
say that he was unwilling make the public lands
object of scramble and plumber, no, only by our
own ctizens, but by aliens and foreigners b
Former laws had been framed in such way as
to gaurd against frauds, and to efectuate the pro-
essed intention Of the laws. The act OF 1888 de-
fined what should cons ute a settlement tire
CURED possession by personal residence on the
land at the time Of passing the act, and for four
months next preceding Tho present bill gave the
right of presumption, generally, tosa persons who
should "inhaJn and Improve the land, and raise
iog cabin theyeon without specifying what should
amount 10 an inhabtancy Improvement, con
tanning a"y Limitation to the extent of the i'm.
p.o'eme"' OF '''e dur"'ion oi !he' ihiao''ahey'
o'.'' VI '"is respect was eA"eheiy vague ana
Indefinite and it was difficult to perceive what
"e'o was 10 prevent any Que WI" shou'o erect
temporary cuoi"' P'an' Petnaps r"d Or NV" "'
sf"""u' ana cau'p upo" ~ week or So rom Sc |
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