Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-19

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1911.

fact for the benefit of the graspng land specuator By
curious coincidence enough, It had happened yeser
day, that while the gentleman IRON Alabama WI
Clay] was advocating and urging the bill upon the Be-
nate he (Mr Cri,tenden) received letter from an old
friend and constituent, inquirng with evident anSi
ETY. whether there not great pre-empi'on ol 10
pass this session. the letter stated that throughout a
country there was great movement among tue pe'
ple men of substance quitting good houses ana
settlements and removing, with the hope OF getting
richer on TO new lands This was under the idea that
now, heretofore the pre.empon law would require
actual residence and settlement The writer added,
that Inc made the inquiry more particularly, oecause
there lay near his present residence piece Of very
good land and if he such bull was To pass, lie
would at once break up and to this new tract
The letter stated that the removals very numerous
in fact, that there seemed general movement
through all that part of the country Not only log ca
bins of the best description but in some cases ood orc
houses, abandoned that their owners might avai
themselves of the expected presumption law to enrich
themselves and .,er children. Now it never, surely,
could be the intention of the Senate to grant pre-.
empions 10 Of this description; and II not, the OIL
ought TO be limited and guarded in order that IT might
eiltctually exclude those who waited for such law,
that they mg ht it as an engine TO increase lheif
wealth.
Mr. TAPPAN said if the amendment of the Senator
from Kentucky failed he should propose an amend
ment 10 remedy the evil by preventing the acquisition
of pre- empton right, BY any person who should oe
the Of any land and should quit to live on The
public lands.
MIR. BUCHANAN could not have supposed that the
few incidental remarks which he had made on the
question which was yesterday decided by the Senate,
would have brought ont the Senator from Kentucky,
Mr. Crttenden any other Senator, in reply to-day
lie had right, however, to complain OF ths and was
only sorry that he (Mr b. compelled IN sell
Defence few observations in reply to his re-
marks il had been his purpose not TO utter single
l,tpi.I .pI
been often discussed by hm before; but to content
himselfby merely giving his silent vote IN favor OF The
bill.
Mr. B. should neither vote for the first the second
clause Of the Senator $ amendment lie went against
the whole and each al lis parts. In relation 10 the hrsi
clause he held that the foreigner who penetrated 10 the
Western frontier of vast country, and there settled
upon and cultivated tract of land presented the clear
proof and that by the most decisive actions, oil ms
intention 10 become A citizen of the United States
How be contended that this was no proof OF such
an intention; The whole conduct Of such man mann
Tested that he determined 10 live and to DIE by ii
soil In what other manner could he give stronger
proof Of his devotion 10 our institutions than Y"
have transferred his home from his native country
Ia the far West, and there 10 have ielled the forest
and erected dwelling (hc would not say 10"
cabin, for lie had no reason 10 he remarkably par
ti1l 10 that namc for himself and his family lie thus
acquired not the title 10 the tract OF land winch ne
pay for a, the Government price, in preference TO
all other persons. II he should prove unable 10 do
this his labor was MI forfeited Mr. Is. could assure
the Senator that from such aliens these, he need
apprehend danger Of foreign influence. These Pi.
oneer farmers were not the men from whom we lad
any thing 10 dread. He should never consent 10
destroy the title Of such man, after he had pad Tor
his land and thus render all his tolls and pr'vaons
uiiavailing merely because through negligence ne
might not have gone 10 court Of justice and mace
a formal declaration Of his intention to become ci'
tizen Of the u. s. before his actual settlement com
rncnced. No. never. His Judgment and his feelings
would equally revolt against such an act.
He mir b could not understand the opposition
which had been manifested in certain quarters to TO-
reigners, who had sought refuge and home IN our
country Had they not materially assisted IN achiev
inc our independence In the days of the Revolution
no such jealousy was felt towards the brave lrisinen
Frenchnlen and Germans, who, side by side with
our native citizens, had fought the battles OF liberty
On the contrary, he had doubt, was from CRATE
ul sense Of these services that it had ever been the
settled policy of the Government TO allow them to
purchase our vacant lands upon the same terms with
American citizens.
Was there no reason for pursuing the policy at
the present day Was not clearly our interest as
nation 10 permit such cmiGrans 10 purchase, and pos
sess our vacant lands and thus establish line OF de-
fence on Our frontier against the incurslons OF nc
savage enemy This wise policy which he
trusted might never be abandoned
But the Senator MIR Crittendenl made light OF Inc
danger from The hordcs of savages, which, wisely OF
unwisely had been collected on our western ironler
and he thought it was degrading to American citizens
to be protected and defended by any foreigner not yet
natural,Zed.
Mr. b. believed that the danger one which might
well be apprehcnded even by the bravest men. Some
twenty or thirty thousand Indian warriors ne did mol
rccnllect the number exactly, now occupied the conn
ry along the Western line of The States OF Missouri Ar
kansas, and Louisiana. There they were, and there
hey must remain or the national faith must he violated
They had been almost literally driven 10 that frontier
from their native homes in the interior Of the States,
with all the hostile feelings and wounded PRIDE which
our conduct to them naturally inspired At any time,
1t all times, there was danger OF united war being
wa god by these savages against our roner
We all kaow that IL the nature of the lndnn to brood
over his vengeance and 10 strike the most dreadful
blow when his enemy least expects it, Was il not then
clearly the policy Of the Government to increase the
number of inhabitants that froner' And it an IRISH,
, German or French emigrant thought proper TO set
10 t,ore vos he MIR B. 10 he censured Tor having de-
,Iorcd bot their bosoms would become buwarks against
he incursions of our savage enemy? These brave
ncp would be always ready TO die in defence of those
possessions which this Government had permitted them
first 10 improve and then TO purchase.
But the Senator thought il would be degrading to
Americans 10 resort to such defence. Mr.. H. well
,new that .the blood of Douglas could protect itself
lie knew that our own citizens could defend their conn-
ry but how they could be degraded by fighting in the
same ranks with foreigners, our Revolutionary fore
fathers had done, lie utterly nj loss to CONCEIVE
This was species of exalted pride which he could not
understand And this, too when these foreigners,
united with our own citizens were defending their COM
non possessions and their homes It was certain thai
such men would become citizens as soon as they could
Under our naturalization laws; but if any OF them ei-
her ignoraniy or from negligence, had omitted 10
make formal declaration Of their intention to tbs ef
ec he would never deprive them of their privileges
If pre-cmption and drive them from their homes Tor
his reason Ee could not, therefore, give his support
% the first clause of the Senator amendment On the
second clause ofthe amendment he should say nohns'
Is he did not deem it necessary, and would not, there
ore. protract the debate, into which he had entered
with much reluctance.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN would offer but few words IN
epIy, rather to whn, the Senator had nsnuaied tnan
o what he had actually said. The gentleman seemed
yreay surprised that there should be manifested N
;ertan quarters great hostility to foreigners he
lid MT really understand what the Senator meant
He had moi said one word derogaory to foreigners ne
,ad neither said nor insnualed any thing like It.
vas his idea that the Constitution, by the beraty {"
Is provisions, offered syum and protection 10 the
oppressed of all countries hut it was reversing the
tire