Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1841-02-04

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or beneli. Of any one except himself 10 convey OF
transfer the land title TO any other or persons
az any subsequent time making false swearing IN
S D.S 'Ss sna and dsens I'll
or cOnveyances made in pursuance OF any euch
agreement or contract void, except IN the hands o.
purchaser in good faith tor valuable oS
the government and honest settlers, 10 PIotecs DOI"
against these fraudulent settlements. NO sucn pro
lection, DOT any other, is afforded by thus D'n
should pass in its present form, settlements may De
made, not for the use and benefit OF those VINO MAKE
them but for those who have other interest IN the
land than TO make gains by the sale OF II a. an az
vanced price, and who TO be encouraged IN sucn
specuatiOns by being invested by the government OF
the United States with the privilege of presumption
surely sue" log o@S' ~ h nave go
To these objections to the bill is 70 he added anoth-
Every question arising under this act. both OF law
and Of fact .Onchng the construction OF 'hIs law e
in relation TO presumption claims, or between claim
to the same quartersection, are to he settled
ceiver Of the district aereeaby to the rules which may
be prescribed by and under the direction Of the Com
missioner Of the General Land Office No judicial
tribunal is to hear and determine these questions
No court is to conssrus and declare the law. and no
Jury is to pass upon the facts The register and re-
ceiver are to proceed summariy, and decide finally.
bin proposes to place it7 And ought not the rules
which are to govern in the determination OF the many
and various points which will necessarily arise under
W.
would it not be prudent to make some general reg1
lations, which would reach most OF the cases which
would require to be settled Or, should not the pow
to make rules the subject G given to any execu-
live officer be vested directly in the Secretary Of the
Treasury, to whose department the administration OF
the public lands belongs and on whom, rather than
on any other individual, the responsibility Ut making
such regulations ought to rest
This bill also provides for permanent pre-emption
system is TO continue until repealed or modified
by further legislation 1t is not, like the act OF 1885,
lnnifo IN fNvO
lmitation but it requires the action OF Congress to
repeal it, should be ascertaned, by experience, to
in this respect, the path marked out by our pedecess
ors? Especially, why should we make such bill as
this, containing so many novel provisions, and which
is a new and un.ried experiment in our land SYSTEM
permanent as well as prospective
have thus, Mr. President referred briefly TO tine
provisions of the bill under consideration. II is
encourages intrusions upon the public lands in adj
vance, and holds out inducements to persons to be-
come setlres upon the public domain without right
nors as we'll as adults to aliens well citizens. to
the subject Of foreign Prince. owing him allegiance
as well native or naturazed citizens; 1t IN
to become propretors Of our soil requires, perhaps
only the form and shape Of dwelling TO- be erected,
an Improvement Of small portion Of the land, resi-.
dence Of few hours only, TO ente the settler to the
priority Of purchase; and Of land other than the
quarter section which he has set'led and posslby
Of land to which the Indian title may not have been
him the important privilege Of selecting portions OF
two manifestations under certain circumstances,
and Of more than hundred and sixty acres in spe.
Gifted cases. j. confers the right Of pre-emptlon to one
hundred and sixty each one Of any number,
however great, who may settle on the same quarter
section is doubtful whether valuable lands are cx-
apply il affords no security against fraudulent set
dement's but gives 10 the individual who settles, tor
the benefit and at the insgation OF the specnIaeor
and the rich man, the same privileges which are con-
ferred on the bona fde settler. who enter: solely for
hs bene clusvely in ha own right II re-
ers every question Of law and fact m the conssruc
ceiver, to be decided sunmariiy and finally by h'nl.
under rules established by the Commissioner OF the
General Land Office; and such bill rs shis % 10 be
III, should become law, unless greatly mistake.
it will produce some or all Of these results
II will operate inuronsly upon the interests Of the
bill seek 10 protect. .-u,,
/. win greatly encourage and enrich SPECTATORS
will give the selection Of the hes. lands to those
WIN have no interest to become actual residents
/ II will encourage fraudulent nominal settlers.
II will eventually abolish the sacs OF lands ut auc
i, vii, CONVEX. the system Of cash sales into sales
!, Il viii greatly reduce the proceeds Of the public
lands, and thus unjustly deprive the Union OF the iu
For such a bl teven were / in favor Of any pre-
cmpion lnw) cannot and shall no. vote. And now,
ur Of the bill, and stated my objections TO 'fs proy-
sions, have only to add that shall vote fcr the
amendment Of my friend from Vermont. mt Prem.
ss) he cause reaches and obviafes some Ut these
objections and when that amendment is disposed OF.
shall offer other amendments with the view ct car.
ryina out more fully the design and object which those
who are The friends Of this bill propose 70 accomplish
nv its passage, viz the encouragement o honest oond
fds settlers the public lands. BY giving ,hsnsn pre-
emption right in quarter.sectOn Of land Oh which
they have settled.
A Singular Char0cter.-Thc IIagcrstown
Herald Of Freedom chronicles the death of
Miss Rcbecca Cooper Of that place, in the
9O!h year Of her age. The Herald, after no.
ticiDg her demise, adds:
"But the most remarkable characteristic
of the deceased, was her extreme domestic
and secluded habits, NM, the utter absence
of all curiosity concerning the doings OF the
world around her. If il he true that home is
the only appropriate sphere of woman, then
she was an example perhaps unparalleled.
She resided in the family Of Mr.. Kennedy
80 years, and although blessed with degree
of health and activity unusual for her age,
being able until n few days before her death
to superintend her domestic duties, and to
attend regularly the Presbyterian Church, of
which she was member, yet in all that Pc
riOd she was in West Washington street but
once, which was about seventeen years ago,
when she witnessed the conservation Of the
new Episcopal church; and on her why
thi;her she saw the courthouse for the first
and only time, although it is only one square
from her residence. She has never been at
the market house in her life, which is only
one square distant, and up to the time of her