Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-16

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ha pdenendent There were in those Territories few
wealthy landlords with crowds OF tenants around lne'
but he should be pleased 10 know what NUMBER o. 'e
men there were in the older States who were not Tree
holders but who were dependent on ther oay ".
the support of themselves and their families They were
dnuhicss very numerous-and 10 all such this bill held
out the promise OF relief
I citizen of an old State, if he stands in need OF
permanent; home, to subsist rear and educate ms
is here guaranteed one if he has the enterprise TO seek
IT, Now was there any objection 10 this! 1t was inc
principle of free Government that every czen snoo
! have The power of free locomoon-that every one
should have the right to remove from one part 10 ah'
,her and even to abandon his country If he thought
nroper. Let not then, this be any longer called new
State MEASURE or one that is partial IN ITS operaton
was no longer calculated to benefit the new states OF
Territories but TO benefit every one, from one enc OF
this wide snread conlederacy 10 the other, and at the
,no limo n he inst TO the Governments it only re-
onred that man should become cutvator OF the son
that he should place himself on any part of the uncul
tiya,ed lands, and pay TO Government the minimum
price 1t was equal IN It's oPeIal'oh-ho,ong OUT tue
,rno boon 10 citizens Of the old, we'll as the new
States-and requiring the same price from ALL -,
This measure then not only recommended itself
., The favor of ali those who supported the preempon
projects of the last twelve years. BUTT assumed higher
rronnd. instead Of being partial IN its operaton-in.
Stead of being confined to the new States and Terrific
RES extended the privilege alike to the citizens OF
all the twenty-six States while 1t was liberal 10 inc
peope it did njustice to the government ana ne
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other measure ever has passea III legaIa 10 tue Puo
lands y,
He deemed it unnecessary to say more for he dio
did not believe it possible there could be any well
founded objection TO thus bill inoeea, IN sayins as
much as he had said in explanation of the provisions
which il contained he had rather adhered to forn IMAM
spoken from any conviction OF the necessity oil that
course and lie should content himself with voting
for this bill, without saying more IN It's favor.
Mr. BENTON said the two bills standing together
-, enoc,l orders relation to the public llnuS
the one for graduating the price, and the other Tor ss
tablishing permanent pre-emption system, were ns
upon the same subject, mutually connected wh each
other and very fit and proper 10 be discussed ana pass
cd ,ogether Ii would be difficult TO discuss the one
without discussing the other, and, as 1t would save
time and be within the rules Of popriey and ORDER he
should avail himself Of the discussion of one to speak OF
both.
of the sentiments Of the present President oil the United
States (Mr. Van Buren,) as being favorable TO the
principles of both bls-as having presented his OPP.
Mons 10 that effect in official messages-and he had
taken il upon himself TO say that he was entitled TO
mere credit for the sentiments ne had expressed, and
The part he had acted on this subject than any public
man in the United States; and he, (Nlr Benton) had
said these things with full knowledge of what he
was saying, and with full determination to prove
what he SAID when the proper opportunity presented
itself That opportunity had arrived. The two
bills were before the Senate The discussion had com
menced upon them; and the officially expressed OPT
Mons of the President fit and proper matter to be
presented 10 the Senate lie would therefore, present
the recommendations of President Van Buren, the
subject of pre.emptions and graduated prices of the
public lands as lie found them in his annual messages,
and he would afterwards say something in justification
ofhis assertion, that Mr.. Van Buren, deserved more
credit for his conduct the question of the public
lands and entitled to more gratitude from the cul-
tiyang and farming interest, than any other public
man IN America.
The first extract which he would call the attention
tIa Io,t's lncu1 nj
( December, 1887 which was in the following words
a. large portion of citizens have sealed them.
selves on the public lands without authority, since the
passage Of the last prescription law, and now ask the
enactment Of another enable them TO retain The lands
occupied, upon payment Of the minimum Government
price They ask that which has been repeatedly grant
ed before IF the future may be judged of by the past
little harm can be done the interests of the Treasury
by yielding TO their request Upon critical eSamina
ton it is found that the lands sold at the public sales
since the introduction of cash payments, in 1890, have
produced, OIL an average the nett revenue Of only
six cents an acre more than the minimum Government
price There to suppose that future sale:
, Will be more productive. The Government, there
fore has 10 adequate pccunary interest 10 induce il
to drive these people from the lands they occupy, :o
/ the purpose of selling them 10 others.
"a policy
which should be limited the object OF selling
the lands for the greatest possible sum Of money. with
out regard higher considerations, finds but few adro
Gates On the contrary, it is generally conceded, that
while the mode Of disposition adopted by the Govern
ment should always be prudent one yet its leading
object III; 10 be the early settlement and cultivation
of the lands scd and that it should discountenancc,
cannot prevent the accumulation o:large tracts in the
same hands, which must necessarily, retard the growth
Of the States, entail upon them dependent te
, nanlrv, and its attendant evils.
In the message of December, 1888 he found the fol-
$ loving passage
Our experience under the act passed at the last
sion graft prescription rights TO settlers the pub
lie lands, has yet been too limited 10 enable us IL
pronounce with safety upon the efficacy of its provisions
carry out the wise and liberal policy of the Govern
ment in that respect There is, however, the best
son anticipate favorable results from its operation
The recommendations formerly submitted to you in
spec to graduation of the price OF the public lands
main to be finally acted upon Having found no reason
TO change the then expressed your attention to
them is again respectfully requested.
The message of December, 1889, contained these OBJ
= servations:
I "On former occasion your attention invited to
various considerations in support of presumption law
in behalf Of the settlers the public lands, and also a
law graduating the price for such lands had long been
in the market unsod, consequence Of their inferior
quality. The execution of the act which was passed
the first subject has been attended with the hap
I piest consequences quoting titles and securing i'm
provements TO the INDUSTRIOUS and it has also 10 very
gratifying extent, been exempt from the frauds which
practised under previous pre-cmption laws. III
has, at the time, anticipated, contributed
literally during the present year to the receipts OF the
| Treasury.
"The passage of graduation law, with the guards
be fore recommended would also, persuaded, add
considerable TO the for several years. and prove
in other respects just and beneficial.
'Your early consideration of the subject is therefore
on more earnestly requested.
And lastly, from the message of December, 1910, he
m'idc the following quotation
The available balance in the Treasury the lst Of
Jan. next is estimated at one million and half of dol
lars. This sum, with the expected receipts from all
during the next year, will, it believed, be suf-
elen enable The Government 10 meet every engage
trent, and leave suitable balance in the Treasury at
the end Of the year, if the remedial measures con-
nected with the customs and the public lands heretofore
recommended, shall be adopted, and the appropra
tons by Congress shall not carry the expenditures be-
| yond the Official estimates
| Now these extracts from the four different mes
sages from Mr. Van Buren, during the four years that