Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-02-13

! unimproved lands IN the same section OF coui
try; at least the effect would not be perceplb
against this view.
In the next place, ii is coniended that the pri,
ciple OF graduation, by time, (thlt Is, the lengt
TT the lands have been in market,) Is arb.trar
and uni ast, because lands that hav e been long /
market slili find purchasers at the minimum price
This matter Is perfectly plain and easy Of solu
ton. Lands have an intrinsic and 4 relative "a
ue. A graduation bill by time, only applies I
the intriasic value Of lands. They are sold b
their relative value; by which mean Tie local
ty. onahty Of soft, water privileges, timber
and many other qualities, compose the intTinsi
value Of piece of land, and for which II re
celyes an early purchaser; while lands wantin,
any Of these qualities, would be passed BY tn
settler the first instance but after the countr'
around becomes settled aud inpcov ed, these lands
thus passcG bY, become TC.atIVeI salaaliG IN con
sequence Of their locality, and not their oFigiG-
intrinsic value; and that relative value finds 10
+ them purchasers. | have no doubt but that Il
least hall Of the lands that arc now calot
refuse, may, in u series II years, he forced upoI
purchasers at the minimum price. THIS is Ii,
view of the matter. 1T looks very plain 10 me
And yet il has excited a long debate to accuun
for the apparent phenomena, how 1t could e pos
sIbie that these lands could be inferior lands m,
still find purchasers. There are connected will
this part OF The argument two important cues
tons: first, is It right for the Government Il
hold up these a price above their intrinsic val
uc until they are sold b. their relative value p
The other is, Should the settlement of tic coun
try be retarded, and the States prohibited from
taxing the lands, until that relative value shall
have been given 10 them by the surrounding im
proyenents? have heretofore thought that both
Of these questions sh0uld be decided IN The neg
alive, and have voted accordingly, and, as have
heard complaint Of nay votes, shall IN this
instance take the same course, though feel quite
easy about IT, and would willingly conform to the
AtF.. f4sfa-N or sIgs
q reasonable compromise OF the whole matter tc
secure greater benefits IN the final adjustment Of
the land question.
| come now, Mr.. President, to the moro mPor
tant question Of Pre-einption, embraced by The
bill before US. As have already said, laws on
this subject have been passed from tIno 10 time
differing in some particulars from the ball before
us, which vii! look into progress with the
argument; bat before | give my views upon the
question, / desire 10 say few words III relation
- my vote against an Amendment II the original
bill, which excluded foreigners tom the benefit oil
the presumption. 1t has been argued by Senators
that the restriction should have been incorl ora
ted in the bill. They contend that persons who
have 10 interest III cur Government, and who
o%e allegiance to a foreign Power, ought not to
have the benefits Of law which they contend
grants exclusive privileges. There is much force
the argument, and, were there moi counter
vauiag Considerations, should be disposed to 20
with them; bat, sir, let it lie remembered that,
prev ious to obtaining the benefits OF the law,
Idcnce. improy cnents on, aud cultivation CT, the
land, are requisite on the part OF the pre-emPior.
This | considered tantamonut to a declaratI,n Of
q bona file intention the part of the settler to
become citizen Of the United States; ndced,It Is
one Of the most conclusive evidences Of that in
tention that could well be conceived of; still vo-
ted 10 require the declaration TO be made in Wi
ting before the pre- empton shall operate can
rot agree with Senators who think there is great
6
iniuring he Government by their votes or other
wise. Sir, let me tell Senators that this is not
the class Of men from whom danger is TO be ap
pretended: these are honest, hard-'ToTking. in
dustrios men, who support themselves and lami
lies by the sweat OF their brows-mcn who at
tend to their own business, and not the concerns
Of the public. They not Of the class Of po-
ltical foreigners who hang around your seaPorrs
and suburbs Of your large cities, making politics
their trade. preaching agrarlan and tocof0co doc
trine5 in the daytime, and lighting t0cofocO
matches ard rioting at uight-thc Jewellers down,
because they cannot level up-men who do not
bc,ake themselves to honest cailings for iiveIi-
hood and who are tho enemies of those who do:
these are the men you may watch. But when you
see a foreigner take his family into the Western
country, settle down on piece oil wild land, com
rnence his little Impros enent surrounded and aid
ed BIZ his wife and children. yea may rest salts
fed that you have nothing 10 fear from him; he
is Of the Useful class of foreigners that Ultimate
" become our best citizens. The spirit that
prompts him to acquire property viii induce hun
10 protect and defend it. The other class not
aft ccd by pTe-erlpiion laws, for they would not
ana improve the lands if YOU would
give them the privilege free CT cost. have seen
tnauy Of this class in the West, as we'll as in the
East aud have never seen one o. them claim.
ING pre- eTupton privileges. The other class usu-
ailv apply, fer the benefit Of our naturalization
laws. and become citizens at the earliest Period
possible; they are good members Of society, and
desire to give them all the encouragement can
consistently with the provisions Of the constsu-
ton.
During the discussion Of this question, the
gsment was pushed further than was called for
bv the provisions Of the bill: and new questions
were started, rather sprung upon Us, one Of
which, being important one. am not disposed
to let pass without brief notice. l; has been
,hat hn ga haua HE rnn1rer cnr-