Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-02-27

We suCCCCutu Ill puttiIlS az Cllu W SpcCiul
and unlawful privileges. We succeeded in
restoring the principle Of fair equality in
the disposal of public lands. But those in
terested, speculative and others, which are
always awake, always watchful, always on
the alert, to get up presumption laws. under
the convenient and plausible guise of bcne-
fitting the poor, made rally in 1888. We
were then told that not less than thirty
thousand settlers had entered the Territory
of Iowa. The Senate was assured that
these persons could not be removed from
the public domain; that all the military
force CT the Union would be insufficient to
remove them; and thus, under a species of
moral durcsse, yoawere induced to pass the
law of 1888; and it has now been in opera
ton for two years. But, not contented
with all the victories heretofore achieved,
not satisfied with presumption laws re-
strictcd in Jas2n, ZINE, and limited as to
the theatEs 3ZlBK they were to operate,
gentle l5l m 1me forward with new
and bon ee!g,afSd mere extensive demand.
They have suddenly become converts to
log cabin doctrine, a laugh, and under a
log cabin profession, they demand the pas
sage of a new law, boundless in the space on
which it is to operate, or restricted only by
the limits Of the public lands themselves,
and illimitable as TO time. Now with re-
gard to the sincerity Of these gentlemen in
their profession OF log cabin principles.
0hough am very glad to sec that they have
protitcd by the very salutary lesson afforded
them within TWO or three months past) |
like to test their profession by their votes.
When my colleague (Mr. Crittenden) offer
ed an amendment, the effect of which would
be to confine the operation of their bill to
real log cabin men, to the veritable poor
who could make oath that their entire prop
erty was not worth more than $500, where
did we find these new proselytes to log
cabin doctrine? A laugh. Were they
ready to go with us in thus restricting the
bill? Were they prepared, by adopting
this amendment, to shut out from the priv
leges of the bill the rich mer-the barons-
the owners of manors-the greedy specu-
lator, and restrict it to the hardy settler who
sought a home for himself and his children.
No, sir, no; every man Of them voted ii
down.
Let us now pause moment, and look q
little at the distinctive provisions Of this
bill. Heretofore pre-emption bills have
been retrospective only; this is in its ope-
ration both retrospective and prospective
Heretofore presumption bills have been linn
tied as to time; this is unlimited in point OF
time so long as there remains foot of land
to operate on. Heretofore presumption
bills were operative practically only with
reference to some new land, recently sur
.,rx-1l orl k.o,,0nt int +lo ut. fbis hi II
is proclamation to the whole universe, na-
tive or foreign, natUraliZed CT unnaturali-
zed, that the moment the Indian title is eX'
tinguished to any portion of the land held
by the United States, they may all rush in
and take Just as much as they please, with,
out even waiting for survey; and that 2!
the other surveyed public lands Of the
United Ssates. amounting to about one hun,
dred and twenty millions Of acres, no mat
ter how long they have been in market, and
although they may be purchased at the
moderate price Of one dollar and quarter
per acre, are to be subject to the right OF
pre-emption. This, it is obvious, involves
complete change in our whole land sys.
tenn; a thorough, radical, entire cilange.-
1t opens at once ii the public lands, sur
veyed and unsurveyed, to the operation Of
a prescription law.
And here let me stop and look for an in
slant at what are said to be the sole adyan
tages granted to the pre-emptor by this bill
point on which there exists the creates
possible misccnccption, either on the par
of other gentlemen or myself. The whole
practical difference which this bill is Il
work in our rccei pts from the public domail
is said to DC some two or three cents pc
acre. Here is message Of the Presiden
of the UniIcd States, sent by him to Con
gross in December, 1887. 1t is, in man
respects, discreet and sensible paper. s
far as it treats on the subject of the publ
lands. The President here praises The q
land system as it deserves. He describe
those who enter on the public Goma!!
without title or protcnce Of title, 6
"heSSpaSSerS," "intruders,' and he recon
) mends the passage of one more pre-emPtiO
law, and one only, and after that the adol
ton of stronger measures for the purPc:
Tin his own language "of preventing the!
4 intruSiOnS." The Senator from Nilsson
; (Mr. Benton) spoke to US yesterday OF Il
: President being a capital presumption
i nOw, although when he was here as Sen
+ tor he was decidedly opposed to the who
system, and although when he came into c
}, flee he talked about "treSspaSSerS" and 81
: ruderS" On the public lands, and recommc
d ded us to adopt measures to put stop
e these "intrusions' in future, 1t would see
# that the President is an attentive listener
" the advice of his friends, and always OPP
= to conviction. must admit that he h
D, exhibited not a little fexibility in yield
e to the suggestions of some of those W