, 1841-02-13

at the expiration of ten years from the time q
being offered, become subject, in like manner.
to graduation and ~pre-emption.
The object of these provisions is to hold
out Inducements TO the settlers TO purchase.
by bringing the lands, within 4 reasonable
period, Ia a price which would not only iusti.
~, but hold out strong inducement 10 them
TO purchase. One great difficulty in the
way OF purchasing, asthe system now stands.
IS, that, the great body Of the LANDS are no,
worth, IN reality, the price o fSl 95, at which
they are Sold by the Government. There
appears 20 be 4 great mistake Oh this point.
which 1t Is important TO correct. Instead OF
almost every acre, as is supposed by some
gentlemen in dcbatc, 20 be worth that sum.
TIE reverse position is true, that none WAS
"oTiil!t tut that winch was. nj the time.
60 rInE II. demand by purchasers. rest
HE ass' .tiln on the well established princ:-
pie Fiat demand and supply regulate price.
dnd the fact that an article which Is in the
market AZ 4 fixed price. open 10 the demand
q. all. and is not taken. is the best proof that
the pr ce is above the market value ut the
time Il is in vain to talk of ]intrinSi. value:
IA thing wholly diff ;ent from price,
There are many thinhs Of the highest intrin-
sic value that have no price. as air and WA
ter. while many OF but snail value would.
try:a t,.sir great scarcity. command a very
high one. In the language of business. .
dir" ! worth what it wi'i sell for. and no
mel Wiling Ia give more. unless compelled
hv some particular reason. TIE r~cruplut<
"a! the puhli. lands plriakr "ithiS fnclmE.-
FhCy are unwilling To give tnr TIE inferior
lands. which for III" most part they occupy.
81 -. when 4 snail ,nrt only ot the best
lands offered for sale would command that:
and feel that they have something lIh" Justice
IN their side in not Giving s. hirh a price for
ihc!r possessions.
This tccln- must tc met: AMI it Is pr
posed to meet ii BY the provisions for rradn,-
ton and pre-emnti"n which | l1yc ir>' Sta
ted; a policy 81 liberal towards = large.
poor class. Doi les honest AMI pa,r!-
1l;c ihln the lest oi tie community. could
not fail /" have Il happy effect. not ruly in
70 them. bu; il NOR" enlarged
point oi view. One If the most im"nrtaut
would tee the great increase of the rnmh"r
1t small trecln.!yrS. which,. IN Tie iaur oi
wu#L prove ui yI>' mmr".'.r"r. 6.
0eciai'y IN tie weakest rnlfi"n e Il" t.
tlir Sou.hw stern S;afr.-Whcr" IL"
provision would have the greatest c:ic.,. Il.
would II" the class that vol! isrn;sl tie
.2rI!c>t and best soldiers. with the aI:"n-
@. p"IaE INJURED 10 Ii" climate. Crmhil-
e! ana modified is they would -. tacv rgq
but have u powerful wci-'t N iu!u.in..
the o"ccuI ants Ia purchase. /, viii work 81
revolution in his character. lie will rr,aa.
himself, IN lis lIlIo domain. more 4 frr, ho,,
nr tiIaa = sI"a'ler; and rs Ih" price in :.
descending scale # graduation appr"ar'r>
price that lands such a<L.r uccup,,
void sci! for. his industry and economy vii
he cXcrtcd To be prepared with the requisite
means /" make he purchase. The lIhc.ai
OF the policy would impress Eim
with deep feelings of respect for the Justice
md care IL tie Government: and the >cru-
MY Il would afford would pat an end TO the
spit drc,rpS. which otherwise wou!d he 50
ANA all. combined with the influence
If the States on the side of the Government.
would. | feel confident. guard c.rctua'ly
Tie danger 81 losing The lands. rs far
i t!c occupants are concerned. ~ the ONLY
way that would be practicable.
Ti" amendment proposes 10 leave ii to
he States 10 rradu1,r and gran; prr-cHT-
IONS or not. 1t their discretion. within the
prc>c.itci. The conditions Of the scv-
raj States are very different in reference To-
he cyprdIrucy Of exercising the ri.h,. In
lie uniformly fertile rr"ion in the upper rcr-
ion Of tie great Valley of the Mississippi. it
nay not be necessary 10 resort To either. nr.
f SOFA very limited extent; while in the
Southwestern StltcS. including Arkansas. it
be Indispensable; and hence the pro-
of giving the right. but leaving the cx-
10 the discretion Of the States. Each
State would be the most competent Judge
whether ii should be exercised or not, and
. what extent.
IL be continued.
- mn J..