Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-05-04
From the N. Y. Tribune.
PRE-EMPTIoN ILLUSTRATED

PRESUMPTION ILLUSTRATED.
Probably twenty millions of acres of the
public lands of the United States-of course,
the most choice and valuable--are now &C.
cupieG or 'claimed' without occupancy, by
persons who have never paid one copper
for them, but who have either 'squatteo'
upon them entirely upon their own motion,
or have marked few trees, and perhaps
burnt pile of brush in order to establish
claim. These NEIL often value their claims
at thousand to five hundred dollars each,
though they have not paid the first red cent
therefor, but merely cut off what timber
they saw fit. They mean to pay the gov
eminent tho lowest price "a dollar and a
quarter an acre) when they get ready, un-
less some graduation or cession act of Con-
gress shall meantime release them from all
obligation to do so. All the while this land
is supposed by the people to be for sale, and
is freely offered to whoever will pay for it
by the government; but whoever dares to
buy it will have bullet in his body when
ever he attempts to take possession. Thus
trespass is held the fou ndation of right
to property, and a violation of the law of
the land (for all squatting is contrary to
law is made to give the violator a right to
buy property worth five thousand dollars
in cash for five hundred payable at his most
leisurely convenience. If the government
offers to sell the land at auction, the squat
tiers send a deputation to Washington, and
coax or threaten the Executive into post
ponement. If they fail in this, wo to him
who dares to bid on squatter's tract! At
worst, the squatter has only to overbid him,
and there leave the matter; it being no.
bodv's business to make him fulfil his bar
gain. Meantime, the squatters hold meet.
lngs, organize themselves for mutual pro-
lection, and pass such resolutions as the fol-
lowing, just adopted by their meeting, at
Milwaukee, w. T., viz:
RESOLVED, That we will extend to such
person lone Who shall buy a tract on which
squatter has made claim,1 none of the
Inequalities of friendship, nor the civilities
of social life that we will countenance no
alliance with him in business or friendship :;
that we will neither lend nor sell to him !;
that we will not plead for him against the
oppressor; that we will not give him fire
when that in his house goes out nor assist
him in his corn huskings, log rollings, nor
raIsings; nor in any of our intercourse re-
cognize him rs our fellow, save in preser-
wing his property from destruction by fire,
or himself from death, when in our power
to do so, and by giving him bread when he
is hungry, and awarding to him the rites of
christian burial when he dies. And that if
any person shall extend to him other treat
ment, he shall be viewed in the same light
as the aggressor himself"
Samuel Clinton, who has been nominated
by Wing convention of the ninth district
of Virginia. as their candidate for Congress,
has issued short but eloquent address to
the people. Among other fine and patriot
&c sentiments. he puts forth the following:
~ will zealously and cordially support
Henry Clay of Kentucky, for the next Pre-
sldent of the United States, because believe
him pre.emiRentIy qualified to discharge the
duties of that elevated station, with the most
signal advantage to the country. His dis
tinguished talents, his long and varied ex-
perience, his far-seeing sagacity, his WELL
fEied honastX md nairintisrn. his generous