Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-06-01
=, From Kendall's Expositor.
HENRY CLAY AGAINST THE
FRONTIER SETTLER.

HENRY CLAY AGAINST THE
FRONTIER SETTLER.
When Henry Clay in early life, was a
member Ct the Kentucky Legislature, the
new settlers in the southern part of that
State, asked indulgence in the payments for
lands which they had purchased Of the State
and then occupied. MIR. Clay opposed the
indulgence with such bitterness that he ex-
cited against hiih the untorapfomising hos
tility Of the people in that region. So high
did the feeling rise, that when Gen: Green
Clay some time ;ferwards, travelled
through Il Green River county, as it was
called, electioneering for the office of Gov
ernor, he found it expedient to disavow all
relationship with Henry Clay.
This hostility to the frontier settler has
been frequently and decisively manifested
by Mr.. Clay both in votes and speeches
while he was member Of Congress. We
shall give a few of the proofs which, if ne
cessary, could be multiplied almost without
number.
AT the COMMENCEMENT of the session Of
Congress III December 1887, Mr.. Van Blu
rem recommended the passage of a pre-
empyion law to enable the Settlers on the
Public Lands to secure their homes bv
paying the minimum price for the land;
and also law reducing and graduating the
price, SO that emigrants might purchase the
second and Bird rate land at less than ST.
25 per acre.
A Bill ITO grant pre- cmption rights to
settlers on the public lands," was accord
ingly introduced of which the following
was the leading provisions viz:
"Bc it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United States of
America in Congress assembled That ev-
cry actual settler on the public lands, being
the head of family, or over twenty-one
wears, who has in possession, and house
keeper by personal residence thereon, on
OF before the first day of December, eigh-
teen hundred and thirty sever, shall be en-
titled TO all the benefits and privileges Of
an act entitled can act to grant pre-emp-
ticn rights to settlers on the public lands y
approved May tWenty-ninth, eighteen hun
dred and thirty; and the said is hereby re-
vived and continued in force two wears. !,
While this Bill was under considcrati N
on tic 9th, January 1883, Mr.. MerricL
a Wing Senator from Maryland, proposed
the following amendment. viz:
provided, that the right Of pre-cmptior
granted by this act, or the ;ct hereby re.
,iNed, shall not accrue to any other per.
sons than those who were, on the lst da,
of December, 1887, citizens of the United
States; and such citizenship shall in all
cases be established by legal and competen,
testimony, to the satisfaction Of the Regis.
ter and Receiver Of the Land District i.
which the lands may be, prior to any entr,
thereof, by virtue Of the provisions Of thi:
act"
The amendment was rejected, Yeas Il
Nays %. Among the Yeas stands Tho
name of HENRY CLAY. See Senat,
Journal 1887 page lSl.
On the same page the following record
appears: viz.
s'On motion of Mr.. CLAY OF KEN.
lucky, to amend the Bill by addin,
thereto the following section: viz.
;. s'SEc. 2. And be it further enacted
That all settlements, on the public land
subsequent to the first day of Decembc
1887, shall be, and the same are strictl,
prohibited; and the President shall be ant
hereby is authorized and REQUIRED t,
cause all persons who may settle on tn,
public lands subsequent to the date afore
said to be removed therefrom."
This amendment was also rejected 2
to %. HENRY CLAY of course votihl
in the affirmative.
Page 1873, Mr.. Prentiss moved the fol
lowing amendment: viz.
''Nor shall any person have any right
OF. be entitled to a patent, under or by vir
tue Of this act, without paying, in addition
to the statute minimum price, at least on,
half of the real value Of the land above tina
price, not including improvements, to b
ascertained by three judieious and disinter
ested appraisers, under oath, to be appoint
ed by the Register of the land office In TIL
District where the land is situate.'
Rejected, Yeas 10, Nays %; the nam
of HENRY CLAY being at the head o
the Yeas.
Page 1911, the Bill passed the Senate
Yeas 30, Nays Is, the name Of HENRY
CLAY being among the Nays.
The Bill passed both Houses, was ap
proved by Mr.. VAN BUREN, and becam
a law.
Thus, Henry Clay voted to exclude al
men born otit of the United States from
privilege proposed to be extended to tn
native born.
He voted in favor of requiring the Set
tiers to pay more than the minimum gov
ernment price for the land improved b,
them.
| Not satisfied to authorize Mr.. Van Blu
rem; then President, he offered an amend
tnefit to require him, to remove all settler
who might have located themselves on tn
public lands prior to Isl December 1887
Flrally, he voted against the passage 9
the Bill; thus denying pre-empt.on right
altogether, to natives as well as foreigners
/ 4 Bill reducing the price Of such pub
lie lands as had been long In the fnatke
$50 passed the Senate at that session
HENRY CLAY voting against it.
At the Session of 1870, Bill pro
/ viding for a graduation and reduction q