The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-08-29

RiOAs VI AeASr OAoIS NO C1n4NMGN1 AANOO
TO ACTUAL SETTLERS-PROOF FROM
THE RECORD
Henry Clay has always opposed, with an inveterae
hostility the reduction of the price of the public lands
We have shown, by his votes in Congress, his deep
rooted opposition 10 the granting Of preempon rights
in consequence of the acp which they held out 10 poor
men to procure farms for themselves and now we pro-
pose to show his opposition to the reduction of the price
ofthe lands, which have been fifteen years in market 10
the new settlers In doing this ask the attention Of
all the citizens of Ohio generally and of the tax payers
Of Ohio particularly, TO the following extract from the
journal Of the u States Senate, at the extra session
pages 2l5 aud ZIG.
THURSDAY Aug. 26, I941.
The bill ITO appropriate the proceeds OF the sales of
the public lands and to grant preempton rights being
under consideration the question being the hrdrea
ding fthe BILL Mr. Benton offered the following as an
amendment
Sec. And be it further enacted, That where any of
public lands ofthe United States have remained unsold
for the space Of fifteen years after the termination of the
public sales the same may be entered and purchased by
actual settlers on the following terms and conditions to
wit II settler is desirous to purchase, for his resi-
dence eighty or less than eighty acres he may enter and
purchase the same at fifty cents per acre; he is is de-
srous TO purchase quantity over eighty and not ex
ceeding one hundred sixty acres he may enter and
purchase the same at sevenyfve cents per acre. and if
he desire to publish quantity over one hundred and
sixty acres and not exceeding three hundred and twenty
acres he may purchase the same at dollar per acre.
but no settler shall purchase a greater quantity than
three hundred and twenty acres at price below the
minimum Of one dollar and quarter per acre, as now
established by law .r.-.t
"SEc. And be it further enacted, That before any
settler shall be allowed to enter and purchase land at the
reduced prices aforesaid he shall file an affidavit with
the register Of the proper land Office under such regula
tions as the Secretary Of the Treasury shall prescribe
that such applicant is at the me or Intends within six
months to become an actual settler on the land proposed
TO be entered and that such applicant makes the entry
in his own name for his own benefit and not in trust
for another And if the said purchaser shall not, with
in the said six months settle G. in good faith resideupon
the land entered aforesaid the may be entered g.
purchased in manner aforesaid by any other persondesr
Gus OF settling the same at the reduced prices aforesaid
or by any oter pdsoH, whether ne intends settling
thereon or not at the price Of one dollar and quarter
per Provided That if before the expiration ofhe
said term of six months any person who had entered
land as aforesaid for settlement is unable to make an
actual settlement thereon, he may acquire title to the
land entered as aforesaid, by paying such additional
sum therefor as will complete the minimum price of
one dollar and quarter per acre, now fixed by law"
And the question being taken thereon, the amendment
was rejected by the following vote: ."
Those who voted for the adoption of the amendment
were,
Messls Allen, Benton, Calhoun Clay of Alabama,
Cuthber Fulton, King Linn, McRoberts, Mouton,
Nicholson Pierce SEWER Smith Of Connecticut Stur
geon, Tappan, Walker, Williams Woodbridge, Wood
bury, Wright and Young-22.
Those who voted against the amendment were,
| Messrs. Archer, Barrow Bates, Bayard, Berrien,
Buchanon Choate, a1JCLAY of KentuckyD-E,-g Clay
ton, Dixon, Evans, Graham, Henderson, Huntington,
Kerr, Mangum, Merric1, Miller, Morehead, Phelps,
Porter, Prentiss Preston, Rives, Simmins, Smith o.
| indiana, Southland, Tallnadge and White-29.
Thus it will be seen, that Henry Clay of Kentucky,
voted against allowing the poor man in the west pur
bhase an eighty lo after the land had been in mar
ket for fifteen years, for forty dollars.
There is in Ohio vast quantity Of Congress land,
which has been in market for than Is years. and
which, had Col. Benon's amendment been agreed to,
would have been eagerly purchased by those who are
unable to pay one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre
In FIVE years after the land was thus purchased twoud
have been on the tax list and the taxes accruing there
from would have assisted in supporting the State Gov
emen and thus reduced the taxes in other parts OF the
State for Congress land paysno taxes, while owned by
the Government, nor until FIVE years after tits sod.
Besides this, it would have brought train of hardy
emgrants 10 Ohio, and other parts Of the West and
have aided in peopng, with an honest and industrious
population the wilder and unsettled portions of the
State.
It cannot be said that it would aid spectators, for the
land sold at this price was by the very terms of the
amendment confined to actual SELLERS. Mr.. Clay car
then have no excuse for the thus given unless bt
that such law would make many o. the poor renter
in Kentucky citizens o and owners of small farms il
| Ohio
AN AMUSING INCIDENT. N1s.s--
The Democrats Of Piketon have bored the high tarif
Whig proecionsts of that place so hard that they alb
soutey pulled down their 'OtectiOn" flag, and stfetee
sreamer across the street bearing the name of Cial
and a "REvENUE tariff" On Monday; tho 9th inst
Tom Corwiu came up from Portsmouth, where be hat
made speech in favorot Protective tariff and say
the Hickory sprout fhe was thrown into eorVulsion
the sight, as he had along with him some OF thever