Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-01-10

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quate provision be made by law for its
safety, and tina, all executive discretion
or control over it shall be removed, ex
cept such as may be necessary in direc-
ting its disbursement in pursuance ofap-
preparations by law
Under our present land system limi-
ting the minimum price at which the pub
lie lands can be entered to one dollar and
twenty-five cents. per acre, large quaint.
ties of lands Of inferior quality remain un-
sold, because they will not command that
price. From the records Of the General
Land Office it appears, that, of The pub
lie lands remaining unsold in he several
States and Territories in which they are
situated, thirty.nine millions one hundred
and five thousand five hundred and seven.
ty.seven acres have been in the mar
ket, subject to entry more than twenty
years, forty nine millions six hundred
and thirty eight thousand six hundred
and lhirty-four acres for more than fifteen
years; seventy-three millions seventy
| four thousand and six hundred acres Tor
more than ten years; and one hundred
and six millions one hundred and seventy
six thousand nine hundred and sixty-one
acres for more more than five years.
Much the largest portion of these lands
will continue to be unsaleabe at the min
imum price at which they are permitted
to be sold, so long as large territories OF
lands from which the more valuable por-
tons have not been selected are annually
brought into market by the government.
With the view TO the sale and settlement
of these inferior lands, recommend that
the price be graduated and reduced below
1.-The present minimum rate contlnlng the
sales at the reduced prices to settlers and
cultvators, in limited quantities. Ii grad
uated and reduced in price for limited
term TO one dolla. per acre and alter the
expiration Of that period, Tor second
and third term lower rates, larg portion
of these lands would be purchased, and
many worthy citizens, who are unable to
pay higher rates, could purchase homes
for themselves and their families. BY a
dopting the policy of graduation and re,
duction Of price, these interior lands Will
be sold for their real value, while States
in which they lie will be freed from tht
;..--~----:-- n -. :-j--..--. 80 ~ Il
they are subjected, in consequence of the
United States continuing to own large
quantities Of public lands within thelI
borders, not liable to taxation for the
supportof their local governments.
i | recommend the continuance Of the pol
icy Of granting prescriptions, IN Its most
liberal extent, to all those who have set
tied, or may hereafter settle, on the pub
lie lands, whether surveyed or unsurvey-
ed, to which the Indian title may have
been extinguished, at the time o; settle
ment. 1t has been found by experience,
that in consequence OF combinations oil
purchasers and other causes, a very small
quantity of the public lands, when sold at
public auction, commands higher price
than the minimum rate estabIlshed oy
law. The settlers on the public lands
are, however, but rarely able to secure
their homes and Improvements at the
public sales at tina; rate; because these
combinations, by means o! the capital
they command, and their superior ability
to purchase, render it impossible Tor the
settler to compete with them in the mar
ket. By putting down all competition,
these combinations OF capitalists and
spectators are usually enabled to pur-
chase the lands including the improve
ments of the settlers, at the minimum
price Of the government, and either turn
them out Of their homes or extort from
them, according to their ability to pay,
double or quadrupIe the amount paid Tor
them to the government. 1t IS to the en-
terprise and perseverance oil the hardy
pioneers Of the West, who penetrate the
wilderne ss with their families, suffer the
dangers, the privatons, the hardshIps at
tending the settlement Of new country,
and prepare the way for the body OF the
Immigrants, who, In the course oil le"
years, usually follow them, that we are,
in great degree, indebted for the rapid
extension and ACCOMPLISHMENT oil our
country.
Experience has proved that no portion
of our population are more patriotic than
The hardy and brave men OF the frontier,
or more ready 10 obey the call of their
country, and to defend her rights and her
honor, whenever and by whatever enc.
my assalled. They should be protected
from the grasping SPECTATOR, and secured
the minimum price of the public lands IN
the humble homes which they have I'M
proved by heir labor, With this end 10
view, all vexatous or unnecessary res
tricions imposed upon them by The ex's
ting pre-emplion laws should o. repealeu
or modified. Its the true policy OF the
government TO afford facilities to It's citi-
zens TO become the owners Of small Por-
lions OF our vast public domain at 10"