New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-07-24
Public Lands-erndua riou, &c.


insn article of our own bat We think they will hare
more weight as coming frou, Western nan, thor,
oushly familiar with the workings Of oar Pablo
( and Svs,e1 Hear hirn:
BOND Co. Illinois, Jsiy - is+6.
To ,ie Eiao- Of Tx Trt5aV
The Congress OF the I u,ed States have shown
much patience Cor some years past 10 De relieved
from the care OF the Public Lands. Notwiths,and-
ing the immense increase and Expansion OF our pop
uls,iou scarcely one third of the Public Lands which
have heen surveyed snd lie within the bounds OF The
admitted States have yet been sold while nine
te.:hs OF the whole National Domain Is still in the
hands OF the Government
I Il las beec said tia, no body Of men could be
found in the CoCnry more ndIFeren, 10 this sub
iect or more profoundly ignorant OF it, Than Mean
brrs OF Con grcss. Il NAV be more correct say
ths, 10 subject compared With us Importance 10 the
Nation hss rece-ed less OF their attention.
favorite idea with some eminent men has beer
10 graduate ald reduce the price OF the Public
Lands The motives for q reduction 10 price are
10 make the price more contormaole 20 is value
/ 10 hasten i,s sale, snd 10 accommodate the poorer
class of eisrsn,s II is better say they, to sell
reduced price now. and GO; lid OF The ,rucble snd
cost of agency than hold the land q; higher prices
for future sale. Fifty cents an acre nov would be
more valuable 10 the public than one doiisr aud
/ quarter paid twenty years hence.
| The price OF Public Land is now uniformly Que
dollar and a quarter an acre. This is very low
price for aud that will produce twenty five bushels
Of wheat or fifty bushels OF corn TO the acre. That
this good and cheap land does not all sell in one
wear is sufficiently accounted tor by the immense
quantity in market. In any toeraoly settled neigh
borhood of Western States the average value oil
such land uuimproved is not less than ave dollars
an acre. But where the market is overstccked ind
every farmer supplied with as much land as be
needs were the price reduced TO Ten cents an acre,
no purchaser could DC found A, one dollar and
r,taf anff ha prfrn 4
las, as land is wanted and can be used it is pur
chased The sale depends solely upon the increase
of population. Reduce the price 10 any given rate.
say twenty-five cents or Ten cents an acre. and Il
might give slight impulse 10 speculation, and in,
crease The immediate sales a few hundred thousand
acres But no Spectator afford 10 purchase
many years in advance OF population and after the
first or second year the sale al the reduced prices
of fitv twenty five, ten cents would not increase
the amount of annual sales one single acre. This
fact must be apparent 10 every man who will take
the trouble to reflect thai nothing can make perma-
nent increa.e in the demand for land beyond the
wants of immigration, and the provocative energies
Of the People. In the few cases where unfortu.
nate Spectator has been unmndtul OF this consider
alton the annual tax bill has brought him TO his
senses.
! VIXEN the poorest land, as soon as there is any
demand for it, is worth from Two TO twenty times
the present minimum price OF one dollar aud quar-
ter an acre there would seem TO be no sufficient mo-
tive for graduation below that point on The score OF
Justice TO purchasers and the suggestion can
scarcely be needed 10 so calculating Nation
this that where the laws are fixed, The purchasers
are abundanily competent TO tske care OF their own
interests.
The poores, immigrants 10 o new country are the
pioneers. Their persev erance, courage and indus
try open the way for men of better means, who buy
up their lille improvements. and take their pre-
emption rights Without these pioneers. who are
generally as honest and deserving as they are brave
and destitute the Public Lands could never have
been settled unless army OF occupation had pre-
| ceded the woodman ak.
! These are notorious facts established by the prsc
tce OF moro than half a century, and confirmed by
every day experience. Now, Ii favor Is 10 be
shown 10 deserving immigrants, why should not
contemplated reduction In the price OF land be made
n favor Of the pioneer, without whose enterprise,
courage and frmness the tide Of immig grafton must
roll back When he commences his labor there Is
no settlement. no market none of the ordinary
veniences OF life TO be met with and the land about
him. 10 the COMMON race OF husbandmeD, Is useless
and without value His labor and bis labor alone i'm
proves the country and makes il valuble. Emig
rants follow, who abe to purchase land, and
every increase in population enhances lis value IN
Ill the price advances in some rare situations 10 len
/ fty and a hundred dollars acre. How, then can
we avoid the conclusion that II any class OF Pur-
chasers is 10 be favored in the price Of land every
consideration OF justice and decency requires that
The pioneer should be rewarded
Bu. in this great question relative TO the Public
Lands the People, the Press the North, the East
and the West, have taken no general interest II
has not been fairly discussed before the Nation Why
then should il be taken up az the heels OF an exct
ing and exhausting session, with foreign war upon
our hands. and with possibility OF obtaining
jus, ex preston OF the National will.
May 1t not be pertinent TO remark, that in all ages
of the world there have been individuals. and bodies
OF men, with great power in their hands. yet with
[ DsciDu
such men we can look only with dtsmay. az blind
Instruments in the hands of Providence. whether TO
reward or scourge the People. Who is prepared
10 that the Congress- OF the United states 10 mol
opposed of wiser and better men and may it not
be hoped that they will candidy weigh the justice
of the following positions
First-That the sale of the Public Lands, with |
out any serou. change in social habits or civil
government, must keep pace with the increase OF |
population and that no dimlnQtlon In price can ma
terialy or permanently affect the annual sales.
Second-That if any diminution 10 price is sup !
posed necessary for the encouragement OF needy or
deserving immigrants the bench, should be given 10
the pioneer and the price advanced 10 the sub5e- !
quent purchasers. who are always better able 10
pay, and who do not buy until the value OF the land
has been enhanced by the labor Of those VINO have
preceded them. The sales in Ohio alone will es
,aosh Ibis position
Third-That the posse Of land, the tenure by
which il Is held and its just the great body OF
tons 10 come by the action of Congress upon this
subject and that time should be given. not only
TO cal! forth the whole wisdom Of that body bat the
practical good sense o! the whole American People .
10 deliberate confederation of Ibis question before
any important change is introduced IN the disposi
lion of an immense territory which is capable OF
sustaining more than hundred million OF souls
whose destiny as freeoolders ADD freemen or niser
able tenants al will may be essentially affected by .
immediate Legislation.
ARRIVAL OF observation-disclosures are pour
ing 10 no faster than ever and sent OF 10 the Pon
xth The dispatch, Col Hunt The Quarter Master
exe..irz himself utmost 10 procure sooc .rani
ports and enable the volunteers TO reach the SCAT OF ~ar
a. The earliest possible The Ta!ra arrived yea
,erdsy having on board three companies oil the Ai'ss
sipp Volunteers. completing ine regiment from Eat
STATE Tee steamboals Homer and James Hewitt also |
arrived from Louisville yesterday having on board The
Sd Re- si1rent Of Indiana VounteerI y o. PIC 10TH
- The annual Commencement of Trinity Col !
l.ge Will be held in Christ CAurch. Hartford Thursday
5.h day Ct August
Ia