New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-20
Western Lands-mnItary Boun,ies, &c.

GALEsBUpoH hnOX 90. III. ga feb lo7fs
10 ne Editor Of The N. Y Tribune
l perceive that it is proposed in Congress to
grant land bountiss TO the soldiers IN the present
war l find numerous propositions have been
made the more sfectually TO secure the benefit OF
these bounses to the soldiers. But do not find
81 2: the future consequences to the country, where
these grants have been located, have entered into
consideration at all We here in Western Illinois
are amazed that notwithstanding the evii conse-
quences which have resulted from this pollcy,
adopted. we bad supposed before our legislators
bad learned to think OF the ultimate effect OF land
grants 1t should be seriously proposed to extend
me system.
Wee only account for it by supposIug that
usmen who advocate these grants, Western men
uoaeh some of them are have never given one
sVsht to the condition OF the tracts now suffering
hon. rmer bounties. Or perhaps they are OF the
lev Who nave proited by bad system notwith-
Gantng the public loss, and are slow TO believe
evh Of what has been source oi prosperity TO
them.
Some twenty-five years ago three hhhs designed
10 be the choicest land Of the country between the
Mississippi and Illinois rivers was allotted to the
soldiers At that time the country was m us prs
tire wildness Although the land was blest with
beauty aud fertility Incompatible and was desth
el 10 prove itself one of the iarest lands Where
Anslcsaxon Liberty ever made home, 1t could
hsady be expected that even an enterpTISlng sol
Der should 10 search of few acres OF grouad sep
srate himself from bis family councillors, ana
Lnds and plunge into lonely wilderness OF forest
uA prairie far from all the comforts OF cNinLSuoh WIN
Wsrewolycs deer. birds and reptiles for his ons
aighbors since | have lived in the country nave
@s~d Of one soldier who lived ON the land ne served
NF As general rule the soldiers rights remained
negiesed, parted with Tor tginms CONSIDERS
toa 10 the mean time the state OF Illinois taxed these
rds and none appearing TO pay, sold them ior lAe
tsNes 10 this way second set OF titles was proooeeo
u nlnetyrine hundrcths of these lands Inc validity
oiih revenue laws was much doubted. Ten years ago
when escas 10 ,hIs country IL considered fair
Compromise hetv cen the rival claimants they met on
zoe add 10 divide 1t equally
Toe seltlrs here mostly plan farmers not Vers
The learniag of land titles when they once bought
lead they supposed they owned II, until some new
elsnant appeared. when alarmed and fearful oil law
sat they were generally glad To buy again ! have
k.own man reside land sixteen years ana IN mat
tine buy IN. land three paying from two 70 three
dollars Der acre each tine. have known man pay
s 100 seres it, full value and after putting Il into cult
ssucn. buy of another claimant with slVoV nave
Known Insu pay SIS per acre for land fupposne the
ttc perfect and action of ejectment being brought
against ham have the qualification OF being told by ms
eminent land costly counsel that his title was good Tor
seas bal il was 10 be hoped bis adverssrys was no
Weller have known man whose title was as 5000
@sas die can be pay $500 rather than endure the
hs,ains uncertainties OF q lawsuit All these cases
ne more AZ bad within = radius OF Two miles
o"s'trr crossing the coaaug WA N4'o" 'Nf~.,e'
~ Toe lard o. a market tOwn, or SO oeSI sne
naes IL vacant while lees gibe locations are select
eai "hh Pasaf land" IL the short but sufficient an
WI IN one place he will md midway between TWO
soses narrow belt OF farms evidently among the od'
sssuemebts Wig was the land thus seiee'oo "his
''sr laod on each side 10 the timber was pass
~ Overt Tia tracts 90 occupied were sxRPta 9ssT'
es y Per acre and journey 20 the Land once
'a pay 'aose lands but the better land eei0nss 20
-, 20 ave the Lord knows where, and no money
tile ~'o' NV oN''"
-, vi Legislature sss gone TIE very verge OF 10
vs perhaps IL has gone beyond t. IN the passage OF
ssSuon laws, occupation acts &c. 10 TX tns owner
"a single hands, but with ell the relief these laws
eseooaol uncertainty anxiety. and expensive lnss
hats Wv P0'N0H"' ''~"'
,S n,e be ever 90 perfect the chance oil ulti'
m redemption BY minor heirs. married women &c
f .% senerstou bang like cloud upon II
~, ~ not oeny that few incidental advantages gave
70 Individuals and TO the state. but these adysn
&c. are lew and limited. while the evils are wide
'S,ssding and deep
v.eeosinos who should have been hourishing ard
farmers among u.s. have been discouraged from
sno are scattered through other csries Of the
vhsI ine Surplus esrnings OF many OF our settlers,
49, SHOULD have been invested in compound interest
improvements have gone 10 quiet their possessior
~ass'esbough, fsrrns
country In natural sdvsntsgesis the garden Of the
-"t In spite OF drawbacks IL Is thriving and prosper
~ ess yssrs will not sssce the bhshups influence Of
""~s Lend eoEaas. Years pkLvkk