The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-11-03
Vas Bsrea's Hostility 10 the Sesilers and 70 the
We.tepN neaten.

Vun Bsrea's Heasility 10 the settlers and % the
Ws.teva states.
The remark Of Mr.. Peck, IN his speech al
the Court House on Tuesday evening, that
Martin Van Buren, had voted against the
erantdf land by the National governm. nj
for the completion Of the Illinois and Mich
igan canal, took us by surprise, and induced
us to make some inquiry into the matter.
An examination by the lights within our
reach, has not only satisfied us that the
statement was correct, but that the whole
course Of Martin Van Buren,, while a mem
Der Of the National legislature, was one Of
deep and settled hostility I" the western
states and tothe settlers generally upon the
public lands.
The source from which we obtain our
facts, is a speech delivered in congress by
Col. May, Of Peoria, and at the time ex,en.
sively circulated in the northern part of this
state. Ia that speech the date Of each vote,
the page upon which il is found, &c., sc
are all carefully and elaborat-Ix given, 50
that there can be TO room for the least doubt.
BY this authority We learn, that
Onthe 2Sth day Of January, 1924, Martin
Van Buren,, voted against "a bill to adjus,
certain land claims in Wise onsin and Ar.
kansas" The bill was simple act of Jus.
tice to settlers upon public lands, who had
made improvements at time when pre-
emption laws were unknown, and who, but
for this bill, must have sacrificed their pro,
perry.
On the 22d Of February, same year, he
voted against bill to confirm certain land
claims in Wisconsin-w which was bill sim.
liar to the above in its provisions.
On the 2Sth Of FEBRUARY, 1927, he voted
against a bill, authorizing settlers who, for
The want Of prescription laws, had been
obliged to sacrifice their improvements, TO
purchase their lads at fixed price; and
but the day before, he voted against anoth.
er and similar measure asked for by the set
tiers in Wisconsin.
y On the 10Th day Of May 1926, he
VOTED AGAINST biAto grant guam
tify Of land to The State Of Illinois TO aid her
in the construction Of the Illinois and Mich.
igan Canal!
On the 2ith day Of May, 1923, he voted
against a bill making grant Of land to Ohio
to aid her in constructing canal.
On the Odd day OF January, 1928, he vot-
ed against bill for the extension OF the Ma
tional Road ,rest Of the River Ohio.
On the 22d day of April, 1928, he voted
against a bill Ito graduate and reduce the price
Of the public lands 10 actual settlers, and to
cede the refuse lands TO the states in which
they lie.
We could 60 on with this list Of votes I;
but what we have given will suffice for our
purpose, which is, to show that this candi.
date for the presidency, who is set mp as the
advocate Of free soil, and the doctrine of the
National Reformers, to give away the pub.
lie lands to bona .fde settlers, was; during
his whole career inihe U. s. Senate, deadly
hostile to the west, aud most niggar,ilv in
his every vote with reference to the public
lands. lie give the public lands away TO
settlers! Ills whole course has been of all
others the most Liberal tow ards the settlers.
His votes show that in all cases he regarded
squditing, as those Of his school termed II,
as wrong, and looked upon the settlers as
land pirates.
But il will be said Martin Van buren, has
changed upon these subjects, as he has chan.
ged in reference to abolitionism. There i.
no evidence of his change; and if he has
changed, he must have done il recently.
He had not changed as late as Dec, 1887,
when in his annual message to Congress,
arguing against pre-. emption la VS., he says |:
"a short period Of Industry and economy in
any part Of the country would enable the
poorest citizen to accumulate the means TO
buy home atthe low prices, and leave him
tciihout apology for settling on lands not
his o,rn. Ifhe did not, under such circum-
stances, he would enlist nc sympathy in his
favor, and the laws against squatting)
would he executed without doing violence
to public opinion"
And this is the man whom western men
-set'ler'-men who owe allthey are worth
tothe pre- emption policy whom llliuoians,
who are now rejoicing in the completion Of
their canal through the liberal aid of the fed.
eral government but which aid Martin Van
Buren, would have denied them--this is the
man, wesay, whom western men are called
upon to cast az empty, mere honorary voie
for, In opposition to Gen. Cass, man whose
whole life has been spent in the west, whose
every sympathy is with the western states
and the settlers, and who is the first candi.
date whom the west, alter years Of ill.treat.
meht and neglect at the hands Of the federal
government, have at length been able to
present to the country with the prospect Of
an election. Will-can western men con.
sent to throw away their votes, to aid in
electing southern man aud Shareholder,
to pay an empty honor to man W no has al.
ways been hostile to their int rests, and thus
l.