Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-04-27
Letter from Mr. van Amringe.


PoTosI, Wis. March 25, IS49.
Dear Sir; | have thought that you might wish
TO know of my Land Reform Meetings in the mi
ming district. Land Reform has been very little
propagated in this region and the people generally
have very erroneous idea of what our design is.
They are so filed with misconceptions of our object
that in all new places to which CO. have to en-
counter much prejudice at first
In the mining district | have held meetings only
at DodgevilIe British Hollow Potosi, Plattevile,
Wing School House, -four miles from Patteville,)
and Lancaster the scot of Justice of Grant county
In l847 had held meetings at Mineral Point but
this time the Court House at Mineral Point was
engaged by Others and l did not stop to lecture
there. My meetings have been good in most in
stances, large and sometimes quite crowded and |
believe that many converts to the cause have been
made, and the public put upon useful train of in
quiry.
| 1t was Court time when lecture at Lancaster.
| went there on the 10Th inst (the first day of
court and remained until the 24th, and had the
use Of the Court House, commencing my lectures
on the evening Of the 10Th, (Monday.) The NEE
tngs at Lancaster, were attended by the Bar, by
merchants of the place, and by members of the
Grand and Traverse Juries, and other persons in
attendance at Court so that you may perceive
there was at that time assembled at Lancaster, and
present at my meetings many of the most infuen-
tial men Of the the county and that the conserva-
tive class were strongly represented. There was
an evident disposition, generally, to hear what
Land Reform is; and although among persons, most
of whom could not sympahse in my views. and
nearly all of whom had mistaken conceptions of
Land Reform l feel graifed in saying that
every facility and great courtesy were extended to
me, and | have to acknowledge the most kind
treatment on the part of all To the Sheriff and
the clerk l was under obligations for the Court
room although the Clerk had occasion for it in the
evenings to make his docket entries, yet he was
willing to undergo considerable interruption in order
to accommodate me.
On Tuesday evening spoke on Land Limita-
ton, and there was gentleman present, Mr. Brun-
son, a member of the Bar from Prairie du Chen a
venerable looking person, perhaps about sixty years
Of age, with sharp, intelligent, decided cast of
countenance, marked however by an expression of
lao small positveness, and seIf-complacency. He
is also preacher, believe among the Methodists.
and had served Missionary to the Indians
On my way from Mineral Point to Platteville some
time before, had travelled with him in the stage.
and he had then told me that he had heard me at
the Capitol, Madison, and that he was opposed TO
the doctrines | held, and he thought them wrong
and perncious.
At Lancaster, after my lecture, at the instance
of Doc Bevans, of Plattevie, Mr. Brunson said
thath was willing to meet me in debate and as
the court room was engaged OH Wednesday by the
Sons of Temperance, the debate to commence
on Thursday evening. Judge Dunn, well known,
and too highly respected to need any commenda-
ton from me, consented to preside as Moderator
sent to MIR. Brunson statement in writing, set
ting forth aflirmatvely my side the points insist
cd on by me as constituting Land Reform: namely,
that Man has free and natural right to the use of
portion of earth, for home and subsistence that
the Homestead of Ia limited area should be free
from compulsory sale for debt; and that, for the u-
ture, limit should be assigned to the quantity of
land that any person should be permitted to APP
propratc to himself, by title accruing subsequent
~ to the passage of such law Squire Hongs-
worth of Beetown, afterwards brought me "a wr-
ting from Mr. Brunson, in which the propositions
for discussion were changed in form, but not so as
to preclude the substance of Land Reform intended
by me. MIR. BrunSOns propositions expressed the
subjects for debate negatively, somewhat in this
manner, "Mr. Brunson sifirms that amendment
is necessary in the Land Laws of the United States
to enable men to enjoy the natural rights OF life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and Mr.. Van
Amringe denies it," The other propositions about
Land limitation, and Homestead exemption, were
ALSO according to my recollection, stated in Mr..
BrunsOns propositions negatively, he affirming
negative and denying it. | saw no propriety in
this change of the FORM but | was told by Squire
Hollngsworth that unless | acceded to this manner
of stating the points, he supposed there would be
some difficulty in getting debate. Presuming
that Mr.. Branson wanted the beginning in argu-
ment, aud that therefore he had changed the propo
ston as to give himself the affirmative, subscr-
bed the paper sent TO me, stating however in wr-
ting my objection, and that had hope the caul-
~ and obscure form Of the propositions would not
preclude the debate from turning on the Reforms
really proposed by me. l cannot repeat the pre-
else words, for lhave no copy ofthe paper. 1t was
agreed that each party to have thirty minutes
alternately, and Mr.. Brunson was to begin.
The Court House at Lancaster is not large. 1t
will hold when crowded, Hobbies and all, over two
hundred people, perhaps two hundred fifty. On
/ Thursday evening it was jammed; many ladies
were present, an Judges, Lawyers, Merchants. and
persons in attendance at Court; so that many stood
IN the entrances Numbers were present who had
/ never heard me speak on Land Reform, and who
were entirely ignorant of the subject. MIR. Brun-
son IN his speech, instead of stating the reforms
ally designed by MT, alleged that advocated the
destruction Of all property and wished to have Land
thrown out in common as it was among the savage
Indians; that was opposed to the use of machin-
cry, with many other like assertions. From the
beginning to the end of speech he did not touch
one single point in Land Reform.
In my reply, explained the Objec, and the
measures OF Land Reform; said that did not con-