The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-05-06
From W ashington.
w AsHINGroS, April 81

WAsHINGTos, April 9Th.
There are three propositions before Con-
gress respecting the public lands. For the
Iowa lana memorial for a grant Of lands for
rull road purposes, gave rise to a very gen.
eral discussion as TO the propriety OF max
'ns any more special grants at a time when
these memorials are So freq lent as seeming
iy 10 demand "A general system dong equal
Justice all round. Accordingly one propo-
sition Is To grant to all the States, several
thousand acres in ratio with the number of
representatives. Another proposition is
instead of allowing each State 70 e>tablih a
little sovereignty Of It's own by carving on,
a square, within some territory, which the
SAID State would hold and dispose of in its
own way, TO grant 10 the several States a
right to a certain amount of un,Ietined lands
IN the territories, u he secured be script aud
as fast As the script is located
Ihs proposition having some objections,
another still Is more likely 10 succeed; and
is the one streuuously advocated b. Mr..
Slbiey. 1t Is To grant, - actual settlers who
shall have cultivated II quarter Secti,n of
inni, (perhaps more) for a term OF five years
or SO, a title free This measure would give
our Territory great advantage at the pres
ent time, for II l. the most aluriny meridian
OF the puhhc domain exc II Caiturnit.
IhiS - stem would III once leave land specua-
tors, high and dry on lee shore. iudecd as 10
ms oiious profession, Of land speculation It ,irkes
me that the aforesaid script system would tend to
the same effect; for vast amount of lanI scrpt
BENG thereby thrown into market, the value OF
sal id script and also of warrants, would fail to-
getheT and ii would cease TO be an object for
speculators 10 locate these titles. The gentlemen
a.. 4
tAose lands and is right that we should be re-
munerated; but your Western men already moot
The question Of claiming the whole rim, 20 the
lands and when you get lilte stronger, vi,I vote
them TO the new States IN defiance Of oar rights
and five are ever gong to realize any share Of
the proceeds OF The lands. we mnst do il now IL
seems 10 me 10 be Il sulh argument IN reply
TO the Atlantic States, that whatever Won do TO
facilitate the settlement and commerce OF The
Vest is repaid 10 you fold; for DO III best
you may for us, we are still the laborprs and you
merchants and carriers and nuflc:urera viii
reap The profit.
Our Treaties are sll before the Committee
who are ali here. The great difficult, IN such
matters Is 10 get the attention of the body Of the
Senate to the subject, and what IS nuch more
important, to get the close attention If the con.-
lniltee itself You may lay your proportions be-
fore these gentlemen with the arior of an upos-
tie, and presume that you have impresnated their
minds with II clear knowledge cf the whole case,
yet you May meet them a week after and they
wake up with yawn and ask ike a drunken mai d
''What were You remar<ng sir how far are
these lands from Cafornia:--are there anv bui-
i4lo in your resion:' II had the honor az
liwyer Sexton would say, Of telling an honorable
Senator yesterday, that we want INN 10 60 for our
treaties. lie inquired about them though i,
were 10 him, all "a new SUBJECT; yet, know ,hat
the Old treaties for these lands have been repeal
ed, discussed before hm last year, and 20 have
these new treaties been talked over with and be-
tore hm, tine and again. This topic now lead,
to say, that the cry ing evil Of government
$ The Indifference Of The several depdriu. eHts 20
the applications OF the people for recognition anj
adIaStmcnt of the claims Of Indiyldaais. 4 nan
may have never 50 important an Interest which
is 10 come before Congress and committee may
be appointed To inquire INTO n, yet there IL only
now and then mtu Of a committee y ho VII VI,
himself TO the work of diligently inquirins intp IT,
lcu may have most peremptOfy caIn upon
some executive department., and yuu nlay be Dl'
Oh TIL doon>-day # you viii suffer II, aud after
your affair is by constant batlerns ~ Their door,
got under their indifferent gaze, even then, your
business viii draw lis slow length i.ioug, I'LL II
seems though YOU would never The end of
It, when there wa, a Bfutu, IN Rome" So
would | say, when there .iacs>o IN The
presidential chair, every Individual Of the republic
could have hls demands upon the Scrcu is ct the
people, instantly cousdered and adjusted. In
tW0 weeks rom to day the committee Will report
and / believe the treaties N every clause VII
thereupon be ratified. Tell the people to 60 on.
and possess the ianl. The Senate has 10 iie.
that in any event, settlers VIII be- disturbed, and
really al this stage of the history Of the indians,
the Government eutertains bot little pecl Tor
Indian rights OF suIi tor Con.re has coue To
hat The only material question:, when ces>lons b,
The Indians take place, is this how much money
Il required 10 support them.
Mr. Douglass will in few days introduce bill
for laying open certain portion of the lands o.
the ''Reserve," TO settlers, agreeabiy TO the pro-
position Of Col Lee. of Fort Smelling The bill
viii pass. but cant conjecture al what time.
IN.