The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-01-24
CLAIM ASSOCIATIONS.

before the first of May next, ten thousand
people will settle upon the lands west of
the Mississippi before the close Of navi-
CATION the present year. The selection
and location of sites by different individ-
uals, will be attended with all those con-
Aicts of different interests usually incident
to the settlement of new countries. The
only way to prevent bitter feuds, and,
perhaps, in some instances, bloodshed, is
by the formation Of claim association,
or associations, which will embrace with
in their limits all who desire to make
permanent settlements and improvements
upon the new purchase.
Two years ago, an attempt was made
here to form what was called claim as
ISOLATION, the real design of which was TO
protect few in holding the valuable
lands of the Fort Smelling Reserve, to the
exclusion of the great mass. This we OPP
posed in the columns Of the Chronicle and
Register, but avowed our willingness TO
uphold claim associations whenever the
Sioux lands were opened for settlement
whenever there was sulficiency Of
territory to be claimed, to enable all who
were residents here, and all who might
choose to become residents, to select for
themselves homes. We believe the time
has now come that the end can be ac-
complished tremendously by our people
and that lasting benefits can be derived
by their acting at once, and acting to-
gether.
We wish to see no exclusiveness toll
Grated in connection with the measure
1t will not do for twenty, or fifty, or a
hundred men, to band themselves togeth-
er, proclaim that their association is full,
and 90 forth to drive of, by club law'
claimants already located, or prevent 9TH
ers from coming within leagues distance
Of their pretended lines. On the other
hand, there is no necessity that all who
wish to make claims be embodied in one
single mammoth association. The con-
Germ would perhaps become too unwieldy
and might. in the end, prove entirely
unmanageable, just as the government of
our country would, were State govern
ments abolished, and the whole conglome-
rated into one central power. 1t would
probably be more advisable to have con-
federation of associations, with a central
board of management. composed of dele
gates representing each association in pro-
portion to its numerical strength. 1t
would also be necessary for the different
associations 10 retain within themselves
certain regulating powers, such as the
adjustment of disputes between individu-
ais, the establishment of lines, &c. These
matters could be arranged by local COM
mitlees, without subjecting the general
board 10 the annoyance of daily interfer-
ence in such small affairs. Appeals
should, however, be allowed in all cases
to the higher tribunal, and it should also
have the exclusive power of settling
all disputes between the different associa-
lions.
At first glance, our readers may think
there is too much machinery here planned,
and that it will not work in harmony
particularly as it all has to be set in mo-
ton by voluntary action on the part of a
great number of individuals. This might
be the fact, were it not for the mutual
interest of all concerned to adopt some
such mode, in order to secure every one
in the peaceable and quiet enjoyment of
his rights. We would not have the
plan Of association framed SO as to debar
single man from partaking of its bene-
fits. If you find persons who have, sin
ely or by association, already made loca-
lions upon the Indian lands, protect them
IN their claims. If, by being little
ahead Of you, they have secured what is
now considered better points than YOU
can get hold of, (but no one knows vet
where will be the best points) never
mind that take them into your associa-
ton and protect them. 1t will take a
long time, and great many hundreds of
people, to secure all the good locations
betweenthe Mississippi and the Missouri,
and from the Iowa line to the 49th paral-
lei Of latitude.
We have thus hastily thrown out few
hints upon subject in which our whole
people are vitality interested. Not onlv
is it a matter of personal pecuniary inter-
est to all, but one of moral interest to tho