The Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1852-1872, 1853-08-06
The Squat,er.

Our sympathies have always been with the
genuine, honest squatter. We look upon him
as an enterprising, high-minded and patriotic
citizen, who lends himself as a pioneer TO the
advancing footsteps oil civilization Cnappalled
by difficulties that deter not possessed OF
more than ordinary energy and fearlessness, he
frequently abandons the settled districts with
all the ieilcties OF we'll organized society, To-
Gates upon wild and uncultivated Govern
nient lands, and, by his indomitable and
perseverant industry, surrounds himself with a
farm OF well cultivated fields, and all the com
forts of pleasant home. To accomplish this
lie has frequently to spend years oil toll aud de-
privaiion. But then lac has the proud satisiac-
ton of knowing that his hundred-told yielding
fields are the work Of his own hands-in many
instances reclaimed from barrenness and made
valuable by his exertions alone-wou III "a
long and laborous race with climate, sterility,
drowth, or flood, and sometimes ali combined,
as contestants. To this kind of Squatter the
Government has ever. by liberal and benehcent
laws. extended its sympathy aud assistance.
And to this class OF our fellow -ctizcns must we
ever look for the stout hearts and hard fists that
able and willing to extend the borders OF our
settlements-to reclaim lands that i'll their natu-
raj state worse than useless-to develop the
vast agricultural resources Of the State, and
where at present nothing save reproductive
wastes present TO the eye dreary and forbid
ing aspect, cause rich fields of rpenng grain to
wave in the breeze and sparkle in the sunlight.
There is another kind of sqnatters, however,
who have lately brought themselves into promi.
nent notice by high-handed and illegal proceed
ings-spurious, bogus squatters, who have stole
That proud and honorable name to accomplish a
nefarious purpose-to rob. Like thief by
night they skulk stealthily through the commu-
nifty, aud wherever they find desirable piece
of land, examine the title by which its honest
Woodworking occupant holds it, and ifany, the
slightest condition necessary to make the title
perfect be neglected, perhaps through ignor-
ance, pounce down upon it with the eagerness
OF shark. Such men are innately dishonest,
and not rogues by overt act simply through
fear of the halter For such we have no sym
pathy, no feeling in common-we despse them.
They are base and knaviSh Jumpers" as con-
,radistinguished from the honest squatter or set
tier, and are unworthy to receive any droppings
from the liberal hand of government. They do
not strive to acquire the land with the view of
cultivating it and adding to the aggregate wealth
of the country, but solely for mean, mercenary
purposes of gain.
Such are the jumpers, in many instances, who
have lately been operating in San Francisco
frequently Selling lots that had been purchased
by laboring men with their hard earnings, and
who were then industriousy engaged in acquir-
ing means to build for themselves and families
comfortable home To make the actions of these
men, as portion of the press has, pretext for
indulging in bitter denuncation against the
squatters a body-those brave, industrious
men who have, by the sweat of their brows in
few short years caused our vallies and plains
to bud and blossom as the rose-is simply un-
patriotic-dishonorabl