, 1853-05-21
Affairs in the Country Settlers Rights.

"Take heed to thyselt that thou olieT not thy
burnt offerings in every place hat thou seest -
Deuteronomy, - 10.
This advice from the good book we COM
mend 10 the serious consideration of the
new comers in Washington Territory. 1t
is serious evil to the interests of our Ter
ritory for men to roam and wander from
pillar to post" from prairie to prairie, from
up the Sound to down the Sound, hilher
and thither, 10 and fro, with unsettled minds,
taking here a claim and there a claim, de-
serting one, squatting upon another and
changing again and again, and thereby de-
ieating the laudable objects of men of enter
prise and industry. Now, we oppose this
practice for various and important reasons,
all of which we would not undertake to
give in a single article proPOrtioned to our
columns. II must be obvious TO every mind,
that the true course for men to pursue is to
examine the country until satisfied with a
particular spot, and if determined to locate,
do so at once, in right down earnest, and
there remain. We would not tolerate claim
jumping as a system, or in particular cases
where so doing would be an invasion of the
indisputable rights Of any citizen, but our
hope is 10 see the country become settled,
and as that is the object, and the only OBJ
iect of the donation law, claiming land with
out actual residence thereon, and all other
shams, subterfuges and circumlocutiOns,
should be popularity disapproved. The citi-
zen who bona fide complies with the law,
whether he be rich or poor, wise or foolish'
or otherwise, his rights should
should be sanctioned and defended by his
neighbors. But the man whose fancy being
pleased with a certain piece of land, merely
makes his shanty tabernacle there until
better pleased somewhere else, should not
be upheld in his course by anybody. The
land claimed by him-his residence being
elsewhere, or be roamer-shouId be con-
sidered lawful prize for any man who, by
taking it, would add to the population, So
ciety and prosperity of the country. No
popular mamby-pamby sympathy for the
unfruitful pretended occupant should keep
him in possession, to the exclusion Of one
whose intentions are sincere, and whose ef-
forts would be for the development of the re-
sources of the country. These views are
our own, and we throw them before our
readers that they may take Them for what
they are worth.
Cases of hardship have occurred, and
perhaps arc occurring frequently, and we
would establish no rule however severe but
that we would be willing to admit special
exceptions thereto. We do not preach 10
have examples made of any particular per-
sons, but rather do we argue against the evil
consequences of the system. II is in fact
but part and parcel of the abominable land
speculation prevailing with such rapacity
throughout the western States. 1t should
never find friends among the people Of
WASHINGTON. The few hundred dollars
that the new conner has would enable him to
own cattle, and be your thrifty and happy
if the 6endish speculator were not
10 insist upon getting bis last penny before
permitting him to enter into possession of
the soil. The entire policy of the Govern
ment is thus set at naught, valuable tracts
of land are occupied only in name, the in
terests of whole neighborhoods are damaged
and kept depressed, the spectators have
merely squatted iemporarily-making no
improvements and looking only 10 an advan-
tageous sale 10 a new immigrant, who una.
bic 10 give the price, roams and wandcrs,
making his offerings in every place he sees.
The evil should be rcmedied. We desire
to see every family and individual comfort
ably established, and the only course appear
ing plainly 10 our minds as the one to be
pursued, is for old settlers to define their
boundaries with accuracy, claim no more
land than they are entitled TO, for speoula-
tors TO abandon their occupation or expect
10 receive but little merciful consideration
and for the new immigrants, knowing their
rights, 10 insist upon and obtain them.
When they shall have correctly concluded
that the donation act confers no bounties
whatever, but promises 10 grant in exchange
for the settlement Of the country, a portion
of the land 10 each settler who shall have
resided thereon in good faith, and actually
cultivated the same for the specified length
Of time, We hope and believe they will not
hesitate 10 establish themselves wherever the
voice Of justice proclaimed by their neigh
bors may sustain them. We say then in
conclusion to the new immigrants, look to
rntir iniern.ls and YOUR rinhia Lose M