The daily union., 1854-02-16


Another objection to this measure is the eee which il
Is expected to have ia reducing not only the price OF
ands the old States, but OF all the grants heretofore
made 10 the new States. whether Tor eleemosynary or
ed dacalonal purposes for internal improvements.
military bounty lands. What with such osteniaous benev-
olence, II Is said, you bestow with hand IN entire
recklessness OF good fah you with the other reiract
The old soldier. instead OF being presented with bread
will had that he has received nothing but "sione
This would. indeed, prove formidable objection II II
were anything than what might be supposed 10 pre-
seat itself al the first blash OF the subject but which
very le reflection might we'll be supposed 10 dssipale
But for one feature OF The bill. indeed the force OF The
objection could not well be gainsayed With the restTc
ton however, thai the pubic lands shall be occupied by
actual settlers only IN alternate quarter secions We be-
eve Tue interests oil former recipients OF The pubic bounty
will enjoy ample protection BY the grants OF alternate
sections 10 railroads, and by similar grants OF quafeI
sections to scdal settlers proposed there IS sill me
same quantity of lands which cannot be settled under me
operation OF either class OF grants reserved 10 the govern
ment. All these alternate sections OF the government
which oy .he construction q haee improvements n ana
enhanced IN value, only be purchased at nigh prices
at public sale, else taken up by land warrants This
liability TO absorption by land warrants 1t Is which must
forever prevent The depreciation Of The latter; for II IS
by means OF them alone that lands which will often be
worth several times the government prce OF vi 20 per
acre, be obtained only at the market value OF The
So, also, everywhere in the vicinity OF these
settlements in the States and the Territories the value
of improved lands will naturally increase II is not
merely the TACT OF getting the land Ior nothing which is
going 10 tempt munules into the wilderAess. The su-
peror advantages in point OF education and physical com
tort will weigh with maay who possess The means 10
stop short among populous communities. II is not every
who wishes, any than he s capaclsaed 10 en-
ter into struggle with the primitive forests and The
prairie wiids
Oher objections to The BILL in lis present shape are the
restraint imposed by The second section upon aenailon
the condition OF five years residence before the occupant
can receive title to the land and The exenpiing OF
from sale for debts contracted previous TO The settlement
All such Restrictions it has been urged, against the
whole policy OF our laws, and most unwlse II Is ex-
peced, 100. that when the Territories erected into
States these conditions imposed by the general govern
ment will interfere conflict with the local laws, and
also, that they will tend TO creaie pepeuiiy OF the
kind as the Eaglish system OF entails We have been
told that where the granoT parts with his whole interest
in the grant, s contrary the rule OF the common law
that be should al the same time be permitted, in any
wise 10 tie up the hands OF the grantee and that from
the hight OF Congress- taking il in its fullest latitude,
dispose OF The public erriiory the right OF dsposng OF
it, contrary TO commona system,
ably be inferred. But what does this restriction amount
to Why, merely that Tor five years the settler shall
receive his tltle In accordance with The great object
which she has steadily pursued IRON the beginnings the
government makes him grant OF land upon condition
of settlement, and only that II shall be bona fde
settlement, by making five years residence and cutva
ton the evidence OF lhs Is such restrictlon
ilestly for the benefit OF the public OF the individual,
inconsistent with The policy OF the common awi And
The condition which prevents the land from coming under
legal sale for any debt contracted previous TO the recep
lion OF the patent Tor the lands there nythng
this than The enabling the settler 10 start clear OF ncum
brances which would Otherwise in many parayze
his efforts improve his condition, though aided by
this kindly provision oil his government!
But--as regards the position that grants with such
conditions annexed unknown TO our aw--what, let
ask, le deeds OF cession themselves which have
been muca IN the mouths OF genemea in connexlon
with rT-abject, and by which the old States ceded
their VIA ia'ds 10 The general govefnHenl Did those
deeds np Part with the whole interest Of the granloIs
IN those iahds and yet was Il not accompanied with
the condition that the proceeds OF those lands should
be applied for the general weare" Then, by the OPP
Grafton OF this rule appears that these much -mooted
conditions at last invalid and that the grants from
the States iDue TO the general government. unncum
bered with conditions,
It'll urged, however that by thus retaining control
these ands alter they shall have become State prop
erty, and liable TO Stale taxation conflict between The
Stale and general government may be anticipated And yei
by the ordinance oil 1887 by which immense territory
was converted into States, The general government still
retains IN these States large bodies OF public lands
which It's control extends; but where is the conflict OF
laws and jurisdiction apprehendedf
Another objection 10 the policy OF this bill Is
which proposes substitute in lieu thereof extension
OF the presest pe-empuon principle. Instead OF calling
into existence community OF ieemen, proposes 10
tabish great government tenanrya syem OF perpetual
vsssaage The most odious feature OF the feuda sys.
ten, and that which is the repuguant 10 all in.
sttuons is thus sought TO be incorporated into sys
TEN OF administering the public lands and the settler is
thus to become the perpetual tenant OF his government
Oi proposition which has so little TO commend IT 10 the
popular judgment, do not intend 10 consume your time
the discussen would only remark that ii put erh
10 seriousness the great measure winch the occasion
demands, il seems founded upon strange oversight OF
the motives and principles by which are commonly
governed The love oil property s OF The strongest
principles oil the human breast and The prospect OF its
qusoa is the most potent stimulus industry and all
the honey virtues which il is possible supply Take
away this stimulus you do By your perpetual Yre.
empon, and you TO the same extent remove the induce
ment to settlement Make payment, although distant,
requisite TO acquiring the title, and you deaden fatal
degree the desire and the euou 10 do The very rea
ton OF such yasssage is deregatoy in the eyes OF an
American eiiizen however humble. AT an early day in
the Senate, Colonel BENTON pronounced the true charac.
ter OF tenanry when he declared that "ienanry una-
voable freedom II lays the foundation for separate
orders in society, annhilaes the love OF country and
weakens the spirit OF Independence. The tenant has in
fact, country, hearth, domestic altar no house.
hold god"
The prejudces OF the people against every such
policy and you will never, by any such provisou foster
that manly Independence which attaches the absolute
proprietor OF few humble acres II is said that
the pre- empton principle preferable placing il ou, Of
the power OF the settler to injure himself well as of
the speculaor to reap the benefits OF his industry But
What has il come TO this Has the American pioneer
lost his character OF Unity shrewdness and must needs
have guardian assigned Tor his protection Sir let us
respect for This adventurous and noble class of
our feow.cruzene
But greater objection than any we have vet men
toned and calculated to oppress the measure
with odiuu, is that which sgmazes IL as agrarian But
how asraran II is not proposed by this bin to rob any
OF particle of bs property II does moi propose
limit TO The quantity OF land which any man may own
bul simply that ihe unoccuped public landsa such
norton OF them deemed expedient-mav ba tak