The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-08-12


fore. respectfully request that the Commissioner
Of the General Land Office be directed to issue
an order suspending the sales Of the public
lands within fifteen miles of said line Of road
as marked on the said map. SO far as the same
is intended tU ruh in Iowa and Wisconsin, as
we'll as in the Territory Of Minnesota.
! Gro. W. JONES,
HENRY DODGE.
HENRY NJ. RICE.
JNO. +. Cook.
June 2S, 1854"
And here is the second application
"WAsHINGrOH, d. C., July 10, 1854.
SIR,-Your communication of the Sth has
been received.
I'VE believe that the lands along the line Of
the proposed railroad from Dubuque by ST.
Paul, to the mouth Of Left Hand river will be
taken up by wealthy speculators, to the great
detrment of the two States and the Territory
interested in the construction Of the said rail-
road.
1--WE would suggest that the lands lie with
drawn from sale until the end Of the present
Congress. as the bill may not be passed at the
present session.
1--WE are. respectfully. your ob't serv'ts..
! GEO. ". JONES,
] JNo. +. Cook,
I ii. NJ. RICE.
TO Hon. Robert McClclland,
Secretary Of the Interior
Now. sir. it was upon these applications that
this withdrawal was recommended. and in do
ing SO. maintain your epstle to the contrary
that wa. seeking to advance the best interests
| of the States affected by the measure.
| In a recent publication, was charged by an
| Honorable Representative. with being friend
! to the West! That charge is trtc- the rest Of
the article was so absurd, prcpostcr"ns and er-
roncons. that l did not deem it worthy of no
tice. But am a friend to the West and to her
interest. and in this feeling, cannot give place
| to you. though you are western man. Yes,
| sir, regard my countrymen as more cnterpris-
| ing than those Of any other nation on the face
| of the earth, and that those OF them most dis
| tinguished for that characteristic are the peo-
! pie of the west Hence, sir. in shaping the pol
icy Of the land system. SO far as have had any
agency in that matter. have endcavOred to do
justice to the whole country, but certainly not
to the prejudice of the West. regard the pull
lie lands as rendered valuable in the first in
stance. chiefly. If not entirely, by the persever
| ing industry and indomitable courage and en-
durance of the pioneer settlers, squatters or
prc-emptors. as they are variOusly termed. And
hence have always cndcavOrcd to have sccur-
ed to them the mo-t liberal justice. The sys-
lem of withdrawing lands. with which you now
find fault for the first time. is one Of the meas
low you further in detail. in your remarks. as
they are kind of special pleading not suited
to my taste nor will adopt your version Of
the line of policy pursued by this office, in these
matters, but will take the liberty of giving my
own. and the reasons for it.
| The system of extending plank and railroads
through the different sections Of our country,
has done more than any other measure that has
been devised to enhance the value of the pub
lie lands, and of the products of those lands to
the farmer - to promote agriculture and the
arts and sciences. and to bind our people to-
gether socially and civilly. Where the settle
mcnts are sparse. and these roads will not con-
sequcntly pay profitable dividend on the en-
tire COST they cannot be constructed without
| aid from the government. The government. as
the owner of most of the lands along the routes
Of such roads, can. with safety and advantage.
under wise legislation. make grants of alternate
sections, 10 limited extent, in aid Of the con-
struction of these roads. For these grants the
government will be rcmuneratcd by the increas-
ed value and ready sale of the reserved lands.
On the cash investments. necessary for the con-
structon of those roads, addition to the grants.
the trade and travel. though limited, will
pay a fair dividend. In this way these roads
can and will be constructed and supported. The
farmers in their vicinity, and for many miles
around, will have ready market and fair pri-
ces for their produce. Agriculture will pros
per. mechanics and the arts flourish. fruitful
fields will cover the country, towns and villag-
es will spring up, and plenty everywhere bless
the sons of toll.
| These are the results of the policy pursued
by this Office. and in attaining them the settlers
are uniformly protected and permitted to prove
up their pre-cmptiOns, and pay for their lands.
precisely rs though those lands had not been
withheld from market. But If the course rec
ommended and urged by you should be adopt
cd if bills were introduced into Congress for
grants Of this character, and the lands left open
to entry, speculators would enter all Of them
OF any value, before the laws would be passed.
and there would be none left for the construc-
ton of the road the work could not be DONE
the bona fde settler and the men of limited
means who desired to purchase land for actual
settlement and cultivation would be left to the
tender mercies Of those spectators their crops
would be valueless, for they could not send
them to market, and they would be left ungar-
nercd as have seen them. to rot on the stalk.
Poverty. distress. and desolation would follow.
These would be the results Of the policy you
advocate. Now, if you please. look at these
two pictures. and say which would be the more
acceptable to your constituents. and which as
their representative should be more agreeable
to you.
In the concluding part Of your letter. you are
pleased to indulge in q sneer at the impartiali-
| ty of a member OF the cabinet, and at my sin-
cerity. This, sir, without the slightest shadow
of foundation in fact, comes with an i'll grace,
and in bad taste. from one Of the honorable re-
representatives. of sovereign State. The gen.
tleman to whom allusion is thus made, has in
no instance in the slightest manner, interfcred
with the recommendations of this Office. on this
subject. He has sanctioned those views in all
cases where he had reason to believe that the
road would probably be constructed and can
say with perfect sincerity that have never met
with q gentleman more sensitively hstid'ous
than be is. in suggesting. or in any manner In.
terfering in matters relating to or affecting the
interests Of the State from which he halls or OF
her citizens.
You have been pleased to criticise freely the
action and policy Of this Office. and to suggest
the line of duty, that should be pursued by 1t
on this subject. You cannot be offended, there
fore, il l should hold the mirror up before you,
for like purpose. II you were apprized Of the
course pursued by this Office in these matters.
and believed, as stated in your letter, that 1t
| ,-o, with hipfa M ha ada