The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-08-12
TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, 1854.
BEN. EASTMAN vs. THE wlTHDRAwAL'
POLICY.


Below VIC give a brace of interesting docu
ments, which must elicit the attention Of al
readers. Comparing small matters Of govern
mental policy to great ones the reply Of Com
missioner Wilson to Ben. Eastman, must tax
rank next to Webster's celebrated letter t
Chevalier Hulsemunu. We pity the men VIII
have condemned the liberal course of the Gen
eral Land Office in adopting a policy whicI
was the only one, under the law and the cir
cumstances, to protect the " bona Jtide" settle
in his legal rights. Mr.. Wilson, the Commits
sioner of the General Land Office, hits th
gentleman from Wisconsin," and his Mime
sofa hackers an lawful lick " in tender place
We hope they will recover from their presen
prostrate condition. wiser and better men.
We expect careful reading and candid con
sideraton Of the attack upon the Land Ofic,
and the reply of its able and enlightened
Chief
Hon. Ben. c. Eaatman's Letter to the Commits
sioner Of the Land Office.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
July2 1854.
To the Hon. JonN WILSON,
Commissioner Of the General Land Office.
SIR On yesterday my attention was called
to ~ office Of withdrawal of railroad
lands" in the State of Wisconsin, from sale
published in the Union newspaper, and dated
the 18th instant. That notice recites, that 'a
the earnest solicitation of certain senators and
delegates in Congress from the States of Wis
cunsin and Iowa, and the Territory of Mime
sota the President of the United States. has
l. 4: I..A, 4 L. "a. ~
slant, directed that certain townships situated
in these States and Territory. within about fif
teen miles of each side of the route of the rail
road from Dubuque. Iowa, via st. Paul. Min.
nesOta Territory. to the mouth Of Left-hand
river at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. shall be with
drawn from sale or entry, until further orders, u
&c.
As represent that part of Wisconsin in
which this reserved land lies, and as reference
is made to "delcgates'' from Wisconsin, il
might be supposed that had joined in this
'earnest solicitation" referred to in the notice
But, so far from this being true, was total
ly ignorant not only of a design to reserve any
land in Wisconsin, but was surprised and NOR
titled that the reservation had been made with
out being myselfconsulted.
1t is new to me- and believe in the history
of the transactions in the General Land Office,
that lands can be properly reserved from salc
in anticipation OF ali act of Congress. Such a
course is pregnant with mischief. and may he
made the means of oppression against the bona
fde settler and of speculation for those who
have the ear Of the commissioner or the Pres
dent, at the expense of men of limited means
who desire to purchase land for actual settle
ment and cultivation. And if it is fair and
right to anticipate the action of Congress at al
there can be no limit to the time to which such
anticipatOns shall extend and, acting under
this assumed right lands may be reserved by
the President upon a remote chance that Con.
gress will hereafter, and it may be years hence
grant this land to construct roads. or for
farms for actual settlers. or for eleemOsynary
purposes. In the meantime the land lies un-
improved; the tide of emigration finds new
channels, have settled upon land contiguous to
that which is reserved. are compelled to bear
alone the burden of supporting the town and
county government by taxes.
But if it is conceded that it is proper to with.
draw lands from market when the delegation
in Congress from State apply for it, it is upon
the supposition that the senators and repre-
sentatives are the agents OF the people. sent
here to protect their interests, and they are re-
sponsible to the people for their acts. and for
the faithful discharge of their duties and that
they are better informed as to the true inter-
ests of the people in that respect than the Pres
ident or the Commissioner. II it were not SO,
then the solicitation" of members of Congress
would be of no greater weight or Importance
than the solicitation Of any other respectable
gentleman, and their opinions would not be
listened to nor would they be consulted. But
in this case understand that none of the Rep.
rescntativcs from Wisconsin were consulted
nor did they join in the earnest solicitation re.
cited in the order withdrawing this land from
sale, although seventy eight townships, con.
oil m hun druI N
seven thousand one hundred and twenty acres
of land lying in the State of Wisconsin. and in
the district which l represent is withdrawn
from market. yet only one senator from the
whole delegation from Wisconsin joined in the
request, while my colleagues in the House o
Representatives and myself we're not informed
that on application for a withdrawal had been
made until this order was published.
But. aside from the above. which would ap-
ply with sufficient force to all cases. even to
those where it was intended or anticipated 10
obtain grant of land for the construction of a
railroad in the State in which lands withdrawn
from sale are situated. what renders this case
more remarkable is, there is no bill yet before
Congress granting lands to railroad beio,r
the southern line of the territory of Minnesota
in the direction of Dubuque? If there was
such bill introduced l should endeavor to
protect the interest ofmy own State in restrict
ing the grant and operation OF the Dill TO Iandi
in the state of Iowa. But although no bill il
yet before Congress. you have reserved OF
withdrawn from market and sale twelve town
ships containing three hundred and seventy
six thousand four hundred and eighty acres ir
the county of Grant, State Of Wisconsin, east
of the Mississippi river and opposite the city o
Dubuque, Iowa.
Nor has any bill passed, or in contemplation
as have heard. proposing to construct rail
road in that part of Wisconsin between thu
eastern boundry of Minnesota and the mouth
of Left Hand river at Fond du Lac, Lake Su
perior. The Minnesota land bill does not &c
one inch beyond the line of that territory, and
! by its phraseology does not grant foot o.
| land bey ond its own boundaries.
LEFT Hand" river is in Wisconsin. and t.
reach it the most direct course from the east
crn line of the territory OF Minnesota, near ter
miles will have to be travelled, and any feas
ible route for a railroad would run near thirty
| miles in the State of Wisconsin.
But the language of the Minnesota &C. con
fines the grant and limits all its benefits and it
operations to the boundaries Of that Territory
Tb is its language:
A.. 81 H. knA xo =.