Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-06
AN ADDRESS TO THE VOTERS
OF NEBRASKA, ON THE SUB
JECT OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

80 q
FrLtow CrrizrNs:-There is 20 mea-
sure Of such vital importance to the settler.
at this time, as the extension Of pre-emp-
ton rights to actual settlers, and every
settler, and al persons who intend beoom-
ing SO. and feel interested in the subject,
should give publicity to their sentiments,
and manufacture as strong a public senti-
mcnt in favor Of their principles, as pos
sible. Notwithstanding, | am very de.
sirOus Of being elected, yet, ] feel a deep
er interest in securing the indefinite ex-
tension Of presumption privileges, than |
have ip my " election.
Now, there are many persons, who want
a prescription law Of some kind, but can
not settle, in their own minds, what kind OF
a presumption they should have. Now,
as ii is impossible 10 suit the taste Of all, it
is wise to adopt some general principle,
and all subscribe 10 it practically. Now.
in my opinion, there is no better principle
than the one | advocate. The osiensible
motives for a presumption lew Of any kind,
are these; first, TO encourage the settle
ment AID occupancy Of a territory, hither-
TO u~noccupiedi- secondly, 10 secure acutu-
al settlers, a ten 7orary right 70 the lands
they have improved; until such time as
they can dig out Of the soil, the amount Of
money necessary 10 enter them. Now,
any presumption law that does not secure
either, or both Of these objects, is in part
or whole, fruitless, and should be throws
away, and some principal adopted, that will
ecu the ends legislated for. 1t is a
conceded point, that the presumption law Of
eighteen hundred and forty-one, in a great
majority Of caaes, has been destructive to IN
interests Of the pre-emptor; from the fact,
that as soon as a person who has no capital,
files on a piece Of land, some individual,
who has more money than good principles,
vii, lay his money on lie same laHd, with
the hope, that the pre-emptor may not ba
able 10 enter his land at the expiration OF
the time for which his land was pre-empi-
ed; and, if unfortunately, the pre-emptor,
from any cause, should fail to enter his
land, The Spectator not only gets the land,
but all the improvements made upon it,
Say a cabin, that cost ia labor, fifty dol
lars; the breaking Of ten acres Of land,
which, if hired, cost three dollars per acre,
which is thirty dollars, fencing the same,
will cost in labor, thirty dollars more,
which is a low estimate, making in all,
II hundred and len dollars loss 10 The
pre-emptor in labor, besides the increased
value his improvements have given the
land. and in addition TO that, il is turning
a mother and her babes, out OF doors, and
driving them away from the shelter they
assisted in building, homeless, conforllsss
and penniiess, upon a iriendiess and
mereiless world. 1t is taking one hum
dTed and len dollars worth Of education,
clothes and bread, from the minds, backs
and mouths, of innocent and helpless
children, whose fathers only fault. was
poYerty-it is another destructive blow 10
the hePe and energy o. the man. Again,
If he is not entered out, lac is, in order
TO save his land and improvements, forced
TO borrow money, at forty OF fly per cent
per nnnum, which are the usual rates OF
interest in such cases; and in most osses,
tine land is morgaged tor n year, 10 the
money-lender, ii the end OF which time,
il principal and interest is not fcrthoom-
ing, the land goes TO the mmey-iender,
with W years improvements. This IL
no fancy picture, but an every day occur
renee, 10 which mos! every citizen Of tbs
territory has been an eye witness, and as
all men have not equal capacities, and are
not surrounded by the same circumstan-
ces, il IS impossible 10 meet the wants and
necessities Of all, by d definite prs-emp-,
ion law: I'VE hold these truths, to be
self-evident, that all men are endowed hy
their Creator, with certain unalienabls
rights; that, to secure these rights. laws
are established, deriving their power from
lhe consent Of the governed; that, when
any law becomes destructive 10 these ends,s
it is the right Of the people 20 alter or
abolish il, and enact a new law Oa such
principles, as to them, shall seem. most
likely to enhance their interest and safety"
Now, Fellow Citizens, it is MOI wise
to humbly ask Of these, whose interests
are destructive 10 yours, to give YEN such
laws as you desire, bat TO demand, with
the boldness Of lion, and with snnited
voice as loud as seven %thunders, and as
irresistible as the foods of the great Mis-