Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-08-21
THURSDAY, AUGUST l6, 1866.
THE LAND SALEs-IT WILL BE THE SAME
WITH US.


THE LAND sALEs-Ir WILL BE THE SAME
WITH Us.
The Eastern man who visits the Great Yves
for the first time, is struck with the wide ex.
tent Of country which stretches away from him
on all sides, and Notwithstanding the thousand.
upon thousands of emigrants who annually
wend their way over those fertile prairies, still
the land from year to year presents the same
features same beauty and magnifcence
and the same unproductiveness. Why is this
Why should the hardy pioneer be obliged to
push on-hundreds, even thousands of miles
in order to procure him homestead? WHY
not settle down in Illinois, or Wisconsin or
Iowaa The land is good-the markets are ac-
cessible-the climate is genial, and the earth,
teeming with beauty and grandeur, invites the
plow and the labor Of the husbandman. The
inquiry is easily answered -the land is held by
spectators! and so long as this state of things
exists, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and Iowa, will
be divested Of one-half of their wealth. But
in these States the error cannot be rectified-
the land is in the hands of those who will hold
it, and it will remain there until some poor
man is induced to give SIS or $40 per acre for
it, which cost the original proprietor 81 ,25 per
acre. How came it in their hands? BY the
injudicious act Of the Government doubtless
brought about by the spectators themselves)
in throwing it into market, before actual settlers
had an opportunity to pre-empt it. A dark
cloud, like the shades of night settled upon
those fair portions of Gods earth, and there
they lie enshrouded in darkness and unproduc-
tiveneSs.
A great portion of Minnesota can be saved
from this curse by timely efforts-by appealing
10 the Government-by arousing the people to
a sense Of injustice which will be done them if
the land is brought into markedly petitions,
and if needs be, by Mass MEETINGS. 1t is
a matter in which not only the actual settler
has an interest, but in which the merchant, the
mechanic, the citizen and the professionalism
have also an interest; for, if the country in the
immediate neighborhood Of St. Paul is not set
tied, where is St. Paul to draw her sustenance
And that which is applicable to ST. Paul, is ap-
plicable to every city and town in the Terri
tory. We hope, therefore, that no efforts will
be spared by the citizens of Minnesota, to in
duce the Government to withraw the sale of the
public lands, for in so doing it will save our
beautiful Territory from one Of tie worst evils
which could possibly belall it.
We would suggest that a meeting Of the citi-
zens be held in St. Paul Immediately, to give
strength to the petitions already in circulation.
Will any one move in the premises
THEN AND Now.-The Minnesotian, COM
menting upon the notice Of the sale Of the Pub
lie Lands, remarks that some time since it ad-
vocated the same course, and adds:
"Although our language was commented up
on pretty freely by two Of our contemporaries at
the time, who took different view of the mat
ter, yet they now both acknowledge the truth
and Justice of the matter and are doing their
utmost to have the contemplated sale put stop
to-"
There is quite difference between then and
mor. Then the object in Withdrawing the sale
of public lands, was evidently to benefit soul
less Railroad Company, and we opposed the
withdrawal Of the sale on that ground. .Now
the Railroad bubble having burstcd, the object
in throwing the land into market, particularly at
this time when large number Of new settlers
are opening up the resources Of the soil and
are unable pay for the land, is merely to BEN
eft spectators, and any such movement as
this we shall oppose with all our energy. We
agree entirely with our neighbor when he says:
For our own par, We hope never to see an
other land sale; we should like to see the whole
country settled up by pre.emption.
This is the only way to prevent our Territory
from falling under the withering, blighting,
cursing, desolating influence Of speculation.
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE IN HENNEpIN
CouSrY.-Our Temperance friends in Oak
Grove, IIennepin County, have recently organ
lied Temperance Society, with a determina-
ton Of entering vigorously into the field. We
know that what they take hold ofthey will ac-
complish, and we are much gratified therefore
in being able to report that the cause is pro-
crossing. Our friends at Excelsior are also
furnishing their arms for the battle, and in
other parts Of the Territory the Temperance
leaders are rallying their soldiers for the Fall
campaign. Good cheer attend them.
Missouri REPuBLIcAN.-George Knapp
has associated with him in the publication OF
this paper, Mr.. Paschall, the editor, and John
Knapp, his brother. The Republican is a
profitable paper, and if it did not advocate
Slavery so strongly, it would stand in the rank
of first among the Western Journals.
ANOTHER JoKE.-The Democrat of this city
says that the platform of the Republican Party
Of Minnesota " is openly and avowedly Anti
Democratic" 1t somewhat singular that this
same party should carry the elections in almost
every State in the Union, and yet should be
" antidemocratic p Perhaps, Mr.. Democrat,
the popular sovereignty doctrine is antago-
nistic to Democracy, for the people in exerci-
sing their popular sovereignty, hare repudi-
ated Democracy.
IL