Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-09-04
At(iulrtsota Ginlfs.
SATURDAY, SEPT. l, 1855.

SATURDAY, SEPT. l, 1855.
The Land Sales-Ricc,s Actions Ina ConSress-Schemss
of the Spccuiators-Ruin of Presumption Claim
ants-Arrest of the Settlement of Minnesota.
We understand that several spectators have
gone INTO the country, each with gang of men,
to examine the corners Of surveys in good lOcali-
ties. and the improvements that have been made,
bv redemption claimants. We would like to
know whether these expeditions have any interested
connection, with the impression that seems to be
prevalent among Mr.. Rice's friends, that the
public Land Sales will not be postponed p
Certain it is, that the spectators are ON the qua
rire, and that great preparations are beng maue
by them to buy up the lands if offered Tor sale
this fall. In the mean time, the settlers who
have gone upon public lands, and made valuable
improvements thereon, under the pre- emption
law are in state of the most distressing anxiety,
and alarm. Great numbers Of them have no
money, and there is none to be had except upon
the most solid security, and at the most ruinous
rate Of interest. Flying rumors of the postpone
mcnt of the sales are circulated everywhere, but
there is no official announcement to that effect,
and the fatal sales are drawing nigh.
1t is a pity, that Mr.. Rice, our only delegate in
Congress, had not represented the true interests
of Minnesota in regard to these land sales but
he seems to have forgotten, that the year 1854,
was a very trying season for the farmers of the
northern States, that an extraordinary drought,
had cut of the crops; that the money market
from these causes had been very tight, and that
the pressure was increased by an European war.
Thousands of farmers who intended to EN- crate
here and invest their capital have been prevented
by these causes from doing so, and it seems to us
very injudcious for our delegate to advocate the
land sales, under such circumstances. But if it
was deemed SO important to have these sales
come off, why did not Mr.. Rice propose IA credit
sale, like that of 1920, so that the presumption
lists could have purchased their claims at
one forth cost, and the balance on credit
of one, two, and three years. There and
is no necessity for cash sales. About $780,,
100000 of gold and silver are now lying in
the vaults of the ub-Trcasury, drawing no inter-
est, while the poor settlers in this Territory are
driven to the extremity of searching for loans Of
specie, at an interest of forty fifty per cent.
per annum, to meet Il cash sale of their home
steads.
1t was clearly for the interest of the United
States, that the sales should have been upon cred
it, why then, was not the credit sales ADVOCATED
by our delegate? Was it the design to sacrifice
the homesteads of the presumption claimants, by
the operation of this hard law which was uncerc-
moniously passed through Congress, at the close
of year of unexampled scarcity? We say that
all these circumstances look as if the land sales
of 1856, were part of Il premeditated scheme to
favor the spectators, and ruin many poor, but
honest settlers, and very much fear that it will
be carried through and consummated.
Asa faithful sentinel upon the watch we warn
our friends in the country to be on their guard,
and to take the most energetic action to stop
these sales. A wolf is on the walk, and the set
tiers must be up and at work if they would not
see the dearest interests of Minnesota sacrificed.
These sales if made at this crisis, will throw
the choice lands into the hands of the spectators
who will hold them at high prices, so that future
emigration here will be very much discouraged,
and the settlement of the Territory greatly de-
layed. The farmers of New England, New York,
and the Western States, who desi gned to emil
crate, and have been prevented from doing so by
the drought of 1854, will not come here to buy
their farms of spectators, but will 60 elsewhere.
These results are plain, but they are not all
the events that threaten us, for if the sales 60 on
this fall thousands of settlers with their amilies
will be driven from their claims at the beginning
of winter in a state of utter restitution, and all
their hard earnings for two or three years, will
be sacrificed.