M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-08-28
9oIiitl
mr.. Buchanan ON the settlers ON
PnhIic Lands.
,rs npyrNcE OF ADOPTED CITIZENS

HIS DEfEkCE VI hDOEAbD SAANNN'S'
Extracts from Mr.. Buchundn's speech in
ths Ssnate in 1888, on the till 10 secure
pre.cmption rights to the settlers on tht
Public lands.
Mr.. Buchanan said that II was not bis
intention to 60 into any detailed argument
.upon the question before the Senate; lie
would merely state in general terms the Tea'
son why he should vote for the bill inns
he would do not for the purpose OF conyinc-
ing Others, but of placing himself ir the
position he desired to occupy.
"Il has been repeated over and over again,
in tbe course Of this debate, that the bill be-
fore the Senate would confer bounty upon
the actual settlers on the public lands at the
eruense of the people Of the United States.
He denied that it would produce any such
effect,
These settlers would pay the price OF one
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre ior their
land. Could the government now OBTAIN
more for it at public auction mad u remained
unset.ledY Let the history OF the past an
swer this question. From the LIST OF January
ds23. until the present day, averaging all
tbe land sales which had been made, the re-
rnIt was. that we had received two, three
four FIVE, or at the most, six cents per acre
more than what the settlers would be Obliged
IN nav under this bill. Senators had differ
ed in their statements upon this subject, but
none of them had contended that the averagt
nTice upon the whole sales exceeded one dol
far and thirty cents per acre. Inc Commls
sioner of the Land Office states II 10 nave
been one dollor and twenty-seven cents anc
nine. .twentieths. The question then was
whether for the prospect-and hopeless
one Il was-of obtaining six cents more al
nnbIc auction from their lands, and thus
bv depriving them Of home, infilct TIN
greatest misery and distress upon themselves
ind their families9
"Mr. B, said that our past experience
ought 10 have taught US that this was ques
tion in which the government had put niue
II any, pecuniaTy interest. 1t was CUES
tion between the, actual settlers on the one
side. and the organized bands oil speculation
wh;sh attended The land sales on the other
n was notorious-it had often been establish
ed nm this aoor--that these speculatorS, &C
tine in concert had prevented bidding abo"'
The minimum price, and had purchased ou
most valuable lands at dollar end quartz
NO, acre. II these settlers should not Obtain
these lands at this price, the speculator
,yonld. This was the alternative. Turl
this question and argue 1t Whatever mou
you might still we come to the same result
twas matter Of indifference so far as tn
treasury was concerned, whether you Grantee2
ihese pIe-emptions ornot. In either event tn
Government would neither benefited nc
Injured. Then, he was called upon to decld
between the actual settler, who had spen
/, his time and his labor cutting down his ioI
est and preparing himself home in tn
wilderness and the heartless speculator VIII
might be anxious to deprive these pioneer
4 ~ the benefitof their tolls and 10 purchas
the land which they have improved. II
could not hesitate upon that subject. faS
experience had rendered it certain that IN
IT states will never receive more for their Ian
81 4han A cent or two per acre above minimum
nr;ce and for this imconsiderable diteren'
he would not turn off the men who ha
settled upon our public lands, in order th'
they mieht be monopolized at the publ
q sales by speculators. Let the actual settl
have sthe first cut end sufficient will renal
for the companieso Of spectators who atteI
the public auctions. He had no doubt tn
in both these modesof sales there had BEE
frauds; but he should always lean to tn
& side which would protect the poor man
The possession of the land which he had re
dered valuable by the sweat Of his brow, rat
~, than in favor of those who had come fro
distance to purchase him oui OF house al
2 home. y9 ..
wo,d upon the subject bad it not been 4
,be amendment which had been offered
!, fhe Senator from Maryland, Mr.. Merrlch
Th;s amendment proposed to makeAn IL
i1;dious distinction, which mad never bee
made heretofore in our, legislation, again
soreieners who had settled vpos%he publ
lands and had not been natuRl.zed pr
- .e sls first day Of December last. Will
!, Granted pSe-emptions in such cases
~ @ essn @c;tizens, itexcluded these foreigner
Tvi Vvbv vf had this change been proposed IN 0
.o,sied @ 1oiic5 r He had Observed Win 7
y sysi gyst that attempts were now extensive !,
vi lsss,na Throughout the country 70 excl
Ss lnSss vas called a native American leell
Mn; .;s.t skose who had come from ioIelt
80 a. nafticipate In Inc blessings VI %