The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-10
Tbt Gmiqraut Sin 9uurnul,
CITY OF ~NaNINCER. Dakota Co.. M. r.
WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY 10, 1851

The Public Domain should be free to actual settlers ;
this fact is forced on the attention of all familiar with
the West and its wants; so it is on those who associate
with the struggling and over-crowded laborers at the
East, and also on the political economist of this ccun-
try. Each and all of these parties have alphabetically
declared that by opening this domain TO tnc needy, free
Of & arge, it would largely benefit the whole country over
ali that its sale now realizes, and would directly benefit
the West to an untold degree. In this declaration the
people of the North and West have conceded, and now
why is it not done?
Ii has lately been announced that the public lands Of
Iowa and Minnesota, not heretofore offered, are to be
sold the next summer sometime, in order to meet the
deficiencies Of the national treasury. We thought on
reading President Buchanan's message, that in its re-
ference to the public lands and to the settlers thereon,
that under his administration the subject would at last
be happily adj usted, and blessings Aow in upon many a
struggling community. But the above announcement
shows the >pirit of him who killed the goose that laid
the golden Eggs. 1t would be impossible to portray
the misery that must come upon thousands of pre-emp-
ton claimants thus to be suddenly compelled to pay for
their lands within u few months. Such demands could
not De met in such times Of great distress for money,
and consequently they would be driven from their home
steais. In nine cases out of ten this would be the re-
suit. Our Legislature has forwarded u memorial to the
President demonstrating against it, and requesting him to
withhold the lands in thi, State from market. Eastern
Legislatures and Congressional representatives should
be zeaIously opposing the measure, AS an injury about
10 fall c~ru>hiugiy upon Persons many Of them lately from
their borders.
If our State Government would pay the General Gov
ornnent the five million dollars for its seventy million
acres Of public lands in this State, and then offer them
to al Mo would occupy and improve them, in amounts
not to exceed eighty acres, it would be better than loan
ing that amount as proposed to railroad companies. At
least fifty thousand extra settlers would be added to our
population this year, and in a year or two these same
roads would be built up from necessity, without such
help as is now sought being needed. Indirectly, too,
The State would get back her advances in full, before the
FIRST cent from the railroads would ever be returned.
Five million dollars is probably as much as the Fed
eral Government will ever net from the sales Of these
lands which, together with the indirect benefit it would
gain by it, should induce it to transfer its claims to
the State for this specified object.
No bills of doubtful morality would be needed to in.
duce emigration bither, if this measure were adopted -;
aud the debt would be pa'ry and insignificant when
compared to the immense resources 1t would create from
which it would forever draw, not only to pay the fr>t
Advancement, but to pay all subsequent Indebtedness.
The imagination tires in trying to enumerate and est
mate the grand effects to follow such az step as this :
the most insignificant hamlet would grow to be a town,
and our towns rise into cities the mechanic aud artlzan
would be brought side and side with the farmer. and no
one would need be puzzlng himself how a market was
to be found for our produce the school and the church
would be seen from every hill, and their attending bles'
sings ditFuse more JOY even than the wealth of houses
and lands. Railroads and telegraphs would net the
face of the country; and factories and shops be employ
ing the immense natural power, now almost entirely
wasted On all of our thou sand streams, in providing Us
conyeniences and luxures of life. Why would 1t not
Is it not the theory of Free Homes for Free Men which
we have long protested to believe? We do not see
how all this and more than all this, would fail of being
ualiz,d, with the sum that is proposed being sunk II
a few railroad Ct operations which may never build an,
Of their roads.