The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-18
A Charge Rs Qwirsd.

I hDDtbsT sfd-pI ouI pUfcIHUleNt iaflu IN
| Minnesota is to brought into market. The
quantity that will he thus disposed Of will
amount to about seven millions OF acres.
| The probabilities are that about two mil
| lions Of acres will be pre-empted by actual
settler previous to the land sales, which will
/ leave balance OF five millions 10 be dis
| posed Of at auction. Out Of this FIVE mil
lion, II is pretty sale to estimate that not
| over d million and half will be purchased
at the sales, leaving three and half millions
Of acres, or one half Of all the lands that
! will be thrown into market, To be covered
| with land warrants, or else to be d sposed OF
| IN land grants for either railroad or State
| purposes, or 10 90 into the hands Of specu-
lators to the prejudice Of those who wish 10
! time 10 lie actual settlers On the land, and
would during the next year or two make
claims and cultivate the soil had they the
wherewith TO pay the government for the
| land.
There can be no doubt but what the pre-
sent presumption laws have been the source
OF good deal Of benefit to the people Of
West, and they are good AS far AZ they 60
But they TALL short Of what is required by
the West AZ this time.
The present practice Of the Government
is TO receive all OF the money down for the
lands they sell This is the change We now
require: The public good demands that the
lands should be sold hereafter in such u way
as TO enable those residing on them az
squattcrs 10 purchase their homes by
paying part down, and the balance Of the
purchase money IN annual instruments at u
reasonable rate Of interest, secured by mort
gage. II this course could be adopted by
the Government, the West would rapidly
settle up with an cnterprising people from
New England and the Middle States, and it
would have a tendency 10 prevent the land
from getting into the hands Of the specula-
tors, and would at the same time enable the
Government 10 get back portion or all Of
the interest money that is bting paid now
on the loans the Administration has been
obliged 10 make during the past year.
That such II law would he passed by Con
gress this winter is reasonable, and We can.
not see any Objection that could be made 10
the premises. The Government would be
benefited by the change. Suppose the
lands come into market next year, IA in
tended by the Government, under the pres
ent regulation for the disposition Of the pub.
lie lands. What will be the consequence
In the first place, many Of the settlers will
bc oblige, to loan either und.warrnnts, or
gold and silver Mt an interest OF three per
tcn, il month. to pay for their homes. A
d,bt will thus be- contracted that will take
years of hard work for thciQ,t to cancel The
! Government will not be the recipient OF a
great benefit because two-thir,iS OF tn lands
will bc purchased by land warrants, which
! will leave the Unit,d States Treasury as
pennil,ss ~ il ia now.
In the second place, all Of the best laEdS
that ARE not at the time Of the sale occupied
by settlers. viii 90 into the hands OF land
, sharks, who will rctard the growth Of the
State and proven, those from purchasing
the land vi no would settle on it immediate.
IS il they could obtain portion OF It on
credit.
o. course, opposition would be made TO
the pa. sage of such "A law. by spectators
aud those who have large number Of land
warrants on hand To sell. but We take Il that
the Interests ut the pyopIo--o t the toliuR
millions Should be cagcd ior III preference
to land pirates
Many aud many Grc the me hanics ia the
Fast aud laborcl. and w0rkmcn in factories
that haze b,en tol.Ing TOR years to lay mp
snllici,ut moucy To- cmigratc West aud par.
chase piece oi laud from the Government
to make honc They could, by paying
part down tor the homestead, come lmme-
dately West, and commence their Improve
ncnts and ralsc enough from their farms 10
support their amllIes.lud make a small pay
mcnt Of the principal and alt OF the interest
every year
We have a, present, AMI wiIl bayo during
the next spring. probably twenty thousand
lthorrrs on The railroads IN proc - Of cree
ton in this STATE. Should such lav be
passed, il is probable tha, q, least one half
of those operators would make claims and
become permanent settlers IN Minnesota.
lltrr ten thousand farmers ould In mAnu-
Iac,urcd "A, once Tor Minnesota. They will
he enabled 10 save enough OF their wages 70
make commencement. and the Govern
mtnt by selling their land on cr,siIt viii
hold ont Inducements Tor them TO settle
down ON farm. where IN a lew years they
viii be surrounded with all the nectSslrics
and comforts Of life We will say in con.
c!u>ioa that what is applicable to Minnesota
on this subject may be said of every new
Western State Gi,nos Register.
\" I"tsr,ia.d Drm0,,auc Edi,or--Th-
tI.s, tard piaind..isr
In recent prospectus the indomi'ablc
GRAY, of the Cleveland pl.,uioll,r. who
was too gocl a p1mpcra, 10 sui, the cabal
at Washington thus di,cyur>c,:
Tie editor Of the i'ln8sa'5r. neither lead.
dauntei, or discouraged, presents again his
annual comPllm,n's to the people ct The
United States. AMI ASKS i continuance nt