The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-11
Memorial No. 81

lhtJDDflAl NJ. D.
MEMORIAL TO Congress In Relation TO Public
Lands.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives in Congress Assembled:
Your memorialisis, the Senate and House OF
Representatives the state Of Minnesota, re-
spectfully represent that whereas the pI osperl.
~ and growth of the great west depend mainly
upon the development and maturity OF It's az
rcutnral resources. the greatest liberality
should be extended 20 those WHO viii occupy
and cultivate our soil, not only in procuring u
tie thereto. but IN enabling them 20 cultivate
the -smc scientifically aud with tie greatest
degree OF success,
Speculation in the public lands. although not
in itself immoral, long experience has shown
10 be detrimental to the interest OF the great
mass OF the people, and that il il the duty OF
Congress 10 protect them, az much as may be,
against land monopoly, and in the primary dis
position Of the public domain, to place the
same IN limited quantities IN the Possession OF
actual aud bona iidc settlers, to be permanent
ly occupied and cultivated, which object the
legislation heretofore had granting the right Of
pre- .empti0n, has failed TO a great extent to sc
cure.
Although the greater portion Of the pre-
empted land has been secured in good faith for
the homes OF the settlers, yet, the pre- emption
laws have been q fruitful source of perjury,
aud large quantity OF land preempted IN
Minnesota and the adjoining states, has been
solely Tor the purposes Of immediate sale and
the same having passed into the hands OF spec
ulators, Ii wild and upcutivated as when first
discovered. The demand OF one dollar and
twenty five cents per acre IL really aud ptactic-
ally tax upon the producer for the privilege
of cnltvating the soil and many of the pre-
emptors in some portions Of this and adjacent
States have been obliged to hire the money to
pay for their claims at three and four per cent.
a month interest, who are now struggling TO
support their families, erect buildings, and open
up their farms, and meet these exorbtant rates
of interest. This tax IL, 50 far, discouraging
rather than fostering and protecting the agri-
cultural interest Of the country, the fountain
which supplies every channel Of Industry, and
constitutes the real and principal wealth Of the
nation.
While large appropriations have been made
for Naval and Custom House establishments
and for Military Academies and Colleges, and
extensive grants OF land have been made for
the improvement of rivers and harbors, for rail
road purposes, aud the like, yet but little or
nothing has been done to aid the farmers and
promote the interests Of agriculture. and Tor the
practical and industrial education of the peo
pie.
Your emorialists. therefore. pray that lib.
eral grantsof land may be made to this State
ana to others similarly situated. to aid IN estab
fishing and maintaining an agricultural College;
and also that a law may be passed at an early
day, securing to every person who viii settle
upon and occupy 4ne hundred and sixty acres
Of land for five yoks and have forty acres Of
the same. at the end Of that time, under good
cultivation. the right and power 10 purchase
the same at price not exceeding the actual
cost and expense of survey and transfer.
GEORGE BRADLEY.
Speaker pro TEN Of the II. Of Il.
RlCuARD q. MrRPuY,
Pre-iden. pro TEN OF the Senate.
Approved January 20, lS5s.
CHAs. l.. CHASE, Acting Governor.
SECRETARY OFFICE, Minnesota,
January 20. ls5,.
hereby certify the foregoing TO be a true
copy of the original on file in this Office.
CuAs. l.. CHASE, Secretary.