New-York daily tribune., 1858-08-23
rnvm NEBRASKA.
GREAT LAND SALE.

Correspondence Of The n. Y Tribune
NEBRASKA CITY, n. I Aug, 6, 1853.
The 9th day of September next is to witness the
greatest curse that could possibly Do fastened upon
the people Of this Territory.
On that day are to be offered at public sale
2 OOO OOO acres of the choicest lands in this Terri
tory and from that day Nebraska is crippled, her
progress checked, her people ruined. The osten-
sibe reason for this is tie necessity Of repenshing
the Treasury, but glance at the figures shows the
absurdity of this at once. Less than five per celt
of the lands entered at our land Offices are vsd for
in cash, and the sudden advance IL tie price of land
warrants shows colclusiyelv .iaat the Government
will receive little aid irn.h these sales.
Our wbJle land system is wrong. Even the pre-.
emptiou law, which was intended for the benefit Of
the actual settler, is defective in many important
points. The actual settler is now REQUIRED to pay
for his land within given period of time that Is,
before the public sales take place and this provi
sion of the law is now depressing our people more
| than all else.
Could they be allowed the privilege of proving up
their pretmption rights before the sales and not be
compelled TO enter their land for FIVE years there
after it would afford great relief. There are now
1000 quarter sections in this land district on which
pretmption claims have been filed, and at least
many struggling pioneer will see his hard.earned
improvements swept from him BY some ayarcious
speculator whose blood should be the penalty for
such an act.
No public sale Of lands should ever take place;
for il is in these that the evil Of our present
system exists. Whatever there may be Of spec!-
lation in the disposal of our public domain
belongs exclusively to the pioneer, for every
pioneer is specuatOr in q democratic way and
the proceeds Of his labor should 60 TO enrich him
and not the nonresident nabob Who has bought up
all the lands in his neigbboIhood.
Stop all public sales and give each actual settler
time to make enough out Of the soil t. pay At,
and let him receive tie exclusive benefit OF h.s Ia
Dor, and there would be some show OF justice. l. M'
would be democratic, aud the Government WouI1 %
the gamer by il.
II is now Just four years since the surveys we're
made. and but small portion OF our lands nave
been taken I'D by settlers, and now 10 throw open
the flood. gates OF speculation and keep OUT tAe
needy emigrant is a great wrong, Il not crime
The President gave us assurances IN MS inaugural al
dress that the lands should not be sold during MS al
minstraton. aud vet within fifteen months from tAas
time he nficts an injury upon Us greater thal TIA.
he attempted upon Kansas
We eposed confidence in bis promises, and ex.
pended all our means in improving our farms Little
dreaming that we should 60 soon be called upon to
witness the fssehood Of one who should have gwen
US the protection which was wI!h!a bis power, aal
which i was his duty TO grant
The actual settler who comes here nov must come
expecting to find the greedy Spectator watching
every movement and ready TO pOulce upon every
vacant acre near bis new home.
He will come hoping 70 be able TO as.st MS neisu
bors in building schoohouses and churches for tae
education and refinement Of hi. children, ba; ne
viii find himself alone in these enterprises. ll9
speculator has robbed him Of these privileges, aAa
his home must remain in the midst OF wIloetnes'
until the lands will sell for three or four 1mes 'ae
original cost
Let the next Congress pass the Oll in.,9aSeea "
of which have spoken viii be obvisted. Could
your Eastern member, but fully understand t1s
wsn.s of the West, speculs.iou' IN l,nds would
cease. 'eSi"N'