Nebraska advertiser., 1858-08-19
WYREKA.
Settlers, Meeting.

the means or securing the pest interest
of the settlers in the event Of the non
postponement of the sales.
On motion of R. w. Furnas, John P.
Baker was called TO the chair, and E. d.
Allen appointed Secretary.
On motion, a Committee of five was
appointed TO draft resolutions expressive
of the sense of the meeting on the sub
ject of the approaching land sales.
R. ". Furnas, S. A. Chambers, F. A.
West and A. L. Coate were appointed
said committee.
During the absence of the committee,
the meeting was addressed by several
distinguished gentlemen, some from
abroad, among whom was Hon. Jas.
Craig, sympathising with the settlers in
the peculiar position in which they were
placed.
The committee. after a short absence,
reported, through their chairman, R. w.
Furnas, the following preamble and reso.
lutions which were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, The President of the United
States has by proclamation ordered a
portion of the lands in this Territory to
public sale on the 9th Of September next;
and
Whereas. Owing principally to the fin
ancial crisis, which has swept the entire
country the past twelve months, there are
very many actual settlers now unable to
procure the means whereby to pay for
their lands before the sales, and
Whereas, The result will further be,
that all vacant lands after the sales will
pass into the hands of nonresident opera
tors, which event cannot fail to result in
evil; in fact almost utter ruin TO our coun-
try, and
Whereas, Entertaining the opinions of
President Buchanan, as by himself ex-
pressed in his last Annual Message to
Congress, viz
"Our system for the disposal of the
public lands, origiI ating with the fathers
of the republic, has been improved as
experience pointed the way, and gradu-
ally adapted to the growth and settlement
of our western States and Territories. 1t
has worked we'll in practice, and whilst
the public lands, as a source of revenue,
are of great importance, their importance
is far greater in furnishing homeN for a
hardy and independent race of honest
and industrious citizens, who desire to
subdue and cultivate the soil. They
ought to be administered mainly with a
view Of promoting this wise and benerol-
ent policy.
"Speculation has of late years prevail
ed to u great extent in the public lands.
The consequence has been hat large por-
tions of them have become the property
of individuals and companies, and thus
the price is greatly enhanced to those
who desire TO purchase for actual settle,
ment. In order to limit the area of spe-
c~ulation as much as possible, the extinc.
ton of the Indian title and the extension
of the public surveys ought only to keeT
pace with the tide of emigration. Il
ought ever TO be our cardinal policy tc
reserve the public lands as much as posi-.
bic for actual settlers, and this at moder,
ate rates. We shall thus not only bes'
promote the prosperity of the new State:
and Territories, and the power of the
Union, but shall secure homes for ouI
posterity for many generations"
Therefore, be it
ReSOlUed, That even at as late a dav a:
the present, we entertain a hope tina
something may yet be done by the proper
authorities to avert what we are sure vii
result in greatly retarding the progress:
and Development of this country.
ResOtred, That it is the sense of thi:
meeting, founded upon personal knowl,
edge, that no event could occur tending
more seriously to prevent the future set.
Element of Nebraska, or act more oppres,
slvely upon the present settlers than the
public sales of lands.
Resolred, That-we humbly, yet earn.
estly ask a ~postponement of the sales Of
lands in Nebraska, more especially in the
Nemaha Land District for a space of a
least two years.
ReSolred, That to our certain knowledge
no petition has ever been publicly circuI-
ated in this Land District, asking for a
public sale of government lands.
ReSoIred, That the Hon. Jas. Craig,
now in this city, be requested to make an
effort in behalf of the settlers of this
Land District, by using his Influence to
secure a postponement of Land Sales.
ResoLred, That we recommend that set
tiers in this District, who are unable to
pre-empt their claims, form themselves
into associations, embracing whatever
amount of Territory to them may seem
best; that they choose one of their num-
Der as President, TO whom all shall report
their Games and description of their
lands at as early a day before the sales
as practicable that it shall be the duty
of said President to attend the land sales,
and when any tract of land of which he
has the description and name of occupant
is offered for sale, he shall announce or
cause to be announced the fact that such
tract is occupied by an actual settler who
IS unable TO pay for the same, and ask in
behalf of such settler that the land be
not bid upon, but be allowed to be return
ed as offered land.
Resotrsd, That a copy of these procee-
dings be sent each the President Of the
United States and the Secretary of the
Interior.