St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-01-20
Proposed Land Sales in Mime
sofa this Year.

sofa this Year.
We have heard it intimated by those
who ought to know, that the Government
designs bringing the public lands Of
Minnesota into market some time during
the present year. Although We presume
there is, as yet, nothing official to justify
this intimation, still we have heard the
rumor mentioned by the land officers al!
Cambridge, and by others wEo may be
supposed in some degree to understand
the intentions Of the Department at
Washington. ~..,.. .
Immediately upon the accession Of Mr..
Buchanan to the Presidency, it was given
out by his friends that the pol:cy Of his
administration would be to have no public
land sales whatever; to keep the lands
open for actual setalers, and not to open
the door to the old system by which thou
sands Of acres Of the best lands fall a
prey at every sale to the nonresident and
nol.-improving Spectator. This PROPOSE
ton was hailed with delight by every
Western man who has at heart the welfare
OF the adventurous and cnterprising pio-
necr settler, and the rapid settlement and
development OF our fertile wild acres. 10
make sure Of securing this chicacious poll
cy as = permanent one, Hon. Galusha A.
Grow, Of Pennsylvania, who spent several
months in Minnesota and Dakota during
the spring and summer of 1857, and be-
came thoroughly acquainted with the ill.,
terests and wants Of the settlers, introduce
ed bill in the House Of Representatives
during the last session of Congress, pro-
viding that no public sale of lands should
take place for a long period of years after
the same had been surveyed and thrown
open to the actual settlers. But the ad-
ADMINISTRATION having changed its views,
perhaps, on this question OF vital Western
interest, the bill met with such opposition
that it failed to become law. We now
observe that large tracts ct land are pro-
claimed for sale by the President in the
counties OF. Wisconsin adjacent to bIinne-
sofa; and it might be presumed from this
fact alone, were their no other evidence at
hand, that our turn will come next.
We can conceive Of no greater CALAMITY
that could possibly overtake those WHO
have settled upon the public lands of
Minnesota, and have not yet proved up
their prescriptions, than would attend the
bringing of these lands into market the
present year. The settlers have felt the
effects Of the late money panic more than
any other class Of our people. In fact,
they are still feeling it in the most sensi-
bic manner. They generally came to the
State poor, and arc still poor. Even those
who have raised surplus the past year,
have beer unable to sell al remuneratiye
prices, Or perhaps to sell at all, owing to
the scarcity Vi u4vl4ey. Hundreds OF
them would he compelled to abandon
their homes or mortgage them at ruinous
rates OF interest, t. raise money to enter
them. In fact, general distress and ruin
must be the result in all the newly settled
districts, if land sales arc forced during
the present year.
We know the government through its
extravaganza and ruinous tariff policy, has
become bankrupt, and Must have money
But the amount OF coin that would be r.
ceived at the land Offices, were every acre
in Minnesota bid off to-day, would indeed
be very small. The Government at least
would only exchange it's lands in exiting
uishment OF a portion Of the immense
floating debt it has out in the shape OF
land warrants. But even if gold and sill
ycr were received for every acre that
would be sold, the receipts would be a
mere drop in the bucket in comparison
with the amount that must lie raised the
next year. A resort to further borrowing
or a change OF the tariff is inevitable, even
with all the revenue that CAD be raised
from the lands by the most widely dit1used
and sc aeral sales. Why then disturb the
settlers in their present state Of poverty
Why not wait year Or two, until money
becomes more plenty, and the resources OF
the country are opened by our railroad
system? Farmers will then have a cash
market at their doors for their produce, at
high prices, and will be full handed to pay
for their lands, without feeling the de-
mand OF the government to be a burden.
We notice with pleasure that tho set
tiers upon the public lands are beginning
to move in this important matter. One
meeting has been held already at Column
bus, Anoka County, to take measures to
induce the Governmen to withhold the
lands from sale at present. We hope to
hear from other quarters, and trust that
public opinion in all parts Of the State
will be brought to bear in such a manner
that the desired policy will be adopted at
Washington Let our Senators and Rep
resentatlves attend to it in time St.
Paul r. mes.
A Meeting has been called at the Ev.
erett School House on Saturday evening
next, to protest against this plan Of raising
money! to meet the extravarant demand