The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-10
Land sales Ia MtanesOsa.

/ ~ hlil Hs vi hhecE pcLVcfA
Mr.. EDlroR: In u number OF your val
liable paper few weeks back. you invited
communications, which !, as citizen and
subscriber, avail myself Of aud may occa-
sionaly ask the use OF your paper to COM
municate with your numerous readers.
was ioreibly struck by reading the pro-
cccdings Of u meeting lately held in Ancka
county on the subject of condung the sale
of the public lands in this State TO actual
occupants, at which meeting Hon. JAMES
SrARkEY, OF Ramsey county, was called Tor
and whose speech is given in the proceedings.
1t is rather novel proceeding at this day,
to see Mr.. SrARKKy and other Minnesotians
take the ground assumed by the speech OF
that gentleman he appears to have holy
horror at the idea Of any body but an actu-
al settler becoming the purchaser Of the
public lands. believe, also, ifmy memory
serves me- that the last Legislature passed =
resolution, requesting the President to with.
hold from sale any OF the public lands Of this
State, to any but actual settlers. believe
also, this same Mr.. STARKEr was . member
Of that body. This might have oil been well
enough il il had not been Tor another act
Of that same Legislature. II my memory
serves me, that same body that passed a
resolution requesting the President OF the
United States to withhold from sale the
lands to any but actual settlers, Chartered
what is called the Dakota Land Company,
whose avowed and only purpose was to
speculation torn ntcs and public lands. They
chartered this company and gave them by
this class legislation, ereiu"x privileges,
whereby they might take up and occupy oil
the best SITES and lands 10 the new Territory
of Dakota and elsewhere. or this think
the very worst species Of land speculation.
I'VE have to suppress portion OF the
communication. which though exceedingly
witty. relates to questions of private bust.
ness, which are not proper subjects Of news
paper correspondence.
venture the prediction that there was
not one IN ten Of that honorable Leg
islaturc, but who are now or have been
largely engaged in land and town lot spec
ulation, and ii may be that some OF these
gentlemen have large quantities Of wild
lands on hand, and II every other person can
be prevented by law, or by the action Of the
President, from purchasing the government
lands, except they are actual residents, they
will then enjoy q complete monopoly, a.
every person, other than an actual settler,
will be compelled to purchase Of those who
have laLds TO sell and If the government
refuses TO sell but to class. they may drive
a good bargain with any person wishing to
buy farm Tor bis sons, some OF whom have
no. yet become Of age, aud others not ye,
ready TO come TO the West. We all know
that there are Thousands Of heads Of families
in the East who wish 70 purchase lands on
the rich prairies Of the West, that 10 time
they may set,le themselves and their child
rem upon, but are not now ready 10 do ~.
have been taught TO believe in the Dem
ocraiic doctrine OF equal rights, that the
public lands are the property alike oi al I;
and If one man wants leo or 1000 acres o'
land BE- ha. as good RICH, 10 purchase il.
and il is not in the province OF any man 10
ask whether be is going to make a stock
farm or plant It III corn and make whsksy,
or raise pots,ot8--ard whether he will do It
this or next year.
But if the doctrinc "a held that man has
no natural rigI, 10 hold land uules he works
or occupies It, why not restrict him 10 town
lots AID houses, 10 cattle or other rock. II
man cbooss 10 live In town or city, Why
not restrict him to one lot aud on" bouse--
Why no; say be shah not own 30 Or 1000
head Of cattle, hogs or sheep b. cannot ca,
or use them all, bot be can, say they. s@iI BIZ
rLfDi4ss % f3b w nv sNtbs hbt WITH Hf's
or goyunneot attempts his s0rt Of guar
4iarship over o4r pnvap concerns. To J are
,rsnsgraSng the D,mocratic G0ctr 10 prsc-
t.-s1 ~ TnozAs JiiTER-os ;" equal AID
exact justice 70 all exclusive priv "g's q
nOte"
Again. tLefe are LIaifod. Of msu % I'll,
STATE Sho have. undsr til pfe-eGp.!on iaw,
nacs AL proved up ,Leir claims - 100
ac,., AID a'erssrd, have soA out 10 b.G,G
llnf condition, which iLey Lad . periec
night y 10 4saer the lax and if tn. c1c.a
.ye pory prevail, they caa Levet owI
another farm except compei,od To buy from