The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-27
Disgraceful Row at q Sale of School
Lands.
From the Owatonna Plaindealer, Nov. 10.

"A OlSGraCeIul scene occurred IaSC Odt-
urday, in front of the Treasurer's Office,
during the public sale of the School Lands
in this county. The facts as near as could
be gathered were as follows:
Robert Davis was living on part of
section SO, in this township. When the
land was put up for sale Bob Davis bid
on the land, and A. Chambers bid against
him, until it was run up to So per acre,
So per acre above the appraisal. When
A. Chambers came out of the office, Bob
Davis struck him on the face, whereupon
A. Chambers turned and knocked him
down, which caused the blood to flow
from his nostrils. A. Chambers then
walked down to the store of B. Chambers.
Bob. gathered from the blow and started
after him in about ten minutes, with some
twenty more, probably for new fight.
Bob opened the door for the purpose of
whipping Chambers, as he said, who took
up an iron poker and ordered him out,
and told him and others he would break
their heads if they attempted to touch him
in his own house. Some four or five grab
bed the poker to get it away and pulled
him into the street where quite SQUAD
BILE took place, but finally ended without
any serious damage.
The offence claimed by Bob, was that
Chambers had bid against him on the
school land he then occupied, and was sus-
tanned by nearly all who had located on
the school lands of the county, and some
others. We would be as unwilling as any
other class of persons to take from any
settler on those lands any legal or moral
right to which they are entitled, and we
claim no more for others. When the
lands of this territory were surveyed the
18th and seth sections in every township
were appropriated for the establishing of a
school fund to educate the children of the
State. These sections were not open for
presumption or settlement like the other
lands in each township, and any person
settling on them done so at their peril, and
liable to be dispossessed at any time, at
the pleasure of the people of the State.
Many people, however, did in view of
all these facts settle upon them and all
of them made more or less improve
ments. A large majority of these people
traffic in them by selling their right and
improvements, as much as though they
had located on land to which they were
entitled. This state of things continued
for some years, and when the State wanted
to sell these lands for the purpose of rails
ing fund for schooling the children of the
State, many were found upon them, and
then the question for the first time arose,
what shall be done with them? Many
plans were suggested, and finally all par
ties consented that the following plan was
just and honorable to the occupant, viz:
That the lands and improvements should
be appraised by three disinterested per-
sons. and then the lands should be put up
at auction, and struck off to the highest
bidder, and should any one bid off the
land who did not live on it, he should pay
to the occupant the amount of improve
ments assessed in current money.
All were of opinion that the settler
had the best of the bargain, because he
had not as much money to invest as his
neighbor, should he bid off the land. To
this transaction both parties claimed them
selves to be perfectly satisfied. But now
some persons claim that it is unbecoming
for any one to bid on these lands against
the occupant. If this is 50, what moral
right has the State to advertise these lands
for sale at public auctionl It does the oc-
cupant no injustice, for he has received pay
for all he has done on the premises, and
had the use of the land for nothing. The
State, by paying them for all the improve
ments they have made, considers them no
more entitled to the land than any other
citizen, and placed upon the same level.
The object of the Government in Offering
these lands at public sale is to increase the
school fund of the State to such IN
amount that general schools may be
permanently established throughout our
domain. Are not all equally in
terested in having these lands sold,
80 they will bring the greatest possible
amount of revenue into the school fund
All who have any interest for the diffusion
of general intelligence among the masses,
and desire to make our children what In
finite Wisdom designed them for, can but
feel that the course pursued by our State
rulers toward the settlers on our school
lands, has been generous and magnan-
imous.
Now, in view of all these facts, is it not
apparent that there is q sickly sympathy
created by some in their behalf; and can
not men be allowed to bid on these lands
without subjecting themselves to mob
riolence? Shall they, in consequence Of
this, receive the reproach and anathemas
of his neighbors and kinsmen? Is this
justice to those children who occupy these
lands? Is it justice to ourselves Is it
justice to our own offspring, and to the
race of man?
vigilant EXertions OF the English
Government to Prevent the Escape
of thu RAhAI Rama