Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-08-07


Gates contemplated by the present meas
ure, the effect of which would be TO trans
fer 70 non resident proprietors large bodies
ofthe public domaih." f" i'''''s ''-','''f-
That, cir is The aptboritative statement
Of Com mmissiopioner Wilson, whose judg.
ment, experience, and familiarity with the
whole subject no one will question. That
these certificates would be assignabie there
can scarcely be single doubt. The great
body Of our soldiers need their bounty
now, and not the promise Of it at some
time in the uncertain future: and If the
relative handful of the soldiers of our
Mexican war we're strong enough to carry
bill through Congress making their
warrants assikbable, il is quite certain
the like thing would happen now at the
bidding OF the hosts who would demand ".
Indeed, i believe some of the friends of
the bill do not disguise the fact that ul.
timately these certificates are to become
sssignable by law, so that the holders Of
them may realize their value 10 money.
What, then, would be the effect Of such
legislation, both as TO the soldier aud the
public domain? Mr.. Wilson, 10 the let
ter have quoted, says that not one in
FIVE hundred OF the Mexican war land
warrants were located by the soldiers or.
for their use and benefit, and that not to
exceed ten per cent. Of them have been
used by preemptors as assignees In pay
ment for actual settlements, the most part
having been used by persons to acquire
title to the public lands for speculative
purposes. He predicts very naturally the
same mischievous results FROM the present
bill should il become law. But | ask
particular attention TO the following addi
tioual facts which / copy from the care
fully prepared report OF the House Com
miiiee on Public Lands already referred
TO:
"At the close OF the last fiscal year there
remained outstanding ffty three thousand
nine hundred aud twelve military bounty.
land warrants, issued under various acts
Of Congress, calling for the aggregate
quantity Of five million six hundred and
three thousand two hundred and twenty
acres. These warrants are selling at about
one dollar per acre. Under the sgrieul-
tural college act Of 1862 scrip has been
issued to non-public land holding States
to the amount OF Ave million three hund-
red and forty acres; and when the States
Of the South shall have received their
shares under the act, the whole amount Of
land covered by II will be niue million
six hundred thousand acres. This will
be the subject OF monopoly 10 the hands
OF spectators, and the price Of the scrip
will depend, 20 a considerable extent, up
on tho quantity OF Il 10 marke, aud Of the
INDICATED military bounty warrants
The price has generally ranged from sixty
10 seventy cents per acre, but has some
l.limes gone much lower. As further af.
iecling the price OF warrants and scrip Il
should bo remembered that over forty
three million acres Of "swamp aud over
flowed lands" have been granted by Con.
gress 10 the States, more than one-half Of
which is probably Ia the hands OF monop.
olisls; that about Two hundred millions Of
acres have been granted to aid In build.
ing railroads aud for other purposes Of
internal improvements thus inauguraiing
further sna fearful monopoIies Of tho pub
lie domain; aud that millions Of acres OF
Indian lands. by virtue Of the most per-
nicivus treaty stipulations, are ialling into
the hands OF monopolists, thus still FUR
ther aggravstiug the wide spread evils
long since Inflicted upon the country by
the ruinous policy OF land speculation.
livery day gives birth TO some new scheme
Of monopoly by which the paramount
right OF the people 10 homes on the pub
lie domain Is abridged or denied, snd its
productive wealth seriously retarded, and
no QUE will need be told that, should this
policy be continued. the opportunities OF
settlen.ent and iillnge under the preemp
iion and homestead laws must constantly
diminish" e.n fa El ila1 eat
Mr. Chairman, ask gentlemen TO keep
these facts in remembrance IN considering
the effect Of this measure upon the soldier
| ask them 10 remember the present. price
of college scrip, the quantity of which is
yet 10 be almost doubled aud which at
Que time sold ss low as thirly.seven aud n
halt cents per ucre. Let them beur ia
mipd the amount OF old bounty Iaud war
rants yet outstanding, and the stupendous
monopoly Of the public domain which Is
going on in other directions aud threaten
ing to swallow IL up, and then ask them
selves what would be the effect oi putting
in the market from Que to two millions OF
assignabie certificates payable la laud.
Every man can answer this question for
himself, bat believe | am sale In saying
that the price would fall as low us twenty.
five cents per acre. Our Mexican land
wsrrsnts AZ one time sold at from thirty
five to forty cents per mere, aud this, II
must be remembered, was before the en-
actment Of the homestead hw, while the
quantity OF warrants was q small fraction
only OF that OF the certificates now pro-
posed to be issued. Tho Great Republic,
IN speaking Of this bill, says that "afier
paying notary and attorneys fees the
whole money value to the soldiers of such
grant would not exceed $50 900 900,
aud IL would bo hundred times bettor for
the country TO mako this payment Ia
money, aud thus leave the public domain
to the laboring masses. The veil thrown
over this hideous speculation Is too thin
~ cheat the soldiers OF citizens Of the
country. II should be stopped where IL
Is. IL further bounty Is TO be paid, let II
be honestly paid in money, aud thus close
the door against further speculations In
what is desigaed for, aud should be re-
served as, the homes Of tho industrious
millions
This Is from tho pen Of Judge Ed
monds, late Commissioners Of the General