The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-03-13
[FOr the News.
College Trustees VS.. Bona Eide
Settlers, again.

[For the News.
College Trustees VS.. Bona Eide
Settlers, again.
After general acknowledgment of the
frequent highly iattering personal aIlu-
sions-the argument Gd hO1aineH1-and the
suggestion that my friend forgets having
heretofore impaired to my faithful breast
all the important facts relating to the ques-
ton at issue, will proceed at once to sub
NIT his reasoning therefrom to the test of
Logic. Thus:
.'sThe Va. Military lands were The proper
ty of Government IN fee from 81 up to II /;
LANDS the property of Government in
fee were not subject to Presumption or
Homestead laws up to II;
Therefore," after 1871 settlers on Va.
Military lands should not have benefit of
Homestead laws.
Fallacious, the conclusion not necessarily
following from the premises. Again:
mo legal settlements on Va. Military
lands were possible up to 1870;
''Some settlements on Va. Military lands
were made prior to 1870;
Therefore" no settlers on Va. Military
lands should have benefit of Homestead
lawsI
Mr.. Trimble is thoroughly conversant
with his subject, and has stated the case
against the settler in its strongest aspect !;
showing the legal disabilities under which
the settlers formerly labored.
By his own statement, however, the illegal
status" of occupants of Va. Military lands
was not very clear, previous to the act of
Congress ceding the lands to the State. The
grant isupon the express condition that ''any
person who, at the time of the passage of
this act, (Feb. Is, 1s71) is bona Jide settler
on any portion Of said land, may hold not
exceeding 160 acres SO by him occupied, by
his pre-empting the same in such manner as
the Legislature of the State of Ohio may
direct" Here is an undeniable recognition
of settlers rights by Congress, and their
satisfaction is the price that Ohio pays the
Government for the residue of the lands.
Now, the Legislature, not being trammel-
ed like an ordinary court by legal technical
tiles, may and should execute the conditions
of the grant in accordance with equity. The
grant reserves ''pre-emption rights to oceu-
pants at date of passage" Equity says,
land homestead rights also, to any occupant
of five years continuous residence" Hence,
logically:
Some settlers on Va. Military lands have
acquired equitable homesteads thereon;
The Legislature takes jurisdiction of all
rights of settlers relative to said lands;
Therefore, the Legislature should secure
homesteads to some settlers thereon by law
use the word ''homesteads" to signify
whatever benefits are conferred upon actual
settlers by virtue of the U. s. homestead
laws.
So much for settlers rights in the ab-
stract, to which the Trustees would have the
argument restricted; but there are other con-
siderations not to be ignored.
How many families of settlers? Probably
45o. Allowing toeach family, makes 225O
souls. Can they pay for the land they occu-
py at 81 per acre? No. Why? Because
the land is poor, and the settlers are poor,
and they barely live. How many acres do
they occupy? At least 1000, if justice be
done. How many acres unoccupied? Prob
ably 40, O,0Oo-total &C, 600
Who is charged with the duty of setting
off the settlers lands? The College Trus-
tees.
Who controls the remainder after this has
been done? College Trustees.
Who gets the money arising from sales of
land to settlers and others? College Trus-
tees.
If the settlers are cheated, who gains
thereby? College Trustees. How-individ-
ually? No, the gain is for the benefit of the
College, of course.
How much money has the College at in
terest now? Nearly $5O0,OO
Does the College own any other property?
A farm near Columbus.
Anything else? Yes, the College build
ings, with farm, worth several hundred
thousands.
How did the College get its wealth? The
Government gave it nearly 900, 900 acres of
land, and the city of Columbus gave it
$500, 900.
Has the College any expectations? Yes,
more land from the Government
What more does it desire9 1t wants the
20, 900 acres occupied by settlers
Will it get them? Yes, provided the Leg
islature of Ohio SO directs.
What, in that event, would become of the
settlers? God knows!
Would not many of them become pau
pers? God knows!
Would not some of them be driven to
crime? God knows!
How did Ohio get this land? By gift from
the Government.
Any conditions? Yes, to direct pre-emp-
tons, and the manner of them.
How? So that each settler ''mGy hold not
exceeding $50 acres occupied by him."
Might they not hold by purchase? Yes,
if they could borrow the money for the first
What then? The Trustees would fore
close the mortgage for deferred payments.
What would the State gain by this trans
action? Ask the Trustees
If the settlers ''hold" the land, will the
College fail? Ask the Trustees.
If the College takes the land, will theset-
tiers fail? 1t is their only means of support.
Who are these settlers? Chiefly pioneer
hunters of Ohio and their descendants.
Is there any good reason for depriving
then, of their homesteads? Not any.
Would you vote to so deprive them? So
help me God, never!
Not even to save the College? Not even
10 save the College.
There are in all just 1861 questions to this
for each day in the year. Its
title is, Fair Trade and Settlers Rights.
If the Trustees entertain the notion that
hose who favor giving the public lands to
in limited quantities, are &C >uated
BY feelings of hostility to them or their fine
College, they are simply deceiving them
selves. The Trustees are honorable men,
and as such will shrink from the outrage
against humanity they we're unconsciously
about to perpetrate. Mr.. Trimble gener-
ously permits the settler to make that for
nidable affidavit required by thesupplemen-