The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-02-11

lrrom lle Ne- York ssn.l

from TIE New ork san.
During the past two years the Sun
has devoted a great deal II space TO ex-
posures Of the atrociOus acts If injus-
tice committed upon settlers in the
West by the great Land hing, which,
under the present Administration, has
been securely intrenched in the Interior
Department
The operations Of this Ring, We're
they thoroughly understood BY the pub
lie, would alone afford sufficient reason
for the overthrow IF the Adminisira-
ton which has sanctioned them. Tn
der new and preposterous rulings, made
regardless Of Law and in defiance 81 all
precedent, the late Secretary Delano
and his active accomplish, Willis Drum
mond, Is Land Commissioner. assumed
the power, by their mere individual fiat,
To confiscate the property Of thousands
Of industrious citizens, and to give the
homes Of whole communities Of ener-
geiic pioneers into the hands of wealthy
land grabbers. This may seem an ex-
aggerated representation, 10 those who
are not acquainted with the facts; but
the truth j. that we have understated
the case. Indeed, we doubt whether
there are words in the English language
which can adequately express the enor-
nifty Of the wrongs inflicted upon hold
ers Of homestead and pre-emptIon rights
by Grants Administration.
IL is well known that Congress has
granted public lands 10 great number
Of railroad companies Congress has al
so passed laws for the sale Of public
lands 10 individuals under what are
known as the presumption and home
stead laws. Hundreds Of thousands of
citizens have awaited themselves If the
provisions Of these laws to purchase and
improve lands selected from the public
domain. and by their industry they
have added immensely, not only 10 the
value of the ground they have cult
waited and built upon. but likewise 10
that Of the unoccupied lands Of the Gov
eminent in their vicinity. Now. within
a few years the Interior Department has
set up the preposterous assertion that
Congress, in IL grants TO railroads, in
tended 20 give 10 them farms, home
steads, houses, and in some instances
whole counties occupied by thriving
communicable had bought and paid
for their lands, receiving complete IL
ties from the Government itself, In
short, the Interior Department has ar
rogated the power TO cancel the titles OF
settlers who have bought, paid for, and
improved their property, and 20 give
that property-improvem included
to railroad corporations, a n free
gift from the Government of the United
States This i the whole story, pre-
cisely as II i, a thousands Of unhappy
households in the West can testify from
bitter experience.
And now . bill has beeE brought be-
fore the United States Senate intended
to rectify in part these wrongs. by
confirming prescription and home
stead lands within the limits Of railroad
grants "in cases where such entries
have been made under the regulations
Of the Land Department" j, pro
viding that settlers who have lawfully
obtained homes under the prescription
and homestead laws may graciousIy be
permitted 10 keep them. Certainly,
American citizens have the right 20 eN-
pect at least the privileges accorded in
this hill But il has met with bitter OPP
position from the start. the most active
opponents II the bill being the most
prominent supporters Of Grants Admin.
istraiiOn Their names are Conkling,
Howe. Boutwell,, and Frelinghuysen
We do not think that this fact requires
any comment. Ii is one, however, Of
much significance.