Year: 1865

dent spectators. TINS class Ot 2eUpie
either in person or through their agents,
; flock around the new settlements, and
purchase large quantities of lands adj
joining or near the Homestsads Of actu.
al settlers, and hold them until the labor
and enterprise of the resident owners
have enhanced them greatly in value, and
thus reap large gains from the labor OF
those whom the law was intended TO pro-
teCt. ! therefore recommend that you
memorialize Congress, during your pres
ent session, 10 prohabh the sale of the
Public Lands to any except such as shall
make proof that they propose TO acquire
them for the purpose of actual settlements
and cultivation,


Intimately connected with this subject
is another. of vast consequence TO the
welfare and prosperity of the people Of
this Territory, which, in my Judgment.
has not here tofore sufficiently engaged
the attention of the reopIe. Irefer to
the tardy growth of many of our settle
menls on account Of the supposed deffi
cheney of timber. 1t is true that timber
is not as abundant 10. many parts of the
Territory as it is in many of the Wes-
tern States and yet there is more tim
Der in the settled portions of Nebraska
in proportion to area and surface than in
some of the most wealthy and powerful
States of Europe. But granting all lLa'
may be SAID on the subject of the scar
city of timber, have we no way by which
we can insure, at an early day, the set
Element and cultivation Of our large aud
fertile prairies and beautiful valleys 3
| think we have simply by the eI actment
of a general Herd Law for The Territory
Those who have already fenced their
lands. and are prepared to retain their
stock from running At large, need not be
damaged or effected by such law, while
all those who may thus cultivate their
lands without the expense of fencing.
could we'll afford to be taxed, 10 a small
amount, for herding their stock. The
experiment of herding stock has already
been tested in several portions Of the
Territory, with complete success. Stock
has been found to thrive much better
when regularly grozed and watered, and
much less per centage is lost by es,Fy-
ing and otherwise.


This subject Is, in my opinion. one
which claims your earnest and careful
consideration, and | therefore trust you
will give it that attention which its i'm
portance demands. / can think of no
other possible way by which you can dc
so much towards securing an early set
clement of our rich prairies an causing
them to be cultivated, as by securing
through Congress, all the Public Land:
to the actual settler, and enacting a gen
eral Herd Law.


During The progress of the present
war. many thousands Of the slaves of the
South, who nave, as a consequence OF the
war. been liberated frsm the hOnds oi
human slavery. have been thrown upon
the charities of our Government. They
must either have the necessaries of lie
furnished to them. or they must suffer.
Il was no fault of these people that they
we're held in bondage, and it certainly is
no fanlt of theirs that they are now free,
or that they come to US without money.
without property and without education.
Common humanity would say they should
be provided for. at least until they shall
be able 10 earn for themselves and their
families a comfortable support. The
general Government has done, and IS now
doing, much 10 give this relief; but many
OF the wise and benevolent people of
our country have thought it proper to
adopt some measures whereby the Gov
ernment may, TO some extent, be reliev-
ed. and at the same time these people be
protected and supplied with the peces-
sary comforts of life ! do not advise
the taxing of the people or the taking of
any funds directly from the Treasury for
this purpose. If, however, in your wis.
dom. you can devise any means whereby
suitable labor can be furnished them,
and an opportunity afforded them 10 earn
an honest support for themselves and
their families, It would bean act which,
doubt not, would NEE. the approval of
your intelligent and PhilspthrOPIc con-
stituency.


]. IS now abou, two years since the
Proclamation Of Emancipation was issued
and it has. l think, proven itself to be
not only humane. but wise prudent
and necessary measure.


The rebels have put our laws st def
ance-ihe very laws which we're intend
ed to protect their slave properly. and
have laughed to scorn and ,rampled un-
der foot The Constitution under which