I do not desire to take up the time of the Senate with a long discussion of these propositions. but I want simply to present in behalf of the people of the State in which I live and which I in part represent a protest against the enactment of legislation that would authorize the leasing out of the public lands which have been free to the settlers of the country from the time of the first settlement at Jamestown and since the landing of the pilgrims in Massachusetts. All through the New England. Middle. and Southern States they have enjoyed the privilege of feeding their animals upon the public lands and of cutting down such timber as they needed in the development of their farms and the building up of their towns. and when the tide of emigration flowed out beyond the Allegheny Mountains into western Pennsylvania. into Ohio and over into Indiana and Illinois. and across the Mississippi River into Iowa and Missouri. and out over the plains to the Rocky Mountains. whither the tide was led afterthe discovery of gold. the pioneer and the settler have never been denied this privilege. In my opinion. it is a proper inducement and encouragement to the settler to allow him the privilege. and why at this late day should we come in and deny it to those living in the far West. where more than anywhere else it is appreciated and enjoyed and is essential for the opening up and building up of the country? Mr.
Keywords matched
emigration