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AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
facilitate, and hasten its progress to that maturity, which will enable it to become a member of the federal Union, upon an equal footing with the rest of the states, and for that purpose it appears to me very desirable that all proper encouragement should be given to emi- •grants, to ~ur country-the public surveying should be accelerated, the public land offered for· sale without delay, its price if possible reduced, and at all events to be sold in as small quantities as eighty acres, in order to accommodate that class of our citizens, who nre unable to pay for more. The opening of public roads, and establish- ing of public schools, upon such a plan as would render education attainable by the poor, as well as the rich, (for which the reserva- tions of land by the government are amply sufficient) would promote the present conven_ience of our population, and contribute greatly to its future increase. "\Vhatever may be the fute of the late proclamation of the Presi- dent of the United States which menaces with serious consequences the settlers upon public lands, I shall always think that neither justice, or policy, required that the people of this territory should be removed from lands which they had ameliorated by their labour, and defended by their bravery, before an opportunity of buying was afforded them; and indeed before they had received the pay which the government owes them for defending even the country itself, ngainst our savage enemies. I hope that kind providence will ward off the afilictive blow with which this class of our citizens are threat- ened, but should it be otherwise, they shall have my best exertions to -procure them the remedy which their case will imperiously call for, and believing the law upon which the proclamation issued to be unjust and unnecessary, as to the universality of its application, I shall be in favor of its total repeal, or of such a modification of it, at le·ast, as wm prevent a repetition of the evils at present, so ~reatly and so justly dreaded. These, and other regulations, such as establishing mail routs, and post offices,· &c. I believe would conduce to the interest of our ·country. But I do not wish it understood, that I pledge myself to effect all, or any part of the measures above enumerated, I only intended to state my opinion of ~heir propriety and utility, and my willingness, and determination to aid in promoting them, and any other objects of the public good. All that I can promise is, that so far as atten- tion to your interest, and zeal in the maintenance thereof, can supply the want of better talents, you shall have no cause to repent any confidence, with which you may honor me. • JOHN ScOOT. St. Louis, March 22d, 1816. [Addressed :] John Andrews Esq Big River
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