The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-25

the amount of the tax, would be deemed
an outrage but the same thing, in sub
stance, is often accomplished unobserved,
by grants of corporate and other special
privileges. In the exercise OF those pri.
vilcges, great number of people become
dependent on few, and that number IN.
creases as these privileges are increased
and as population advances. The final
consequence is reduction of the price Of
labor, unit, rs in other countries, the
greater portion of the laboring class, only
able TO procure the bare means of subsist.
ence, are doomed to hopeless poverty
and perpetual dependence. Presumption
laws not only serve to check this tenden.
cy of the many special privileges already
existing in our country, but afford also
relief against the evils which are thus
produced. If wages become so low as to
afford no profit TO the laboror beyond a
bare subsistence, he can, at any time, not
only deliver himself from a condition so
dispiritlng, but become an independent
farmer by settling on the vacant lands OF
the West. A few years of industry and
economy will enable him to pay for a
small tract, and acquire the means of liv-
ing comfortably, educating his children,
aud establishing them respectfully in the
world.
In counteracting, therefore, the effects
of monopolies, as they operate unfayora-
bly, upon the working classes, look upon
pre-emption laws as a valuable cxpedient.
But it is not in this point of view alone
that laws of this character deserve to be
favorably regarded. The pre-emptioner,
after having occupied, for short period,
the land on which he enters, and made it
productive by his labor, pays for it the
Government price of one dollar and twen-
ty-five cents per acre. The results of
many years experience show that this is
equal, or nearly so, to the average amount
actually received by the Government for
all It's lands, however sold, excluding,
perhaps, from the calculation, the sales of
brief seasons of great mutations of the cur
rency and eXtravagant speculation, like
those of 1919 and 1896. These moneys
are paid into the National Treasury, and
exoncrate the people of all the states from
taxes to an amount greater by two or
three per cent. than that received for the
lands, being the difference in the expenses
of collection. Whilst the people of the
old states thus receive a fair equivalent
for their interest i'll these lands, the states
in which they are situated receive also
additional advantages, without prejudice
to the former. Presenting, as the new
states are thus enabled to do, place of
refuge and comfortable home to the
laborious and unfortunate of every state
and country, their numbers increase with
astonishing rapidity, and constitute the
chief element Of states prosperity
an industrious, independent, and virtuous
population. The regret which some in
the old states might otherwise feel On ac-
count of the withdrawal of manv of their
inhabitants, will be assuaged by the re-
Election that the cmigrants are, generally,
bone of their bone, and flesh of their
flesh, bound to them by lmumerablc and
indissoluble ties, and that, as commune
ties, they can never have a higher politi-
cal interest than TO assist us i'll raising our
common country TO that elevated position
in the family Of nations, which she is
we trust, under the providence of God,
destined to occupy. The justification Of
this anticipation depends, in no inconsid
cradle degree, upon the manner i'll which
the public domain is disposed of by Con
gress. 1t may, unfortunately, pursue
such a policy as shall tend to yes, large
tracts of public lands in the hands of ;
few, and prevent that distribution of then
among the many, which is most congenia
with Republican Institutions.
Your third, fourth, and fifth questions
relate to my course in regard to the RICH
of suffrage in the New York State Con
vention. Although your inquiries are
made to refer to few specific points OH
ly, ] do you the justice to believe that il
will be more agreeable, as it certainly
must be more useful, TO be informed o
the ground occupied by me, with tho
reasons for 1t, upon every material ques
ton that arose in that body upon the
vitality important subject of the elective
franchise. 1t was my intention 10 pre-
pare a statement containing such informa
tion for you, and | have for some time
been waiting for the requisite intermssior
! in my unavoidable official dniies. 10 ena