The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-08-10
From the baltimore sun.
ETrLING THE LAND.

We see it stated in Philadelphia paper, that be-
tween two and three hundred families OF Germans
have within the last SIX months settled ON the wild
land in Western Pennsylvania, and many others, TO
reigners and Americans, are about moving to these
fertile lands One association ot Germans about a
year ago pu chased 80 900 acres and have upwards of
hundred families living on them; all OF whom are
represented being very promising safe OF Incl
plent agricultural pro- perity. The lands said TO
be very productive, the country healthy, the titles
good, wood and water plenty, and good market we
recently somewhere 4 similar statement In Iela-
ton TO wholesale German emigration To some put OF
Virginia; aud then, as now we ielt disposed To adj
mire and appreciate the decision of the emigrants.-
They had ALL least most of them, resided long
enough in the country to know something OF It's civil
and social institutions modes of agriculture, business
&c; and not a few of them had lived long enough
in cites To become sick of them. Natives
of the county too, moved by similar views
and impulses, uniting IN the settlement the land
the promotion of agriculture and the advancement of
their own best interest. Many who for years have
followed vain shadows, now begin To look to
the soil the of prosperity and are betakng
themselves to the primitive innocent, and heathiul
occupation Of cultvatng the SOIL that they may par
take of its abundance. desire, too, is sprnging
up among those descriptions OF people, who have
hitherto looked to the States Of the West for
new home to seek such home in the States of much
older date desire which it Is to be hoped will be
encouraged by the large land propretors IN the latter
Many of these have lands not only unoccuped,
but which neither they their descendants for
many generations will occupy and there is little
doubt that the tenacity with which they have always
hitherto chung to these to hem useless possessions,
has negatively aided to stimulate emigration to the
West )" the stream of which in course of time swell
ed high, as to induce inordnate speculation in
lands, the i'll consequences OF which have not
yet ceased be felt by the whole country. But the
pride of continued TO keep IN the hands large
proprieos great quantities of land which, like the dog
in the manger, they could not cultivate themselves and
would sell to those who could Time, however, will
this evil indeed II we mistake not the necessity
for applying the remedy begins to be felt. Those who
realize the fact, that the people constitute no
only the State, but The strength of the State, be
gIn to open their eyes at the evils of depopula-
ton and the dawn Of better policy may be seen
upon the verge of the horizon. In Virginia and
Pennsy vania il to be in the encouragement Of
agricultural immigration. Large proprietors begin
to throw open their lands to such purchase for
tement and cultyation by which policy they will in
crease at once the population the products, the
strength, and the wealth of those States And if this
be good policy in sister States either hand why
would II not also be good policy III US. How many
Z" broad acres have we here in Maryland lying I'M
productive, that would reward with abundance the
hand of industry; Has not bad system of agr-
culture rather the absence of eny system left
much waste land, now easy, TO be reclaimed and
which would be reclaimed If our policy encouraged
immigration from other States and elsewhere and
have not many of our land propretors vast superb
bundance, which they might proiItaby part with ]:
Were our policy such and SO LIBERAL as TO increase
our population, it would bring in at once the two
great elements Of prosperity, capital and industry
and the legitimate results could not fail to follow,
only in the advancement of agriculture, but of
ufacures and commerce. The advantages to the set
tiers would be many more than now enume-
rate. A Philadelphia contemporary thus speaks of
some of them in summary way
@ But il is after a settlement has been made in
either case, that the advantages of a location here
are most apparent. When the adventurer becomes
fixed in the habits and pursuits of the farmer and he
casts his eyes around him in search of the of
educating a growing family, and of converting the
proceeds of his labor to the purchase OF those com
forts which render life agreeable and sweeten toll,
where will he be most likely TO find them; They
not certainly be found in the surrounding wilderness
nor among the pioneers of civilization like himself.
They are to be obtained only in the more populous
districts of the old States, and in the neighborhood of
commerce. art and social refinement. II a be
Indifferent to his mode of living, and have other
object IN his labors than TO feed and Sleep and
can raise all lac feeds and sleeps on, the far West is
as good location any spot in Pennsylvania but If
he desires Improvement, and directs ms efforts to the
production of happiness, he must build ms cabin or
his cottage where he communicate freely with
the great marts of traffic, the great depots of arts
and civilization--thc Atlantic cities"
The policy spoken Of and the practice growing ont
of it, would have also good effect on labor, as IT
would afford certain and increased employment to
that which is found living in precarous and often
miserable state in our cities but we cannot now
pursue. the subject farther, or exhibit the vast
amount of good included in the general result