The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-08-30


We give below several extracts from a
piece under the above title in the Demo
cratic Review. The writer has omitted
several prominent causes which make the
West desirable residence for men of
small capital, which we shall eunmerate.
First. The cheapness of land. Every
man in this country, no matter how poor,
may, in short time by industry and
economy. accumulate sufficient property
to buy as large a farm as he will ever need
for cultivation, and that, too, of the best
quality of soil. AS soon as he has pur-
chased. it commences increasing in value,
and will continue to do so, until it will
become worth nearly as much per acre as
the best farms at the East. The fac, that
he can DO so, is constantly staring him in
the face, and it stimulates him to great
exerlion. As soon as he has purchased
his land, Improvements are needed, and
these too he sees are within his prospec-
tive means-and thus for long time, he
has the most exciting inducements for en-
terprise. Whereas, in the Eastern states,
the savings of the laborer would scarcely
purchase him farm before he had attain
ed the age of fifty, and when purchased,
he would be obliged to work upon it in
cessantly to procure from it scanty
living.
Second. The equality of wealth. Men
consider themselves to be rich or poor, as
their property compares with that of their
nelghbors. In many of the Eastern cities
a man worth $4,000 is poor, because
some of his neigh6ors are worth half
million. lie considers himself poor, is
SO considered generally, and is too poor
to be pectable-ior he cannot support
the style Of the first society. lie suffers
amazingly every day, is scarcely spoken
to by the rich, and his family are shut
out from all communication with them.
Here there is no such blghtng influence
of caste. The man of little means is
none the less respectable on that account,
He does not loose his selfrespect by be.
ing continually treated with disrespec, or
neglect by others and the community in
which he resides. This we aver to be
much happier condition of society, and
much better adapted to the development,
of the virtues of character.
Third. The progress of improvement
around him. Notwithstanding many
hardships and discouragements, this feat
ure OF new.country exis,ence-perpe,ual
and manifest progress--is very anmatng.
1t naturally inspires hope and confidence.
Hard labor and poor accommodations may
Over.cloud the whole face of the present.
but the future is ever brgh, with promise.
The elastic feeling incident to a new and
growing country, communicates itself to
ALL A man might as well stand still in
an army that was marching forward, as
to be idle in new country, where all was
progress and improvement about him.
Fourth. New countries are favorable
to democracy. There are great many
things of public nature to be done.
There is public sympathy and telling
pervadlng the whole community. Where.
as, in older states Of society, men become
entirely independent of their fellow men,
and frequently spend their lives without
giving themselves any concern about
them.
But should we undertake 10 communi.
cate all the advantages of our country,
time would fail US. We say to all,
Come and see.' No inteNigen. man
ever did come TO this country and return
dissatisfied, although some hen-pccked