New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-11


lead abuse bat tbs danger is far inferior 10 that of
monopoly and privsion
The man who, icing apportioned far and sui
cient share OF the aarhs surface should refuse 10
work and improve because he could DULY dispose
OF it to those iincuiing his wife, children dc who
possessed no other and or who wiki this would not
have more than l6 acres each would be likely TO
refuse TO work al al because he could not carry MS
acres into the other world with him. The Land
Tenure proposed " the Reform plan IS Tar surer
and more enduring than that which now exists Al
present any ordinary storke OF i'll luck-a Revision
in business, fire. storm al sea, the failure or tFaud
OF trusted friend may deprive the weaithlest and
most d;ligent among as OF the home which DE mas
spent many years in improving and oeauufying-
Under the plan proposed, the Homestead would De
absolutely inalieIable, except by the tree con-
sent OF the posses.or. No calamity could take 1t
from him or drive him from il For what can
man work if not 10 improve the Home he IS sure of
enjoying through Efe and then leaving to his child
rem 2
That all men have now chance to work and
earn, is surely untrue. We know many able, will
ing laborers and there are thousands within mile
OF Us, who have mo- had chance 10 earn dollar a
week each for tire. months past, though they have
all dependent families There are some such, doubt
less, in more fortunate Buffalo Now these are un-
able to settle at ONE upon the Public Lands and
there might still be some such after the Land ne
form had begun is operation. Blu: very soon
class q6ls TO settle on the Free Lands would go
there, making room in some capacity for those who
are now unwling!y idle and deploraoly destitute.
Such, at least, is our confident hope. We do not
expect to make al men industrious, virtuous and
happy by means Of this or any other Reform; we
only hope to afford them opportunity TO be so, and
we think this may be done. Let US try.
From he Boston Daily Mail
AT first this may strike the mind as most oenehcen.
plan for the ameio:atiou of pauperism but when we
come to look the details and 10 take mankind as they
really are, We ind il opens wide door Tor puoHc pun
der. ANY who desires il can now procure al me
West farm OF 100 acres-which is large enough Tor
all practical purpoes-for SIPS; and any industrious
man. really fitted embark in such An enterprise can
command that sum- and thus own farm independent
of government deieasance and subject as IL 10 PC
TO the payment of mis- honest debts The pubic lands
have the government good deal oil money IN SUI
veys the extin euishment of Indian titles &C. and they
are just much the property OF the government as
though the proceeds OF sale were in the treasury 10
give them up lande,s individuals without some equiv
alert, would be bounty on poverty on tue one hano'
and bounty TO spectators on the other. One person
might enter and improve in succession twenty farms IN
this way provided be could lind sndess men, ready
to purchase his improvements. We think much bet,
ter in the long that should purchase his land
and pay for H. than take it pGup entd SUBJECT 70
government defeasance and 10 the uncertainties oil III
lure egs alton We'll! managed poor-houses are better
places for actual pauper5 than the wild prares oil the
West but the ablebodied, honest and intelligent Ia
borer not in regular business in The Old States we have
no doubt the West offers inducements which can De
found nowhere else with the small sum which tue
government exacts for its lands.
- That the Public Lands have cost the People
of the United States large is true, but this has
very nearly been returned to them in the Proceeds
OF Sales already. And it is because the Public
Lands have cost the People much, both in blood
and treasure, that we insist putting them 10 the
most provident and beneicent use We think this
is indicated in the plan OF the Land Reiormers
As to this offering bounty TO Poverty, the OBJ
lection applies with a, least equal force TO all AT
tempts 10 alleviate the misercs of restitution,
whether by public or private aid. 1t is no longer
deemed Christian or justifabe to let the destitute
starvc Society confesses its obligation TO cloihe
and feed them, We believe il the more excellent
way TO give them chance to clothe and iced
themselves by allowing 20 each reasonable share
of the bountes provided by the Creator Tor the sus
tenance OF Man. Whatever human industry has
created belongs TO the producer or his assigns oui
the Elements are not properly subject to this law
Admit that the Earth can only be usefuLy held in
partition as the Air and the Waters need not be
and i, by no means follows that one man few
men should be allowed to acquire it all. and say by
what payment of tribute to them the use OF any
part shall be permitted to others Partition may
be essential, but Monopoly is not.
The land speculation which could be run into
where one man could only own or possess single
quarter section at any time, and where all the land
not so occupied should stand open to entry and set
tlement by any audless man without money and
without price may pass wiiha smile. We should like
TO see million or more Of citizens engaged In this
sort Of peculation-improving wild lands by thelr
downright labor so as to sell them at an advance and
locate again Every cent n man obtains in this wa y
he will have 10 earn manfully and wor;hily.
The closing suggestions OF the Mail indicate pro-
70 und ignorance of or indifference 10 the nature OF
the evil which the Land Reform is intended to rem
edy. Land is cheap in the West. argues that pa
per, as the Express, Courier, Goshen Democrat and
Buffalo Commercial had done before it Very true,
sirs but those who most need il cannot obtain it. or
are forced TO pay usury for the price of It.
And tchat guaranty hare IRE that 1t ,cW REMAIN
cheap7 There is land all around US, once free as
water and sold for a cent an acre, yet now held at
500 per acre, that the cutvator must give two
thirds of the produce for the of the land There
is now abundance of wild land in Ohio, where the
first settlers yet hale and vigorous which is held
at sac per acre, though bought of the Government,
iust as it now is for 81 25. The vital aim OF the
Land Reform is to secure to all future generations
the Right Labor and 10 the entire fruits OF their
Labor. AT present half the Human Race labor ex-
cessively for inadequate reward that tenth may
live in baneful luxury and pernicious idleness
while another large class pine in want and wretch
edness for want of q chance to Labor. The Land
Reform, without disturbing any mans possessions
strikes an effective blow at the root of this gigantic
wrong and we hope yet to see all the friends OF
honest, secure, justly rewarded Industry. without
distinction of sect or party united in its support